OT - Anybody purchased mailorder from US to UK??

[smudwhisk]

A little off topic and really for any UK based members, has anyone purchased anything from the US mailorder and been stung by Customs & Excise?? I'm trying to work out whether it's worth ordering something from KEH for about £120 plus shipping costs. Knowing how C&E like to sting you on anything from Non-EU countries, I just wonder how much extra it'll cost me. The item is rather more difficult to get here and rather expensive when it comes up. Any comments appreciated. 🙂

 

[Poptart]

I did the other way round, ordering a Billingham bag from Jessop's. It took forever, but they refunded the VAT and it didn't cost any more than buying it in the USA.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Importing to EU from US (or anywhere ROW) is a lottery.

You can get charged import duties, and VAT on top, and the delivery company can charge a fee for handling the package through customs for you. It can be expensive. Very.

On a good day you pay nothing.

I import regularly and can see no pattern at all as to when I pay through the nose and when I get a bargain. (I could ask but then they'd make me pay for the ones that made it through free)

 

[john neal]

I regularly import old cameras from the US and have found importing to be a bit of a lootery when it comes to C&E charges. However, the following may be of interest:

If the seller uses USPS rather than a courier service, I have only paid VAT when the value of the parcel is declared as over something like $50 (there is an official limit of around $35, but they sometimes waive it) - it also seems to depend how often you have had parcels, 3 in a month and they take a closer look. I have sometimes successfully asked sellers to declare a lower value than purchase cost. This will depend on the seller, and if you have asked for insured delivery - the USPS will not insure a $30 parcel for $250!

When courier firms are involved, my experience is that I nearly always get stung for VAT when the value id over $35 - tyhe only exception was one parcel declared at $90, but with the word "gift" on the declaration. I try to avoid couriers.

Hope that helps

 

[tom_f77]

It seems to depend... I've been stung with purchases from private sellers who use a courier, but certain people who know their stuff and use standard or express airmail seem to have things come straight through... Might be worth checking how it will be sent exactly.

Tom

 

[Andy K]

Back in '99 I ordered an Empi woodrim steering wheel from Flat Four in LA for the beetle I was building. The wheel cost close to £400 and I was stung for nearly £60 import duty on the doorstep when it arrived.

 

[Paul T.]

Ha, I just got stung for VAT yesterday! $50 in charges in a $250 lens bought here, declared value $80.

The limit is £38 pounds for gifts and £18 or £19 for commercial items. If you use Global Express Priority, I think, the package goes through Parcelforce. Parcelforce ALWAYS seem to get you stung for Customs; of the last three items they've delivered, every single one has attracted VAT, plus an extra £10 or £20 fixed fee.

If the item is less than £150, I would personally ask for it to be sent regular airmail. This is, ironically, quicker, and never seems to attract duty - I note this is how Stephen Gandy sends all his gear. If the item is £200, I would probably ask for it to be sent priority, but declare the value at $70, which should fall under the limit. If it were more, I would personally declare the full value and reclaim the VAT, which fortunately I can do.

In some cases, senders will allow you to put a different value for insurance, and for declared customs value. there is a logic to this - i might have bought a camera part for $20 s/h, but to buy it new would cost $100. When I bought a lens from D30 Gaijin at photo.net he managed to do this, but others didn't.

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

I've had the same experience as Tom above - on things sent by EMS i've paid nothing Fed Ex and UPS sometimes i've paid a small fortune and it is bit of a lottery. As usually what i'm looking for, is found in the US, i' ve no choice in these matters.
Slightly OT What's even harder is when i'm in Thailand, purchasing via paypal, with an address verified in the UK. Some sellers won't send direct to my BKK address - it has to go the the UK first. Kevin of Kevin Camera's helped me round this one.

 

[daveozzz]

I bought a pile of lens from KeH a couple of months again - was delivered FedEx and I was dead chuffed when they were develivered and the courier didn't ask for any money... yay.
now, a month later, I get an invoice in from FedEx for 50 quid duty 🙁 I knew it was too good to be true - I didn't realise they worked that way - I have to say the incentive to pay is a lot less when you don't have a delivery man dangling the goods in front of your face waiting to swop them for the cash!

I 2nd the USPS thing... Cameraquest shipped to me that way and no customs at all.

 

[daveozzz]

BTW - I always add 17.5 % to the cost when pricing 2nd hand stuff from KEH - and often it works out being the cheapest anyway.

 

[jamiewakeham]

Yeah, it's very random. I seem to be lucky with the FSU and unlucky with the USA.

Suppose there's not anyone on the board who's travelling from the US over here who could courier and drop into a postbox at this end?

Jamie

 

[john neal]

The limit is £38 pounds for gifts and £18 or £19 for commercial items. If you use Global Express Priority, I think, the package goes through Parcelforce. Parcelforce ALWAYS seem to get you stung for Customs; of the last three items they've delivered, every single one has attracted VAT, plus an extra £10 or £20 fixed fee.

Paul - you're right, Parcelforce are the pits at charging VAT/Duty - the other thing they do to me is automatically charge my credit card with the amount + their fixed fee. Because I once made the mistake of giving them the card no, there is now no asking if they can, they just charge it! One day I will change my card and then they will be stuffed, ha!

Moral of the story - be careful who gets your credit card details.

 

[daveozzz]

That's a thing - the Parcelforce fixed fee kind of steep is it not! It's usually about the same as the VAT I'm paying... not sure why you should be financially penalised for the privilege of having been forced to pay duty!
Anyhow - I digress...

 

[Kim Coxon]

My experience is that it is very random even if it comes in from USPS. For a start there is a different fee charged whether it is Parcelforce (£8) or Royal Mail (£4) that handle it. In my experience, you will get charged for every third or fourth parcel. Last week I had 2 parcels delivered by Parcelforce on the same day. The first was a $300 camera - no charge. The second was a $90 lens and the stung me for £20+. VAT on value of lens plus cost of shipping and then £8 paperwork fee on top of that. At least it wasn't the other way round.

I always asume I am going to get charged and work out the "value" of the item that way. If it gets let through, it's a pleasant bonus and not an expensive shock.

Kim

 

[lushd]

I haven't paid duty on any parcel from former FSU but have been stung badly by our own beloved Parcel Force chums for stuff from the USA. My dodge now is that I have a friend in california and I him as the delivery address. He then sends me a present of the item and there is no duty to pay. They might wonder what I have done to deserve such a wonderful friend but there's nothing they can do.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Thats all very well but there are two potential problems. The first is that you are only insured up to the declared value. One lost or damaged parcel could cost more than the VAT. The other is that is the feel inclined ie thay are suspicious, they are entitled to open the packsage and inspect. They can charge you on a "assessed" value for the item based on what they think it is worth rather than the declared value.

Kim

I haven't paid duty on any parcel from former FSU but have been stung badly by our own beloved Parcel Force chums for stuff from the USA. My dodge now is that I have a friend in california and I him as the delivery address. He then sends me a present of the item and there is no duty to pay. They might wonder what I have done to deserve such a wonderful friend but there's nothing they can do.

 

[Screwy]

Hmmmm , Could C+E deciding to open a parcel cause any delays in delivery? The reason I ask is I have 3 items gone walkabout from the FSU ,different sellers and different sent dates but no sign of them , and the customer helpline firstly charges something like 50p a min to ring them then tells you they can do sod all :bang:


Paul

 

[smudwhisk]

Thanks guys for the information/advice. I may take the chance and order since it's only a smallish item (could possibly go USPS although it depends on what value they want to put on it) but they are extremely expensive over here if they come up. I cannot believe that the commercial purchase limit has stayed at £17.99 for so long, its absolutely ridiculous. OK any camera item is likely to be above that but ..... Easy money for C&E and any courier (such as Parcelfarce) who want to charge on top. I may order and see what options KEH come back for shipping, then decide if it's worth it. :bang: