Post Brexit import experiences

Brettafett · Sep 14, 2021

US to UK = HELL! Fire. Brimstone. Tears.
EU to UK = Not great, but manageable
China to UK = No drama

Adence · Sep 16, 2021

well, the „6 weeks“ till arrival of the new website for the EU market I was told by Holly in spring this year must be over pretty soon!

Edward · Sep 17, 2021

I can't comment no how things are working right now for UK to EU, but for the other way around the British government has recently indicated it will be pushing further back the introduction of the customs checks on good from the EU entering the UK. That said, a few months ago I had to pay a duty on an item shipped from France for the first time, so it all seems a bit up in the air right now.

Al 916 · Sep 17, 2021

I bought a watch from Germany pre Brexit. Needed some warranty repair and post brexit it was sent back.
UPS (manufacturers courier) insisted to them and to me that duty and VAT needed paying on the re-entry.
After me refusing three times the German watch co picked up the bill.

Pretty daft

nattevagten · Sep 21, 2021

Adence said:
well, the „6 weeks“ till arrival of the new website for the EU market I was told by Holly in spring this year must be over pretty soon!

Yeah, I was told it's coming in June, but it's September already. I wonder what's taking so long.

Has anyway from the EU sent something to Aero for repairs after Brexit? Can't imagine paying VAT or import fees for this...

Marc mndt · Sep 21, 2021

nattevagten said:
Has anyway from the EU sent something to Aero for repairs after Brexit? Can't imagine paying VAT or import fees for this...

I sent my FL jacket for repairs to Schotland, had to pay VAT plus handling fees when it came back into the country.

Greg contacted the carrier (DHL) to explain to them it was a repair and therefore it shouldn't be taxed. DHL told him it doesn't matter whether repair or not, VAT needs to be payed.

Brexit sucks big time.

Imuricecreamman · Sep 21, 2021

Marc mndt said:
I sent my FL jacket for repairs to Schotland, had to pay VAT plus handling fees when it came back into the country.

Greg contacted the carrier (DHL) to explain to them it was a repair and therefore it shouldn't be taxed. DHL told him it doesn't matter whether repair or not, VAT needs to be payed.

Brexit sucks big time.

VAT on what? The full purchaseprice? That is absurd.

Marc mndt · Sep 21, 2021

Imuricecreamman said:
VAT on what?

Over the value of the shipment + shipping costs

Absurd indeed.

Riu · Sep 21, 2021

Marc mndt said:
I sent my FL jacket for repairs to Schotland, had to pay VAT plus handling fees when it came back into the country.

Greg contacted the carrier (DHL) to explain to them it was a repair and therefore it shouldn't be taxed. DHL told him it doesn't matter whether repair or not, VAT needs to be payed.

Brexit sucks big time.

That is ridiculous! It's crazy where all this is going really, I've heard that people are still unsure about many things even now, therefore they apply VAT to pretty much everything.

Imuricecreamman · Sep 21, 2021

Riu said:
That is ridiculous! It's crazy where all this is going really, I've heard that people are still unsure about many things even now, therefore they apply VAT to pretty much everything.

They really didn't think this through. THis must have a big impact on a lot of businesses.

Riu · Sep 21, 2021

Imuricecreamman said:
They really didn't think this through. THis must have a big impact on a lot of businesses.

They didn't think many things, It's sad that it backfires on companies that most of the time have been given either wrong or incomplete information. Too much politics screw things up in my opinion but that's the world we live in.

jacketjunkie · Sep 21, 2021

In Germany, if you send an item outside out the EU for repairs, you can contact the customs department and initiate a process that will make sure that upon re-entry into Germany, you don‘t have to pay customs and tax on the items value but only for the alteration/repair costs. Anything else makes no sense, so I would be very surprised if other countries did not have similar legislation.

Rich22 · Sep 21, 2021

jacketjunkie said:
In Germany, if you send an item outside out the EU for repairs, you can contact the customs department and initiate a process that will make sure that upon re-entry into Germany, you don‘t have to pay customs and tax on the items value but only for the alteration/repair costs. Anything else makes no sense, so I would be very surprised if other countries did not have similar legislation.

That would make sense, but then again, tax laws often make no sense.

By the way, it seems hit and miss whether UK customs will charge imports or not lately. I play a sport called padel (Spanish tennis) and my friends often shop from a Spanish store. All orders should attract fees as the value is over £135, but at least half slip through.

Marc mndt · Sep 21, 2021

jacketjunkie said:
In Germany, if you send an item outside out the EU for repairs, you can contact the customs department and initiate a process that will make sure that upon re-entry into Germany, you don‘t have to pay customs and tax on the items value but only for the alteration/repair costs. Anything else makes no sense, so I would be very surprised if other countries did not have similar legislation.

You're right and that's how it should be. But it looks like the carriers are reluctant to play along and rather play dumb. Which isn't all that surprising, for each transaction DHL charges €17 handling fees. Looks like DHL saw Brexit as a great opportunity to make some extra bucks.

Rich22 · Sep 21, 2021

Posting a leather jacket (insured) around the UK is also more expensive than you'd think it should be- a round trip would be nearly £60 using Royal Mail, and I can't see any cheaper alternatives? Anyone got any clever suggestions?

Al 916 · Sep 21, 2021

Marc mndt said:
You're right and that's how it should be. But it looks like the carriers are reluctant to play along and rather play dumb. Which isn't all that surprising, for each transaction DHL charges €17 handling fees. Looks like DHL saw Brexit as a great opportunity to make some extra bucks.

View attachment 363033

Pretty much the same with that watch and DHL. DHL collect the fee (or make up one)

Rich22 · Sep 21, 2021

I think if foreign parcels end up in Britain, and aren't entering the Royal Mail system, when dealing with customs the delivery firm get to set their own admin fee. Doesn't one of them charge over £30 for that service? A standard unregulated scam. Pathetic that the system is set up like it is, to try to deter anyone importing anything.

MrProper · Sep 21, 2021

I had sent a jacket back to Aero with the note repair. Then got the new jacket back and have paid no vat or duty.

Mich486 · Sep 21, 2021

Rich22 said:
Posting a leather jacket (insured) around the UK is also more expensive than you'd think it should be- a round trip would be nearly £60 using Royal Mail, and I can't see any cheaper alternatives? Anyone got any clever suggestions?

Over 2kg fully insured (say £500)? I don’t think you can do much better than that.

I find that sometimes Parcel Force (still RM group) is marginally more convenient than RM but not a big difference.

It makes a difference of course if you don’t insure and you are ok to gamble a little. It’s damn expensive to ship around leather jackets and boots!

Al 916 · Sep 21, 2021

Try one of the couriers DPD, MyHermes etc

Post Brexit import experiences

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Call Me a Cab

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My Mail is Forwarded Here

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