View Full Version : Anyone mail order from US to the UK?
Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado cyclist in the USA and get it
sent home to the UK?
I've been thinking about buying a new road groupset (DA or Record cant decide) and the savings seems
to be worth the hastle.
My question anyone give any feedback on whether or not I'll have to pay any particularly import
duties or such?
I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that figures into the equations. Is it
a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for the import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do I
pay it? visa cheque cash?
thanks for any other advice as well...
Me wrote:
> Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado cyclist in the USA and get it
> sent home to the UK?
>
> I've been thinking about buying a new road groupset (DA or Record cant decide) and the savings
> seems to be worth the hastle.
>
> My question anyone give any feedback on whether or not I'll have to pay any particularly import
> duties or such?
>
> I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that figures into the equations. Is
> it a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for the import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do
> I pay it? visa cheque cash?
>
> thanks for any other advice as well...
Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often find
that the price is no longer attractive. You will not easily avoid these charges as they will be sent
by courier company that provides tracability but does it by the book. You might get away with it if
they were put in the normal post but then if they didn't arrive who would know whether they weren't
sent or they disappeared en-route or you got them but pretended otherwise?
All three are OK but like everyone they have their off days. Would also suggest you look at Supergo
who I've had good service from. They have DuraAce on offer for a tad under $1400
Tony
Me wrote:
> Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado cyclist in the USA and get it
> sent home to the UK?
>
> I've been thinking about buying a new road groupset (DA or Record cant decide) and the savings
> seems to be worth the hastle.
>
> My question anyone give any feedback on whether or not I'll have to pay any particularly import
> duties or such?
>
> I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that figures into the equations. Is
> it a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for the import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do
> I pay it? visa cheque cash?
>
> thanks for any other advice as well...
Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often find
that the price is no longer attractive. You will not easily avoid these charges as they will be sent
by courier company that provides tracability but does it by the book. You might get away with it if
they were put in the normal post but then if they didn't arrive who would know whether they weren't
sent or they disappeared en-route or you got them but pretended otherwise?
All three are OK but like everyone they have their off days. Would also suggest you look at Supergo
who I've had good service from. They have DuraAce on offer for a tad under $1400
Tony
Me wrote:
> Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado cyclist in the USA and get it
> sent home to the UK?
>
> I've been thinking about buying a new road groupset (DA or Record cant decide) and the savings
> seems to be worth the hastle.
>
> My question anyone give any feedback on whether or not I'll have to pay any particularly import
> duties or such?
>
> I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that figures into the equations. Is
> it a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for the import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do
> I pay it? visa cheque cash?
>
> thanks for any other advice as well...
Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often find
that the price is no longer attractive. You will not easily avoid these charges as they will be sent
by courier company that provides tracability but does it by the book. You might get away with it if
they were put in the normal post but then if they didn't arrive who would know whether they weren't
sent or they disappeared en-route or you got them but pretended otherwise?
All three are OK but like everyone they have their off days. Would also suggest you look at Supergo
who I've had good service from. They have DuraAce on offer for a tad under $1400
Tony
Tony Raven wrote:
> Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often
> find that the price is no longer attractive.
Might be worth it atm because of the very favourable £/$ exchange rate...besides the fact that
everything costs the same in $ over there as it costs in £ here :-(
would all deliveries via fedex or US Postal International defintely be charged the dutie and VAT? or
do they sometimes go uncharged?
-me
"Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote in message
news:bqo8ir$24k7hd$1@ID-178940.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Me wrote:
> > Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado
cyclist
> > in the USA and get it sent home to the UK?
> >
> > I've been thinking about buying a new road groupset (DA or Record cant decide) and the savings
> > seems to be worth the hastle.
> >
> > My question anyone give any feedback on whether or not I'll have to pay
any
> > particularly import duties or such?
> >
> > I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that
figures
> > into the equations. Is it a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for
the
> > import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do I pay it? visa cheque
cash?
> >
> > thanks for any other advice as well...
>
> Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often
> find that the price is no longer attractive.
You
> will not easily avoid these charges as they will be sent by courier
company
> that provides tracability but does it by the book. You might get away
with it
> if they were put in the normal post but then if they didn't arrive who
would
> know whether they weren't sent or they disappeared en-route or you got
them
> but pretended otherwise?
>
> All three are OK but like everyone they have their off days. Would also suggest you look at
> Supergo who I've had good service from. They have
DuraAce
> on offer for a tad under $1400
>
> Tony
Tony Raven wrote:
> Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often
> find that the price is no longer attractive.
Might be worth it atm because of the very favourable £/$ exchange rate...besides the fact that
everything costs the same in $ over there as it costs in £ here :-(
would all deliveries via fedex or US Postal International defintely be charged the dutie and VAT? or
do they sometimes go uncharged?
-me
"Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote in message
news:bqo8ir$24k7hd$1@ID-178940.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Me wrote:
> > Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado
cyclist
> > in the USA and get it sent home to the UK?
> >
> > I've been thinking about buying a new road groupset (DA or Record cant decide) and the savings
> > seems to be worth the hastle.
> >
> > My question anyone give any feedback on whether or not I'll have to pay
any
> > particularly import duties or such?
> >
> > I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that
figures
> > into the equations. Is it a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for
the
> > import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do I pay it? visa cheque
cash?
> >
> > thanks for any other advice as well...
>
> Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often
> find that the price is no longer attractive.
You
> will not easily avoid these charges as they will be sent by courier
company
> that provides tracability but does it by the book. You might get away
with it
> if they were put in the normal post but then if they didn't arrive who
would
> know whether they weren't sent or they disappeared en-route or you got
them
> but pretended otherwise?
>
> All three are OK but like everyone they have their off days. Would also suggest you look at
> Supergo who I've had good service from. They have
DuraAce
> on offer for a tad under $1400
>
> Tony
Tony Raven wrote:
> Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often
> find that the price is no longer attractive.
Might be worth it atm because of the very favourable £/$ exchange rate...besides the fact that
everything costs the same in $ over there as it costs in £ here :-(
would all deliveries via fedex or US Postal International defintely be charged the dutie and VAT? or
do they sometimes go uncharged?
-me
"Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote in message
news:bqo8ir$24k7hd$1@ID-178940.news.uni-berlin.de...
> Me wrote:
> > Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado
cyclist
> > in the USA and get it sent home to the UK?
> >
> > I've been thinking about buying a new road groupset (DA or Record cant decide) and the savings
> > seems to be worth the hastle.
> >
> > My question anyone give any feedback on whether or not I'll have to pay
any
> > particularly import duties or such?
> >
> > I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that
figures
> > into the equations. Is it a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for
the
> > import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do I pay it? visa cheque
cash?
> >
> > thanks for any other advice as well...
>
> Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often
> find that the price is no longer attractive.
You
> will not easily avoid these charges as they will be sent by courier
company
> that provides tracability but does it by the book. You might get away
with it
> if they were put in the normal post but then if they didn't arrive who
would
> know whether they weren't sent or they disappeared en-route or you got
them
> but pretended otherwise?
>
> All three are OK but like everyone they have their off days. Would also suggest you look at
> Supergo who I've had good service from. They have
DuraAce
> on offer for a tad under $1400
>
> Tony
On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 21:22:59 -0000, "Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote:
>Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often
>find that the price is no longer attractive. You will not easily avoid these charges as they will
>be sent by courier company that provides tracability but does it by the book.
Hi Tony
Two years ago I was given a Prism Illusion 2K <http://www.prismkites.com/03-full-menu.htm> (http://www.prismkites.com/03-full-menu.htm) by the
owner of Gone With the Wind kite shop <http://www.gwtw-kites.com/> (http://www.gwtw-kites.com/)
and then by Parcel Force, and I wasn't charged a penny. As far as I know, kites are subject to VAT
and duty though I'm unsure of the situation when the kite is a gift.
Rather strangely, also AFAIK, kite parts are duty-free whereas complete models are subject to
all charges.
The cost of a new Illy2K over here at that time was roughly £250. The price is now a little less.
James
--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.
On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 21:22:59 -0000, "Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote:
>Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often
>find that the price is no longer attractive. You will not easily avoid these charges as they will
>be sent by courier company that provides tracability but does it by the book.
Hi Tony
Two years ago I was given a Prism Illusion 2K <http://www.prismkites.com/03-full-menu.htm> (http://www.prismkites.com/03-full-menu.htm) by the
owner of Gone With the Wind kite shop <http://www.gwtw-kites.com/> (http://www.gwtw-kites.com/)
and then by Parcel Force, and I wasn't charged a penny. As far as I know, kites are subject to VAT
and duty though I'm unsure of the situation when the kite is a gift.
Rather strangely, also AFAIK, kite parts are duty-free whereas complete models are subject to
all charges.
The cost of a new Illy2K over here at that time was roughly £250. The price is now a little less.
James
--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.
On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 21:22:59 -0000, "Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote:
>Expect to pay 4.8% Duty and 17.5% VAT on the cost of the groupset plus shipping. You will often
>find that the price is no longer attractive. You will not easily avoid these charges as they will
>be sent by courier company that provides tracability but does it by the book.
Hi Tony
Two years ago I was given a Prism Illusion 2K <http://www.prismkites.com/03-full-menu.htm> (http://www.prismkites.com/03-full-menu.htm) by the
owner of Gone With the Wind kite shop <http://www.gwtw-kites.com/> (http://www.gwtw-kites.com/)
and then by Parcel Force, and I wasn't charged a penny. As far as I know, kites are subject to VAT
and duty though I'm unsure of the situation when the kite is a gift.
Rather strangely, also AFAIK, kite parts are duty-free whereas complete models are subject to
all charges.
The cost of a new Illy2K over here at that time was roughly £250. The price is now a little less.
James
--
"Sorry mate, I didn't see you" is not a satisfactory excuse.
"Me" <no@nohotmail.com> wrote in message news:3fcfd8bc@news.greennet.net...
> would all deliveries via fedex or US Postal International defintely be charged the dutie and VAT?
> or do they sometimes go uncharged?
>
> -me
AIUI the courier/PO is also likely to charge a handling charge for handling the customs duty
payments, so you pay +item cost +freight +duty +handling charge +VAT on top of all foregoing. At a
guess, since I've never done it having been deterred, but having looked at the main courier web
sites, you will have to pay if it goes by courier. Anecdotal evidence suggests _small_ items going
through the normal postal system may go through free, particularly if marked as a gift ( ;-) ). But
a whole groupset from a dealer? I'd say budget to pay the duties etc. If it still looks good then
ok, but don't do it gambling on it getting through without.
Rich
From my experience of importing stuff from the States at work the import duty on parts is around
the 5% mark, higher on complete items such as full bikes, but the VAT, although charged at 17.5%,
is higher because VAT is added to a notional transport cost within the UK. Never understood it but
that is how it works. Doesn't bother us as we can claim it back but worrying for the
non-commercial importer.
David
"Me" <no@nohotmail.com> wrote in message news:3fcfd8bc@news.greennet.net...
> would all deliveries via fedex or US Postal International defintely be charged the dutie and VAT?
> or do they sometimes go uncharged?
>
> -me
AIUI the courier/PO is also likely to charge a handling charge for handling the customs duty
payments, so you pay +item cost +freight +duty +handling charge +VAT on top of all foregoing. At a
guess, since I've never done it having been deterred, but having looked at the main courier web
sites, you will have to pay if it goes by courier. Anecdotal evidence suggests _small_ items going
through the normal postal system may go through free, particularly if marked as a gift ( ;-) ). But
a whole groupset from a dealer? I'd say budget to pay the duties etc. If it still looks good then
ok, but don't do it gambling on it getting through without.
Rich
In article <3fcfd8bc@news.greennet.net>, no@nohotmail.com says...
> would all deliveries via fedex or US Postal International defintely be charged the dutie and VAT?
> or do they sometimes go uncharged?
AIUI *all* parcels which are brought in by a courier will be charged because of the way VAT/duty is
collected by the couriers. Some parcels coming through the ordinary postal service will get through
without the charges being levied but you should not rely on not getting charged as C&E have been
tightening up on the ordinary postal services in recent months.
My recent order from GroundEffect in NZ (value around £100) didn't get charged but I was prepared to
pay if it did. The Royal Mail should not deliver until you have paid any charges levied. I don't
know which methods of payment Royal Mail accepts.
Juliette
--
nowt
From my experience of importing stuff from the States at work the import duty on parts is around
the 5% mark, higher on complete items such as full bikes, but the VAT, although charged at 17.5%,
is higher because VAT is added to a notional transport cost within the UK. Never understood it but
that is how it works. Doesn't bother us as we can claim it back but worrying for the
non-commercial importer.
David
In article <3fcfd8bc@news.greennet.net>, no@nohotmail.com says...
> would all deliveries via fedex or US Postal International defintely be charged the dutie and VAT?
> or do they sometimes go uncharged?
AIUI *all* parcels which are brought in by a courier will be charged because of the way VAT/duty is
collected by the couriers. Some parcels coming through the ordinary postal service will get through
without the charges being levied but you should not rely on not getting charged as C&E have been
tightening up on the ordinary postal services in recent months.
My recent order from GroundEffect in NZ (value around £100) didn't get charged but I was prepared to
pay if it did. The Royal Mail should not deliver until you have paid any charges levied. I don't
know which methods of payment Royal Mail accepts.
Juliette
--
nowt
"Me" <no@nohotmail.com> wrote in message news:3fcfd8bc@news.greennet.net...
> would all deliveries via fedex or US Postal International defintely be charged the dutie and VAT?
> or do they sometimes go uncharged?
>
100% certain in both cases. The only way around this is to prove that the items are personal
possessions that have been exported to the US and are now being re-imported. You're not going to be
able to do this. The duty and VAT are collected by fedex or Royal Mail (perhaps Lynx) and they are
very thorough. They don't want to upset Customs & Excise. You shouldn't either.
___
Michael MacClancy
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