Buying from ebay US - help!

[markoc]

I'm hopefully goign to buy (win) something on US ebay. Now, I have a question about customs, import duty etc - namely, what happens?

I'd hate to miss out on this one, but if I get nailed for silly duties it will make it too expensive.

Anyone got any experiences?

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

Play it smart swallow hard and "render unto Caesar".

 

[ratch]

I've bought a few things from the U.S and there doesn't seem to be any pattern to the extra charges :cry:

All seems to be a bit of a lottery in my experience :roll:

All you can do is hope and pray!

( Unless it's your birthday.....cough cough )

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

Feedback that I have received from buyers overseas is this.....if the item is noted as "used" on the US customs document when it leaves it either doesn;t get taxed or gets taxed at a lower rate. I have no idea how the figure the VAT, duty or tariffs once it lands over there.

ie used bike derailleur, used bike frame, used bike wheels

 

[suburbanreuben]

Anything under £30 or so (Not sure of exact figure), including postage costs, attracts no duty. Above that, it's 5% import duty +17.5% VAT+"handling fee"of about £10-15. You might get lucky and pay nothing, or you might have Fedex deliver it, in which case they will think of a number and double it. You will get a refund after, IF you are persistant. I think they assume mosty people won't bother chasing them for £20-30, and they are probably right.

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

That's easy then....just don't use Federal Express. Use Priority Mail.

 

[markoc]

Well, i've had a cheeky bid. Now all I need to do is complete an evening on the sauce and see if tomorrow morning the next stage of this little adventure begins. Stay tuned!

 

[tintin40]

Hit and miss. Some times i've been caught for charges and other times gone through uncharged :roll:

 

[Deveron53]

I got hit by 15 quid including the Royal Fail cut of 8 quid. That was on a crown and steerer with a value of $60. The postie said the percentage of parcels getting charged had gone up over the last few months, looks like the government is paying for the bank bailout by another stealth tax!

 

[Easy_Rider]

Duty (VAT) is payable in all cases outside of Europe and always has been, just factor it in the final cost, it's not a stealth TAX and has been in existence for donkeys (Hence Duty Free shopping!). If you end up not paying then you were lucky, although really you should be declaring it. That is commerce :roll: