What free shipping actually covers

Free shipping is a domestic convenience, not a global promise. Most retailers reserve it for orders that clear a local threshold, and the math changes once a parcel crosses a border. Customs, remote delivery and heavier framed work all push the final figure upward. The phrase Michel Carrade print shipping cost sounds simple until the destination is outside the home market.

Auvrique does not currently stock editions by this artist, so no Michel Carrade order is being placed here. That does not change the general rule. When a print is available elsewhere, the shipping line on the checkout page is the only number worth trusting. Any headline promise usually excludes customs and duties.

Where international fees actually come from

International print delivery fees are built from several moving parts, not a single flat rate. The carrier charges by weight and zone. The farther the destination and the larger the parcel, the higher the line item. A rolled canvas and a framed poster do not travel at the same cost.

The hidden part is rarely the carrier fee alone. Import duties and local taxes can land on the recipient, and some countries assess them on arrival. A checkout total that looks complete may still be incomplete once the parcel clears a border. That is the real risk for an anxious buyer comparing two retailers.

How to read the checkout before you pay

The only reliable figure is the one attached to your own cart. Enter the destination, add the item, and read the shipping line before payment. A quoted total that excludes duties should be treated as a partial number, not a final one. The difference matters most for heavier framed work.

If a retailer advertises free shipping, read the fine print on region and minimum order. A threshold that works at home often does not apply abroad. For a buyer worried about hidden costs, the safest move is to treat any global promise as conditional until the cart confirms it.