uk customs & vat charges

Totally agree with you Rocketeer, what value will you claim if the item is "lost" or damaged in case of undervalue (50 $ for a 300 $ jacket), the customs won't loose their time to verify each package in the 50 $ range, so you can be sure that you would'nt be inspected.
In France, if you're declared a certain value, you can't assured a other value so you must choose...
If prefer take my chance, with USPS, some packages are cleared, some doesn't.
Cheers,
F68

 

They often assume all prices are in GBP.

 

yep, and they do that even when there's a $ in front of the number!

 

When I have received items from the UK via DHL (or UPS), a bill follows in the mail a short time later. So, you may still get the bill for the import tariff.

John

 

Thanks for the heads-up!

 

SHHH Pipe down man. I've gotten 3 jackets from Europe in the last 7 months. Two from Scotland and one from the mainland. Bottom lines is I've not been charged duty once... Mebbe they're slipping up, mebbe we're just "lucky". Either way for that kind of luck to hold WE NEED TO KEEP OUR COLLECTIVE MOUTHS SHUT!!!!

Worf

 

Yep, Dave.:tape2: Big Brother may be watching.:usa:

 

This was my experience as well.

 

I recently bought an Aero and a Lewis on ebay.co.uk and had them shipped to my sister who brought them over in her bag when she came to visit me in NYC. Saved a lot on shipping and all the rest but she didn't half complain about the extra weight!

 

I've found x-mas is a good time to get stuff sent from the States to the UK. The PO is just to busy to levy charges.

If it comes by courier you will almost always be billed as they are much more efficient.

 

That's unfortunate.

I had two parcels from the US last week. One was delivered by a kind postman with NO charges levied.

The second one, I had to drive and collect AND pay for the priviledge. Don't you just love the "admin fee" they stick on for the retrograde service?:eeek:

 

The last Aero jacket I bought was delivered to my house by a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier. She said I have to pay $60 plus dollars Customs fees to get the package. I asked her why I am paying the Postal Service the money, why not Customs direct. She replied the Postal Service is the "agent" for U.S. Customs.
I often wonder what fees the Postal Service derives from U.S. Customs acting as their "agent."

I feel your pain Peter and I, like you, am through purchasing merchandise from the other side of the Atlantic, mostly though because of the VAT.

Regards,
coffee

 

Nice one, Peter. Pics soon, I hope

 

If I order an A-2 from Bill Kelso in Greece would there be a VAT charge to ship it to California USA
or is the VAT only for the UK and within EU countries? If so does anyone know what that VAT percentage would be?

 

VAT is only for EU countries. You will only need to pay US customs, much less than >20% VAT.

 

There should be no VAT for exports from the EU. It is only charged within the EU and on imports to it. The rate varies a little from country to country and is currently 20% in the UK.

Best to email him, he replies quickly.

 

I concur Capesofwrath........I like how you think. However Aero and Eastman disagree.

Regards,
coffee