 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi All,
I'm scheming to get myself a new snowboard. I've realised that the board I want (Ride Machete ) is loads cheaper in america than it is here. I have some friends who live there who may be willing to buy said board and post to me.
Now before I do that, I was wondering if anyone here has done something similar? Would the board be subject to import duty (presumably yes?). Any idea how much on a snowboard? Any other details I'm missing that I should consider?
Thanks in advance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The chances are good that you'll be hit with VAT, plus a fee by your couriers when they collect the parcel. This very quickly knocks off any perceived saving over getting stuff in the States.
You've got a reasonable chance of getting away with it if you or a friend bring stuff back, but aside from that it isn't really worth gambling if $US cost plus postage plus vat plus fees is close to the UK cost. Here, you've got more consumer protection laws behind you, you can more easily deal with the vendors and you'll have far fewer hassles with warranties, etc.
I'd only bother for stuff that you just can't get in the UK/EU.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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You might get round it if it's marked as gift, but I wouldn't take the chance myself.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| lilywhite wrote: |
| You might get round it if it's marked as gift, but I wouldn't take the chance myself. |
If customs pop the item open and find it full of receipts, they're unlikely to be fooled  I'm not sure what happens then. Many sellers won't mark a purchased item as a gift, as lying to their own customs people can be bad for their business and financial wellbeing.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I've done smaller items - clothes and a netbook.
I sent it to a mate, who took it out of the original packaging and took off all the tags.
Packed it in new packaging and sent tags and receipts seperately.
Worked for me.
A board is a different matter though.
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| khwaja wrote: |
| skir67, that link would've been really good if it worked for me!. |
Odd, works for me. Quite useful, too!
It informs me that I should expect to pay 3.7% import duty on skis or snowboards, and then another 20% on top of that for VAT (so a total markup of nearly 25%). The calculator applies those charges to the sum total of item value plus shipping plus insurance, though I've no idea if that's actually correct or not.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Didn't work for me.
I put in a $200 pair of skis (under the 135 quid threshold) with $40 postage and insurance on a $200 purchase and it came out at a total price of
325 quid
EDIT :
Just did it again with no insurance value and it came out as 178.13
So by insuring the purchase in case of loss or damage it seems they calculate VAT and duty on that. Which seems ludicrous to me.
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Walked into my office today to find a letter from DHL on my desk. Cost of my new skis has risen by £179  Beware import duty, on which, unbelievably, VAT appears to be chargeable.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Mike Pow wrote: |
| So by insuring the purchase in case of loss or damage it seems they calculate VAT and duty on that. Which seems ludicrous to me. |
Yeah, that sounds a bit broken. I know someone who had some issues when a package they were sent from the states was incorrectly marked with an insurable value of $1000 instead of $100, and customs decided that if it were insured for that much it was clearly worth that much and should be taxed as such.
Import duty on insurance though? Sounds suspicious.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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zammo, and did DHL hit you for an admin charge as well?
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kitenski, Yup. "Advancement fee" = £10.50. Is this because they have paid HMRC and I am now reimbursing them, perhaps?
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You know it makes sense.
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zammo, yeh something like that, otherwise known as money for old rope....
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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VAT is always charged after duty has been added, this is why we pay so much to the government for our fuel in the UK Stick a penny on fuel duty and the actual price goes up by 1.2p The only bright side from ordering from overseas is that you shouldn't pay any sales tax in the country you buy it from
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Poster: A snowHead
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| kitenski wrote: |
| zammo, yeh something like that, otherwise known as money for old rope.... |
Thought it was known as ransom demand!
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