i want to buy some stuff of ebay, it gets shipped from the US, they try to avoid all custom charges, but in some cases charges apply.

am just wondering if its a fixed rate or is it dependant on what you get, what price and weight

anyone had anything from US, i had some t-shirts, but im sure i never got charged customs, although it was checked by them

just would like to know what im letting myself in for when i push buy it now

Gaz, a number of years ago, I was going to import the Creative Nomad (1) Mp3 player. I had a friend in America order it for me but eventually cancelled it as I couldn't afford the extra import charges. I had HMCE phone me after emailing them and if i remember correctly, there was a cost of VAT and a cost of 3.5% of that for import duty. Though:

1) I could have forgotten in the long time it has been since I got it
2) It might have changed.

It's a very difficult area to be honest. For example, get things sent as a gift under £x and pay nothing. But....would you risk it? etc.

do i pay export duties and import duties, i cant find any info on US customs, UK have a very good guide though, shame its not what i wanted to see, telly 14% import duty + 17.5% vat

i dont really wanna risk it, but the seller says in the ad that he will try and avoid it, if i got caught would i have to pay more

gaz_wrexham said:

do i pay export duties and import duties, i cant find any info on US customs, UK have a very good guide though, shame its not what i wanted to see, telly 14% import duty + 17.5% vat

i dont really wanna risk it, but the seller says in the ad that he will try and avoid it, if i got caught would i have to pay more

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if you try to dodge im sure you'll get a fine
And on a telly? i think you'll have a hard job getting it through without problems TBH. some people i know managed to import their PSP's from japan, but they're alot smaller

this only a small telly for the car, £280 there or £650+ over here - i wouldnt be sure if states one would work over here though

gaz_wrexham said:

this only a small telly for the car, £280 there or £650+ over here - i wouldnt be sure if states one would work over here though

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Basically the smaller they are the less likely they are to be picked up upon. Usually boxing it up in a plain package etc makes them less noticeable too. Working out the fines + vat + importing duty, its still cheaper than buyin here... So may be worth it??

but they state compatability might not be right - dont wanna waste money on something that aint gonna work

The US uses NSTC don't they so surely it's useless? Gaz, got a link?

i was thinking that too, but the telly will just be a monitor, although i would like to hook up my ps2 to it, but hasnt that got a switch on the back of it to swap from ntsc to pal, my cd changer would also attach to it

both selling same product

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32826&item=5757843796&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32826&item=5760190590&rd=1

Just had a look on the back of my PS2 and no PAL to NTSC switch... The newer slimmer ones may have but the old ones dont. So yea, i think pauls correct and it wouldnt work.

My brother had some electronics from the US once and the Customs charges on them were horrendous. Nearly as much as the item itself. So be careful what you buy!

Have a look here for all FAQS:

http://www.hmce.gov.uk/channelsPort...yType=document&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_CL_001454

I get contacts from Canada, and sometimes the postman forgets to charge me, even though there is a stamp on the parcel - never had any comeback either

double doh :bang: - just looked on back of ps2 got a switch but I/G whatever that is

hmm decisions time, change setup or save a little more....temptation

EDIT - cheers stu - read that link before, was quite helpful

anything over the value of £18 is liable to be stopped by customs. in theory if item is marked as gift and no value marked on it it shold come straight through as they do not know whats inside or what its worth. but that is in theory. if the value is delcared on teh package then it will be stopped you will pay import fees, 17.5vat and a fixed rate handling charge.

smaller items marked as gifts are mor likely to ge through especialy if its the sort of thing that will fit in a letter box.

I thought all items from/to the USA now need to have a full form filled in and its contents correctly and legally labelled. If you don't, the FBI could be saying hello!

17.5% vat + 3.5% import duty. Then handling charge (Royal mail is about £7/£8)

You do not pay duty on anything under £18, or £36 if marked as gift.

About 1 in 6 parcels are checked.

Did you also know the same thing applies to buying items on holiday?? The limit is about £200, anything more and you have to go through the red "Stuff to Declare" door.

A PS2 WILL work on an NTSC TV. BUT, if the GAME outputs PAL then you will have problems. A mod chipped unit can force modes, so you can get around it that way.

That unit however seems to be a multiband one.... mail him and ask!

Ben is telling me that I was right?! His info supports what I remember from 6-7 years ago.

yeah youa re supposed to say whats on the packet even more so if you sending stuff to usa. if you sending anyone any food items to usa now you have to let them know in advance and obtain a number wich you put onto your parcel.

as for stuff comming in uk yea you are supposed to asay waht it is but im sure loads dont and i have had stuff that was not markey or you could lie. they must make allowances. i mean whats point of sending or recieving a surprise birthday pressent when it sais on packet whats inside.

if it's a small screen to go into your car...how about these?



http://caraudiosecurity.com/catalog/index.php+cPath+49_74

having said that there seem to be a ton of companies offering up similair items all based in the u.k.

or is it a specific item only?

The present thing is a bastard as you dont want the person to know what it is.... lol...
However you can usually use different languages (i think we can use french) so you can write in foreign...

I was trying to think of something creative to call a box of chocolates (i was sending for a friends birthday) - in the end: Confiserie (french for sweet / confectionary)

Basically, you need to look at is as you will pay the whole whack, anything less is a bonus