Short answer: on a cross-border hanfu order, the size you choose counts as your decision, and most shops put that decision outside anything refundable. Duty and VAT are not in the item price either — that bill lands on whoever receives the parcel. Two shops that ship hanfu worldwide say so in print, on pages most buyers never open. Here is what those pages actually say, and the one step that keeps you out of the argument.
1. What a policy page says about a wrong pick
Hanfu Story's refund and cancellation page carries a last-updated date of 30 August 2025, and its first line under returns is blunt: "We currently do not accept returns." Exceptions are handled case by case, but the non-returnable list is explicit. "Change of mind or personal preference" is on it. So is "Incorrect size or color selected by customer."
Sizing gets its own paragraph further down. "To keep our pricing low, we do not provide refunds or exchanges if the item does not fit." What the shop offers instead is a paid replacement, not a refund: "For just 50% of the item price, we will send you a replacement in the correct size. Shipping applies." The same passage adds that "customs duties and taxes (if any) are not included and remain the customer's responsibility" — so the replacement can be billed for duty a second time.
Nüwa Hanfu arrives at the same place from a differently organised page. Its store policy states "we are no longer able to accept returns, refunds, or exchanges," with an exception for items that arrive significantly damaged or defective, and the exchange section says it plainly: "We currently do not accept exchanges for issues such as incorrect sizing, colors, etc." What it offers instead is prevention — size up once or twice if you are unsure, and "for hanfu, please add 3-4 cm to your body measurements."
One detail on the same page is easy to skim past. A tolerance of 2–3 cm sits on the non-quality list, beside screen colour difference and wrinkles from shipping. Two centimetres of variance is not, in policy terms, grounds for sending something back.
| Clause | Hanfu Story returns page | Nüwa Hanfu store policy |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong size or colour you picked | Listed as non-returnable | No exchange for sizing or colour |
| Does not fit | No refund or exchange; replacement at 50% of item price plus shipping | No exchange; add 3–4 cm to body measurements |
| Cancellation window | Within 2 hours of the order; not possible once processed or dispatched | Within 14 days of the original order |
| Who pays duty | Separate customs page: the recipient | Not addressed on that page |
2. Duty and VAT are the recipient's bill
Hanfu Story keeps customs on a page of its own, and it opens plainly: "All shipments are subject to customs fees, duties, and taxes as determined by the recipient's local customs authorities." Those charges are "not included in the purchase price and are the sole responsibility of the recipient," and the page adds that they sit "beyond the control of the seller."
A note for US-bound parcels takes effect from 2 May 2025: "All shipments entering the United States incur customs duties," payable before delivery. If they go unpaid, the parcel "may be returned to the sender or destroyed," in which case "no refund or cancellation will be provided," and courier penalties for the return or destruction fall on the recipient as well.
That is one shop's clause, but it tracks how the border actually works. UK government guidance for goods sent from abroad tells recipients they may have to pay "VAT, Customs Duty or Excise Duty" before receiving the goods, and that "the parcel or courier company will tell you if you need to pay any VAT or duty." The notification comes from the carrier, not the seller. That is why a shop can say, honestly, that the charge is outside its hands.
Rates, thresholds and the declared-value paperwork differ by country, so check your own customs authority instead of borrowing a number from a forum thread. The structure travels, though: item price, shipping, then a bill at the border that you settle to release the parcel.
One gap is worth flagging, because it shows how uneven published policy still is. The Nüwa returns page assigns duty to nobody. It mentions tariffs only to explain why its free-shipping threshold rose to $175, and says nothing about who pays if customs bills the parcel.
3. Measure once, ask once, then pay
If a wrong size is effectively final, the order has to run in the other direction: numbers first, size second, payment last.
Use centimetres and a soft tape, snug against the body rather than tight. Take bust, waist, hip and height before you add anything; ease belongs to the garment, not to the mood of the day. Our size guide treats centimetres as authoritative and inches as approximate, tells you to size up between sizes for high-waisted Tang sets and layered Wei-Jin looks, and sizes mamian skirts by the waist because the ties adjust. It also walks through each measurement in order: bust, waist, hip, height.
Then do the step most buyers skip: send your height, bust and waist to the shop and ask for a size in writing. Our size guide ends with exactly that offer — "Leave your height, bust, and waist—we'll suggest a size before you order" — and the contact form is where it goes. The value is not convenience. It turns "which size did I pick" into a thread both sides can point to later.
Put three policy questions in the same message. Are the numbers on this product page flat measurements or body measurements? What are the sleeve and skirt lengths in centimetres? And if it still does not fit, what does this shop actually offer — a paid replacement, an alteration, or nothing? Answers that come back fast and specific tell you how the rest of the order will go. Vague answers tell you who carries the risk.
Then budget like an importer. Item price plus shipping plus whatever the border charges is the only number that counts. A set that sits exactly on your limit before shipping and duty is already over it. Once size and landed cost are settled, go through the product range and pick.
FAQ
Is my wrong pick treated the same as a shop mistake?
No, and the split is written down. Both shops separate "customer selected the wrong size or colour" — not returnable — from damage or defect, which is handled case by case. Read the page rather than relying on a chat reply.
What happens if I do not pay the duty?
You lose the parcel. Hanfu Story's customs page says the package may be returned or destroyed with no refund or cancellation, and the penalties fall on the recipient. UK guidance says the carrier tells you the amount before delivery. Check your own threshold first so the bill is not a surprise.
Can I pay something to get the right size?
At Hanfu Story, yes: 50% of the item price plus shipping buys a replacement in the correct size. At Nüwa Hanfu the page offers no size exchange at all and points you to sizing up instead. There is no industry-wide answer, which is why the page you bought from is the one that matters.
Where do I measure?
Bust, waist, hip and height, in centimetres. Our size guide gives step-by-step instructions and per-form advice, and you can send the numbers to us for a size check before checkout. Do not map a T-shirt size onto hanfu; the letters look the same, the circumferences do not.
References
- Hanfu Story — Refund, Return & Cancellation Policy (last updated 30 August 2025)
- Hanfu Story — Customs Duties & Taxes (effective 30 August 2025)
- Nüwa Hanfu — Shipping & Returns / Store Policy
- GOV.UK — Tax and customs for goods sent from abroad
