UK and Europe · Public discussion

Anyone mail order from US to the UK?

Started by Me · · Last activity · 72 posts · 2,918 views

Thread navigation

Jump through the discussion

Go to the original post, the replies on this page, or the latest preserved contribution.

Thread details

What we know about this thread

Original section
UK and Europe
Published
6 December 2003
Last activity
6 December 2003
Original author
Me
Posts
72
Discussion status
Public discussion
Total views
2,918
Views / 30 days
0

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Showing posts 1–20 of 72
Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Text size
  1. 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...

  2. Me said:

    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

  3. Me said:

    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

  4. Me said:

    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

  5. Tony Raven said:

    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 :-(

  6. 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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Me said:

    Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado


    cyclist

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    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

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    particularly import duties or such?

    I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that


    figures

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    into the equations. Is it a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for


    the

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do I pay it? visa cheque


    cash?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:


    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

    Quoted message said:

    will not easily avoid these charges as they will be sent by courier


    company

    Quoted message said:

    that provides tracability but does it by the book. You might get away


    with it

    Quoted message said:

    if they were put in the normal post but then if they didn't arrive who


    would

    Quoted message said:

    know whether they weren't sent or they disappeared en-route or you got


    them

    Quoted message said:

    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

    Quoted message said:

    on offer for a tad under $1400

    Tony

  7. Tony Raven said:

    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 :-(

  8. 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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Me said:

    Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado


    cyclist

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    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

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    particularly import duties or such?

    I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that


    figures

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    into the equations. Is it a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for


    the

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do I pay it? visa cheque


    cash?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:


    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

    Quoted message said:

    will not easily avoid these charges as they will be sent by courier


    company

    Quoted message said:

    that provides tracability but does it by the book. You might get away


    with it

    Quoted message said:

    if they were put in the normal post but then if they didn't arrive who


    would

    Quoted message said:

    know whether they weren't sent or they disappeared en-route or you got


    them

    Quoted message said:

    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

    Quoted message said:

    on offer for a tad under $1400

    Tony

  9. Tony Raven said:

    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 :-(

  10. 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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Me said:

    Hi, anyone ever place an order with nasbar, performace, or colorado


    cyclist

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    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

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    particularly import duties or such?

    I plan to spend approx £400 + shipping so I'm not certain how that


    figures

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    into the equations. Is it a "hit or miss" thing if you get charged for


    the

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    import duty or is it a dead cert? If so how do I pay it? visa cheque


    cash?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:


    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

    Quoted message said:

    will not easily avoid these charges as they will be sent by courier


    company

    Quoted message said:

    that provides tracability but does it by the book. You might get away


    with it

    Quoted message said:

    if they were put in the normal post but then if they didn't arrive who


    would

    Quoted message said:

    know whether they weren't sent or they disappeared en-route or you got


    them

    Quoted message said:

    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

    Quoted message said:

    on offer for a tad under $1400

    Tony

  11. Tony Raven said:

    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> by the
    owner of Gone With the Wind kite shop <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.

  12. Tony Raven said:

    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> by the
    owner of Gone With the Wind kite shop <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.

  13. Tony Raven said:

    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> by the
    owner of Gone With the Wind kite shop <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.

  14. "Me" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    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

  15. 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

  16. "Me" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    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

  17. In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

    Quoted message said:

    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

  18. 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

  19. In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

    Quoted message said:

    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

  20. "Me" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    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

Active in the last 60 minutes

Active in this thread

0 users · 0 guests ·0 bots ·0 total

No signed-in users are active right now.

No known search crawlers active right now.