UK import duty

[buttfink]

Hi,

any UK kiters out there purchased kites from internet sellers overseas (e.g. Best etc.)?

I want to buy some kites from the US and would appreciate any advice on evading Import Duty and VAT.

Thanks.

[damo]

I got stung big time Vat + 12% import + £13.50 for parcel force to take the money. Buy from another country other than US our customs hate US goods due to the steel tarrifs.

[EdDy_DiFfUsIvItY]

Depends if you use Fed Ex....

[buttfink]

Why, whats the crack with fed-ex?

I have a brother who lives in the state of Georgia, maybe if he sends them to me as a gift I can evade those mothers at HMCE?

[EdDy_DiFfUsIvItY]

Yip I think you might be able to if the stuff has been used.,....but not 100% sure.

Best let another answer that one.

[Slider]

It's a bit of a lottery: I've heard tell of folks get brand new kites through with no customs and others jsut buying some CDs get clobbered.

Due to the exchange rate, I just bought some SeaSpecs direct from their web site and even with $18 dollars shipping still came out a lot cheaper than here in the UK. And I got lucky DHL no customs, no vat just good service and a quick delivery. It actully had a customs declaration on the outside, describing the contents and giving a dolllar value. I think in the UK if an item is more than £18 it attracts VAT on import and there may be other charges too. but like I said, you could get lucky.

[ckramer]

This is an old post:

phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=2300637&highlight=

But this is how it works:
With normal post, they just check and open large parcels, and a small % of the packages they handle so it is just a matter of luck.
With UPS fed ex etc, they check everything, 100% of the parcels that exceed 50$ value.
So what you can do is, to ask the dealer to state the value of pack for less that 50 $. Yhey are not always willing to do that because if they are shipping 2 or 3 kites and they have insurance, if they get lost they just get 50$ back.
The less they state on the green customs label, the better cause you are going to pay 20% on that value.

Usually the charges are as follows, but they may vary from country to country:
3% on value of pack+shipping (customs fee)
+ 15 to 20 % VAT again on value + shipping.

From my experience, if it is something small (wetsuit helmet, whatever) if you get a good deal+state less than 50$ it could be worthit, otherwise buy from GERMANY , they have the best prices in europe and no extra customs. Shipping is fast, and also germans are very precise!!! [/b]

[Toby]

there should be a smaller amount on the invoice for customs...

[buttfink]

Thanks for all your advice and for your PM's

I think I will ship it via my brother to be safe.