Buying from USA

[sanderling]

Has anyone tried buying new equipment online from USA, I've been lookiing at the prices and after working out the conversion, they're a lot lower prices than here. The obvious problem would be if you needed to send the item back, but even bearing this in mind, it still would be a lot cheaper so does this outweigh possible risks which also apply to buying from other places?

[coasty]

You need to watch out for import duty this can add substantially to the price you pay,,,This will be levied by the customs and will have to be paid to the courier before you take receipt.

Sometimes you get lucky and items arent taxed but you should assume that generally you will pay around 35%.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by sanderling

Has anyone tried buying new equipment online from USA, I've been lookiing at the prices and after working out the conversion, they're a lot lower prices than here. The obvious problem would be if you needed to send the item back, but even bearing this in mind, it still would be a lot cheaper so does this outweigh possible risks which also apply to buying from other places?

I try to avoid buying anything from USA but some CDs and books are seriously cheap! Two tips are to buy through Amazon or other large dealers with an international reputation to maintain and always use a credit card to pay - if anything goes wrong then the credit card company shares responsibility.

Another thing to consider, if we're talking camera and such equipment, is that you'll most likely get even better deals buying direct from Asia - after all the equipment is unlikely to be USAmerican.

[sanderling]

Originally Posted by coasty

You need to watch out for import duty this can add substantially to the price you pay,,,This will be levied by the customs and will have to be paid to the courier before you take receipt.

Sometimes you get lucky and items arent taxed but you should assume that generally you will pay around 35%.

Thanks for that info coasty, Ive just looked up Customs & Excise and it seems that you need to pay the VAT to the courier... so unless I'm missing somthing, that would be 17.5% not 35%?

[malantone]

Originally Posted by sanderling

Thanks for that info coasty, Ive just looked up Customs & Excise and it seems that you need to pay the VAT to the courier... so unless I'm missing somthing, that would be 17.5% not 35%?

Hello, I`ve just bought some auto game bird feeders from Cabelas USA you pay vat 17.5% on the full price inc delivery also parcelforce will charge you 8.00p per package handling charge.
I had a problem as my order came in two boxes, the import duty label on each box showed the full price of the order, therefore I was charged vat X 2,
I had to claim it back which took time but they were very fair if a bit slow.

Good luck Tony A.

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by sanderling

Has anyone tried buying new equipment online from USA

I got my Canon 500mm lens from the USA but I didn't import it myself. I went through the well known Scottish trader. Obviously he takes a cut but I still saved hundreds of pounds.

The import tax and VAT are included in the price so there are no worries on that score. He also handles the exchange and return to the USA if the goods are faulty.

I did think about directly importing but after looking into it decided not to bother for reasons already mentioned on this thread.

[ron1863]

Buying from abroad may mean the warranty doesn't cover the product in the U.K. especially items bought in the U.S.A. and Asia, I think it's fine for items bought in the EUC, but not sure.

Ron

[BillyPilgrim]

Originally Posted by ron1863

Buying from abroad may mean the warranty doesn't cover the product in the U.K. especially items bought in the U.S.A. and Asia, I think it's fine for items bought in the EUC, but not sure.

Ron

Depends on the brand.

With Canon you are ok 'cos they issue a 1 year international warranty.

Sigma (I think) insist on a UK VAT receipt.

Nikon throw their teddy out of pram and won't touch it unless they've imported it themselves and inflated the price

Not sure if I'm 100% correct but I think I'm nearly there!

[Blackbrook Eye]

Originally Posted by sanderling

Thanks for that info coasty, Ive just looked up Customs & Excise and it seems that you need to pay the VAT to the courier... so unless I'm missing somthing, that would be 17.5% not 35%?

The extra cost is the charge levied by the carrier for payment on your behalf and in the case of most carriers will be equal to, or often more than the VAT payable, I recently bought a set of security cameras from a company in the US, the VAT came to Twenty three pounds and a few coppers but by the time TNT had added their fee it came to more than Fifty seven pounds, payable before the goods were handed over, its something to bear in mind when buying 'cheap' from the Yanks

Keith

[m1.carson]

Hi,

Not talking mega-money, but I noticed my bank charged £1-00 for an overseas transaction.

Max.

P.S. the item was posted and left the States in two days, Parcelforce then took over a week to get it to me.