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Importing from US
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:08 am
by nickphillips
Hi
Any thoughts, problems importing from the US, im thinking of getting a pair of heat exchangers $420 each at todays exchange rate seem pretty good. I presume i may be hit for import duty etc, thoughts please
cheers
nick
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:16 am
by Luke
Nick buying goods fromt he states is a bit of a tax lottery. I've had 300USD parcels come in the normal post with nothing to pay, and I've had 50USD parcels where I had to pay VAT plus a handling charge by Parcel Force.
Potentially you will have to pay 17.5% VAT plus duty (which I think is 5%) plus potentially a fee from Parcelforce/handler for adding these 2 numbers together of about 8gbp
Luke
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:29 am
by cubist
I do this:
Ask the sender to state that the parts are 'used auto parts of no resale value' and state the value under $20 on the US export green sticker.
This will delete the import tax etc and you'll only have the carriers mugging to contend with... try and pay for the items on your credit card to retain some insurance cover though.
Seems to work fine
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 11:08 am
by FraserMurray
I've gone down a similar route for all things I get from the states following several bad experience with those parcel force m**** f****** and they always work the duty and import out on the dollar rather than £ and make you claim it back, oh how I hate them!
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 11:29 am
by cubist
Had some Solex 40s+manifolds delivered here last summer. Postage and carraige charge paid in US. It was 4.45pm and I was in a studio upstairs getting ready to go on my hols the next day when Fedexman came into reception. Got called down to settle the bill. £34.50 excess charge f'crissake!!!! Went into reception and took the item into the 'postroom' while I 'just nipped upstairs for my credit card...' I was on my train home before he realised I wasn't coming down again AND the receptionist that signed for the parcel was only temping for the day! :twisted:
Felt VERY good but i think the Baby Jesus wasn't happy with me and i got a bad karma cold sore as recompense
European/German contact
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 1:19 pm
by nickphillips
Anybody got any names/websites in germany/europe for the items?. Just another idea.
cheers
nick
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 1:22 pm
by impmad2000
FraserMurray wrote:they always work the duty and import out on the dollar rather than £ and make you claim it back
Just had some bits sent from pelican, and get burnt by the tax and handling charge. I'll check that they didn't base the charge on the dollar rate... Good tip.
Thanks
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 1:37 pm
by Luke
Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2004 11:27 pm
by g3ngs
I'm with Luke, it is a bit hit and miss, with Pelican I have had a 100% instance of getting taxed, I also bought some h exchangers from another source and got shafted, But I have also got barrels and pistons and suspension parts and not been taxed.
Good luck
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 9:56 pm
by Bob_Salmon
Very cheerful postman at the door this morning with a package from MotorMiester (set of pistons & rings). Charge was £93.00 for handling, duty & VAT.
Still a good price but it came on a day when one computer hard drive failed and there was no hot water because the immersion heater packed up - no big deal except I had to cut a hole in the ceiling to make room to lift the old one out before I could fit a new one! Oh yes, and the parts washer tank pump on order from Draper since early February is still not available and has been placed on backorder (whatever that means).
Some days are worse than others........................
Bob