Can anyone advise me what the total cost is likely to be when buying bike parts from America? I`ve googled a few sites with import duty calculators and I`m getting prices ranging from £170 to £208. This is how the prices break down. Parts = $149.99 (£106.99) Shipping = the seller quoted "shipping to the UK would likely be $43 using USPS or $82 via UPS". (£30.67 or £58.50) Import duty = between 3 - 4.5% but I`ve also seen 2.7% quoted. Vat = 20% charged on the total of the above three, if I understand it right. Are there any other costs to consider? I wouldn`t be surprised if Parcelforce or one of their ilk are also waiting to swoop in for their cut as well. The parts are a set of Speedymoto underbody frame sliders. I suppose a small-ish package could quite easily slip through unnoticed, maybe.
Yep - youll probably get fucked...i think they charge your vat on the cost of the carriage also....im thinking of pulling the trigger on a part from af1 (an alloy coolant manifold replacement unit) i think it started off at 90 doolars but when one of the lads on the forum got it back to the uk it weighed in at 130 quid or thereabouts...my Brother is heading out to Milwaukee in a couple of weeks for a few days on business and did ask me if i wanted anything small to be brought back so im currently thinking of contacting af1 to see if they can send said part to my brother office over there...or more to the point, see if they will...
You should be able to get a quote from UPS delivered to your door, with all duties/taxes paid, with no further ugliness from HMRC, Royal Mail admin or anybody else's charges etc..
Yes - but thatll all get factored in there though - and being the ups premium i expect itll probably work out the same....
The Post Office (aka Parcelforce) will definitely make you wait then go in dry, well, they may use a bit of tobasco sauce for lube and sand paper as a condom and charge you for the pleasure. I've always found UPS or DHL far more reasonable.
No idea how it is calculated but if I recall correctly I bought a set of levers from the states last year which cost me $200 and when they got here I had to pay about £50 in taxes and handling costs..... actually cost me £10 more than if I bought them here in the first place Do it but be prepared for a proper financial rogering!
They’ll add VAT (20%) plus import duty (4%) to the gross cost of goods (item cost plus carriage). Sourcing in the EU is cheaper as used goods don’t attract import duty + VAT, currently.
Of course the process is based on you being honest with the numbers..... I’ve heard if you put a lesser value on the documentation you pay less tax...
Yeah - i missed a set of marchesini wheels for my zed a couple of years back...the seller said that he would change the paperwork to make look to be cheaper...problem there is, if they go missing - then thats the value....the only sure fire way of getting stuff in is actually bringing it back...going next year to florida....ill be bringing a set of nix30's back in the suitcase and a new Simpson...
I always work on adding 25% to the combined value of the item plus postage. This is airing very slightly on the high side but usually not too far out. I.e. If you buy something for £200 with £50 postage, expect to pay something in the region of £62.50 on top of the £250, so £312.50 in all.
If you do not order regularly and there is no price on the parcel - you may get away with it - but expect the big F in the A from Post Office and HRMC as they seem to be clamping down.. normally one or two parcels a year get by with no charges - but seems lately thing have got much stricter.. One of the guys who works for me sent me a knife at Christmas as a present - have not received it - but received a police visit as they said it was a flick knife - which it was not.... its a legal assisted opening knife... explained all to plod 3 weeks ago - still no news on the parcel and the inevitable charges for the gift...
