Another question about buying bike stuff from abroad.
I asked the question about buying mail order in the US and what type of duties and VAT I'd have to pay to get them sent to me, I've worked out that if I actually get charged the 17.5% + the 3.5% customs fee than I'm no better off. Damn. Suppose I could always risk ordering...
Anyway, after looking at the customs and excise website hmce.gov.uk143.htmOpen ↗ which was so kindly supplied by a poster, I notice that importing from inside the EU doesn't attract these charges.
Is that correct?
If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
I'd assume that Campag is cheaper in the country its made than here, so can anyone offer any links to some Italian (or other EC) sites or business that I might be able to buy record and chorus stuff from?
If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
That's correct AFAIK, and I haven't been charged any extra fees for the my small EU orders.
Quoted message said:
I'd assume that Campag is cheaper in the country its made than here, so can anyone offer any links to some Italian (or other EC) sites or business that I might be able to buy record and chorus stuff from?
You'd think so but Italian prices aren't that cheap. I doubt you'll find any that can beat UK prices for Campag when shipping is taken into account. I'd love to be proved wrong on this one!
Other ways to economise include getting some older components (that are actually as good as the current ones); mixed components instead of complete groupset; eBay deals (unused stuff).
Another question about buying bike stuff from abroad. If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
No, we are in the EU, so no extra taxes/duties when importing from another EU Country.
Quoted message said:
I'd assume that Campag is cheaper in the country its made than here,
I'm not sure you'll find stuff cheaper from Italy.A chap I know went to Italy regularly, and never bought stuff there, as it was cheaper getting it mail-order from Parker International et al here I was in the Czech Rep. last Summer, and went into a few bike shops looking for some 'Tufo' tyres which are made there (what with it being a 'poor' ex-communist Country I thought they may be a bit cheaper), but the prices there were twice what I pay for them here. Alan.
-- To reply by e-mail, change the 'minus' to 'plus'. dvatc.co.ukdvatc.co.ukOpen ↗ - Off-road cycling in the North Midlands.
If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
That's correct AFAIK, and I haven't been charged any extra fees for the my small EU orders.
Quoted message said:
I'd assume that Campag is cheaper in the country its made than here, so can anyone offer any links to some Italian (or other EC) sites or business that I might be able to buy record and chorus stuff from?
You'd think so but Italian prices aren't that cheap. I doubt you'll find any that can beat UK prices for Campag when shipping is taken into account. I'd love to be proved wrong on this one!
Other ways to economise include getting some older components (that are actually as good as the current ones); mixed components instead of complete groupset; eBay deals (unused stuff).
Another question about buying bike stuff from abroad. If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
No, we are in the EU, so no extra taxes/duties when importing from another EU Country.
Quoted message said:
I'd assume that Campag is cheaper in the country its made than here,
I'm not sure you'll find stuff cheaper from Italy.A chap I know went to Italy regularly, and never bought stuff there, as it was cheaper getting it mail-order from Parker International et al here I was in the Czech Rep. last Summer, and went into a few bike shops looking for some 'Tufo' tyres which are made there (what with it being a 'poor' ex-communist Country I thought they may be a bit cheaper), but the prices there were twice what I pay for them here. Alan.
-- To reply by e-mail, change the 'minus' to 'plus'. dvatc.co.ukdvatc.co.ukOpen ↗ - Off-road cycling in the North Midlands.
If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
That's correct AFAIK, and I haven't been charged any extra fees for the my small EU orders.
Quoted message said:
I'd assume that Campag is cheaper in the country its made than here, so can anyone offer any links to some Italian (or other EC) sites or business that I might be able to buy record and chorus stuff from?
You'd think so but Italian prices aren't that cheap. I doubt you'll find any that can beat UK prices for Campag when shipping is taken into account. I'd love to be proved wrong on this one!
Other ways to economise include getting some older components (that are actually as good as the current ones); mixed components instead of complete groupset; eBay deals (unused stuff).
Another question about buying bike stuff from abroad. If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
No, we are in the EU, so no extra taxes/duties when importing from another EU Country.
Quoted message said:
I'd assume that Campag is cheaper in the country its made than here,
I'm not sure you'll find stuff cheaper from Italy.A chap I know went to Italy regularly, and never bought stuff there, as it was cheaper getting it mail-order from Parker International et al here I was in the Czech Rep. last Summer, and went into a few bike shops looking for some 'Tufo' tyres which are made there (what with it being a 'poor' ex-communist Country I thought they may be a bit cheaper), but the prices there were twice what I pay for them here. Alan.
-- To reply by e-mail, change the 'minus' to 'plus'. dvatc.co.ukdvatc.co.ukOpen ↗ - Off-road cycling in the North Midlands.
Another question about buying bike stuff from abroad.
I asked the question about buying mail order in the US and what type of duties and VAT I'd have to pay to get them sent to me, I've worked out that if I actually get charged the 17.5% + the 3.5% customs fee than I'm no better off. Damn. Suppose I could always risk ordering...
Anyway, after looking at the customs and excise website hmce.gov.uk143.htmOpen ↗ which was so kindly supplied by a poster, I notice that importing from inside the EU doesn't attract these charges.
Is that correct?
If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
I'd assume that Campag is cheaper in the country its made than here, so can anyone offer any links to some Italian (or other EC) sites or business that I might be able to buy record and chorus stuff from?
True provided you don't get gouged on the postage and packing. Bianchi do some interesting stuff in team celeste colour (Flite saddle anyone?) but although they are cheaper than Settle Cycles, the postage is outrageous. I sent 6 tyres to Germany last week and it was only about 9 quid; Bianchi's charges are about 3 or 4 times that for a smaller and lighter package.
Another question about buying bike stuff from abroad.
I asked the question about buying mail order in the US and what type of duties and VAT I'd have to pay to get them sent to me, I've worked out that if I actually get charged the 17.5% + the 3.5% customs fee than I'm no better off. Damn. Suppose I could always risk ordering...
Anyway, after looking at the customs and excise website hmce.gov.uk143.htmOpen ↗ which was so kindly supplied by a poster, I notice that importing from inside the EU doesn't attract these charges.
Is that correct?
Yes. That's what the European Union started as - a free trade area.
Quoted message said:
If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
You'll have to pay Italian VAT. Whether that's more or less than UK VAT I don't know.
;; 'I think we should trust our president in every decision ;; that he makes and we should just support that' ;; Britney Spears of George W Bush, CNN 04:09:03
Another question about buying bike stuff from abroad.
I asked the question about buying mail order in the US and what type of duties and VAT I'd have to pay to get them sent to me, I've worked out that if I actually get charged the 17.5% + the 3.5% customs fee than I'm no better off. Damn. Suppose I could always risk ordering...
Anyway, after looking at the customs and excise website hmce.gov.uk143.htmOpen ↗ which was so kindly supplied by a poster, I notice that importing from inside the EU doesn't attract these charges.
Is that correct?
If I mail order something from italy will I not have to pay any extra fees other than postage and packaging?
I'd assume that Campag is cheaper in the country its made than here, so can anyone offer any links to some Italian (or other EC) sites or business that I might be able to buy record and chorus stuff from?
True provided you don't get gouged on the postage and packing. Bianchi do some interesting stuff in team celeste colour (Flite saddle anyone?) but although they are cheaper than Settle Cycles, the postage is outrageous. I sent 6 tyres to Germany last week and it was only about 9 quid; Bianchi's charges are about 3 or 4 times that for a smaller and lighter package.
Technically you can still be charged for VAT, but there is no duty as the goods are moving between EU countries, in most cases the VAT is not requested because the cost incurred by customs trying to collect it can be far greater than the amount involved. -- Ian
In message <[email hidden]>, Ian <[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Me said:
Another question about buying bike stuff from abroad.
I asked the question about buying mail order in the US and what type of duties and VAT I'd have to pay to get them sent to me, I've worked out that if I actually get charged the 17.5% + the 3.5% customs fee than I'm no better off. Damn. Suppose I could always risk ordering...
Anyway, after looking at the customs and excise website hmce.gov.uk143.htmOpen ↗ which was so kindly supplied by a poster, I notice that importing from inside the EU doesn't attract these charges.
Technically you can still be charged for VAT, but there is no duty as the goods are moving between EU countries, in most cases the VAT is not requested because the cost incurred by customs trying to collect it can be far greater than the amount involved.
But surely if I buy something from say Germany online I am charged German VAT at the point of purchase.
Where does C&E get involved? -- Chris French, Leeds
Technically you can still be charged for VAT, but there is no duty as the goods are moving between EU countries, in most cases the VAT is not requested because the cost incurred by customs trying to collect it can be far greater than the amount involved.
But surely if I buy something from say Germany online I am charged German VAT at the point of purchase.
Where does C&E get involved?
It doesn't. You are correct in that wherever you buy it for personal use in Europe you pay the local VAT at the point of purchase and are then free to move the good around within Europe as you wish.
Mail order everything from Germany. They are best organised for mail order and have one of the lower VAT rates in Europe, and the cheapest freight rates. Also, you are unlikely to get ripped off by Germans. I'd avoid buying from Italy - it is one of the most expensive coutnries in Europe, and having lived in both Germany and Italy for quite a few years I'd rather pay up front to a German mail order company any day.
I'd second that - i don't understand why German freight rates are so much cheaper than everywhere else in Europe. I live in France and it is cheaper for me to buy mail order (for bike spares and lots of other stuff too) from Germany than it is to buy from France. Germany rocks for mail order - they're streets ahead of the rest of Europe. UK is well organised but if on the continent suffers from being an island and not being in Euro zone.
Also, you are unlikely to get ripped off by Germans.
On one ski trip to Garmisch:
- the girls wooden toboggan went missing. We found it in the rental stock of a local shop - it had our names clearly burnt into the wood on the top surface so was hard to miss - a restaurant put the same meal through my credit card on two different days - the furnicular sold us tickets before informing us it was closed and they didn't do refunds - the hotel sent us an additional bill through the tourist information office. When we enquired what it was for they said we had deceived them about our childrens ages and since they were over 7 years we had to pay extra room charges for them. The girls at the time were 2 years old!
You are just as likely to get ripped off by Germans IME
