I have noticed recently many of the boxes I send to the UK are being inspected and delayed . And UK customs are charging fees on boxes I value at $60 value with shipping around $30 . The UK buyers are not happy with this and want me to pay their customs fees also.Boxes take 3-4 weeks now to reach the Uk, used to take 7-10 days. I have not lost a box to the UK fortuneately , but some close calls.UK buyers and USA sellers who receive and ship boxes are welcome to respond.
UK Customs fees from the USA (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter agmtanks
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thebritfarmer
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While I am neither a USA seller or a UK buyer, I will say this regarding the customs charges. It is the buyers responsibilty to pay for this. It is amazing how many people are dumdfounded by this !!! Come on peopel it is not a new concept !!! The only thing that does suck though is we have little idea what the charges will be. You only are exempt if it is a gift.
To cover yourself I would state in the listings that the buyer is responsible for any customs charges.
To cover yourself I would state in the listings that the buyer is responsible for any customs charges.
I realize it is the buyers responsibility for customs charges, and most UK buyers realize this, but there are always some who try to take advantage of the EBAY buyer is always right . And I will not comment on my marking boxes as a gift or not, but UK Customs seem to be slapping fess on all boxes, maybe they need more fees ????
_FLYNN_86
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If you buy from the states, i think the maximum price of the goods can be £30 if it is sent as a gift. I know that if your parcel gets held up in the depot in uk and there is a charge to paid. Then parcel force pays it for you and then charge you an extra £13 for the privilage on top of the ransom. At the end of the day its the buyers fault and the buyer should pay the charge. I had to pay £36 for a parcel about 2 months ago and i wasnt bothered beacuse it would have still cost alot more to buy the models over here in the uk. Its hit and miss mostly, sometimes you get caught its just the way it is.
thebritfarmer
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It's weird how things work.
I had a parcel delivered from Canada (by Canada post) and obviously had no customs fees, he just dropped it off and was on his way.
Then the same guy delivered a parcel from the UK and had to collect duty which was fine but they also charged me the taxes and $5 delivery fee !!!
It was Canada Post and the same postal worker for petes sake. I need to figure out to have my purchases either faxed or emailed to me HAHAHAHA
I had a parcel delivered from Canada (by Canada post) and obviously had no customs fees, he just dropped it off and was on his way.
Then the same guy delivered a parcel from the UK and had to collect duty which was fine but they also charged me the taxes and $5 delivery fee !!!
It was Canada Post and the same postal worker for petes sake. I need to figure out to have my purchases either faxed or emailed to me HAHAHAHA
Phantom Warrior
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It's weird how things work.
I had a parcel delivered from Canada (by Canada post) and obviously had no customs fees, he just dropped it off and was on his way.
Then the same guy delivered a parcel from the UK and had to collect duty which was fine but they also charged me the taxes and $5 delivery fee !!!
It was Canada Post and the same postal worker for petes sake. I need to figure out to have my purchases either faxed or emailed to me HAHAHAHA
For parcels from the US or GB, if Customs decides to apply GST and a Provincial sales tax, Canada Post will charge a $5.00 administration fee. If customs just lets the parcel through with no taxes, then Canada Post charges nothing.
It's all hit and miss
Terry
Cardigan600
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Yo Troopers, its the same for Ireland as the UK, say you buy something for $400.00 you have to pay an extra £50/60 at the door, unless its marked gift. If the USA seller wont mark it as a gift I dont buy it, I mean whats he got to lose on the deal, but a lot of US sellers wont mark it as a gift so tough on them NO SALE.
The biggest joke in Ireland regards customs is, if you buy something expensive and its posted from the UK you get stung by the customs. BUT you can drive up to Northern Ireland which is UK, buy £10,000s worth of items and just drive back to the South no custom charges there. They did away with the customs post years back so its costing the Irish Government a fortune in lost revenue. I was up there on Monday and if I buy 800 cigarettes I get 200 free on what I would pay in the South. Mary said why dont I get a Northern Ireland postal address and just drive up and get my items. Its a real joke.
Bernard.
The biggest joke in Ireland regards customs is, if you buy something expensive and its posted from the UK you get stung by the customs. BUT you can drive up to Northern Ireland which is UK, buy £10,000s worth of items and just drive back to the South no custom charges there. They did away with the customs post years back so its costing the Irish Government a fortune in lost revenue. I was up there on Monday and if I buy 800 cigarettes I get 200 free on what I would pay in the South. Mary said why dont I get a Northern Ireland postal address and just drive up and get my items. Its a real joke.
Bernard.
Richard Tree
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IT SUCKS
It's the same for us in Holland. Customs charge import tax and VAT for anything from abraod above euro 25. Above that you will be charged a 12 euro handling fee by the postoffice because the have to administer the parcel. In the end for a parcel of 60 US dollar i pay an additionel 20 to 30 euro and that allmost double the price.
It sucks, there is no free trade and we are robbed! And that's not caused by the seller or the buyer, it's politics
It's the same for us in Holland. Customs charge import tax and VAT for anything from abraod above euro 25. Above that you will be charged a 12 euro handling fee by the postoffice because the have to administer the parcel. In the end for a parcel of 60 US dollar i pay an additionel 20 to 30 euro and that allmost double the price.
It sucks, there is no free trade and we are robbed! And that's not caused by the seller or the buyer, it's politics
Wraith
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The charges have always been there. I think the figure set for items coming in to the UK, is that Customs can charge for it if the declared value if over £18 ($25 - $30US ?)
I'm pretty sure it's immaterial if it's marked as a gift or anything else, it's the declared value that counts.
What has changed, is that a couple of years ago, it was quite normal for parcels of anything up to say, $100 declared, to go through without customs bathering with it. It was always a bit hit and miss, but more often than not, they didn't bother with it. Nowadays, EVERYTHING gets a customs tax on it, if it exceeds that £18 threshold.
As has been said above, they are obviously getting a bit short on cash.
As for the ebay transactions, it's a straightforward given for me that the UK buyer (unfortunately) picks up the customs charge (and the rip off £12 Parcel Force 'clearance fee' ) where this is applied.
Simon
I'm pretty sure it's immaterial if it's marked as a gift or anything else, it's the declared value that counts.
What has changed, is that a couple of years ago, it was quite normal for parcels of anything up to say, $100 declared, to go through without customs bathering with it. It was always a bit hit and miss, but more often than not, they didn't bother with it. Nowadays, EVERYTHING gets a customs tax on it, if it exceeds that £18 threshold.
As has been said above, they are obviously getting a bit short on cash
.As for the ebay transactions, it's a straightforward given for me that the UK buyer (unfortunately) picks up the customs charge (and the rip off £12 Parcel Force 'clearance fee' ) where this is applied.
Simon
Phantom Warrior
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The only consolation is that the item is not taxed in the originating country or that would really hurt sales.
Terry
Terry
For Imports to Canada :
Toy soldiers are EXEMPT of any duty and this even applies to toy soldiers made in China. I've filled hundreds of custom forms so I'm sure of that.
So for all of us canadians, you should only be charged 5% GST, PST if it's a non commercial import, and 5$ fees for Canada post or more if you chose UPS or FedEx.
Now you also have to know that your canadian dealer will only have to pay his cost price from the manufacturer + shipping. But he will not incur any duties and will get a refund for the GST he paid on the import.
Cheers,
Alex
Toy soldiers are EXEMPT of any duty and this even applies to toy soldiers made in China. I've filled hundreds of custom forms so I'm sure of that.
So for all of us canadians, you should only be charged 5% GST, PST if it's a non commercial import, and 5$ fees for Canada post or more if you chose UPS or FedEx.
Now you also have to know that your canadian dealer will only have to pay his cost price from the manufacturer + shipping. But he will not incur any duties and will get a refund for the GST he paid on the import.
Cheers,
Alex
Toy Soldier Brigade
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Any imports valued at 25.00 and up are subject to the dreaded VAT tax in the UK. Get used to it because it's coming to the U.S. very soon
Phantom Warrior
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That is correct - there is no duty, but in Ontario there is the 5% GST, 8% PST and the $5 admin fee from Canada Post. That still comes to 13%. The only consolation is that US taxes are not charged on sales to Canada. If we are lucky, the item is not charged anything by Customs or Canada Post when it crosses the border. But the greater the declared value of the parcel, the more likely it will be taxed.
Terry
Beaufighter
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Cheers:
I have already passed this on to a few members but thought it was appropriate to post for all involved. Here is the exact eBay verbage forwarded to me by a customer service representative. They (eBay) strongly recommended posting this exact phraseology in each and every auction that would involve international buyers. Forum Squadron Members, here you go...
"International Buyers – Please Note:
Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or
shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.
Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these
additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.
Customs fees are normally charged by the shipping company or collected
when you pick the item up. These fees are not additional shipping
charges.
We won't under-value merchandise or mark the item as a gift on customs
forms. Doing that is against U.S. and international laws."
Hang Tough,
Marc
VIRIATO
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Customs taxes between 2 European Union countries (UK and Ireland)
?How can that be?
Paulo
Here is a link to add to what "Beaufighter" posted:
http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-removal.html
Go to: Feedback which refers to customs delays or customs fees
If a seller receives negative/neutral feedback from a seller who takes issue over customs fees, he (the seller) can request to have the adverse feedback removed. This appears to be with the proviso that the "magic words" are in the seller's item listing.
Regards, Raymond.
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