The cost of importing goods to the UK…

[Flat on my back]

With the $ rate being so weak right now, it would seem a good time to buy stuff from the States and have it shipped straight to your UK address rather than look for a UK based distributor.

But, what are all the costs involved?

First there is the ‘Duty’, this is a percentage of the cost of the goods + postage/insurance, then there is the ‘VAT’ @ 17.5% on top of this. Then there is likely to be a handling charge to get it to your address.

The ‘Duty’ will vary depending on the goods your buying. To confirm the rate you will need a 10 digit ‘commodity code’ from which you can determine if the percentage is 3.5% or a whole lot more.

You can if you find the right supplier, not have to pay the ‘handling charge’ by arranging to pay the ‘Duty’ and ‘VAT’ when you purchase the goods so the Custom Declaration is marked ‘Prepaid’.

If anyone has examples of goods they have bought from the States, with the costs involved and is willing to put them here we can see how good/bad any cost savings are.

Really its still Buyer Beware, what you pay on the online catalogue is not going to be the price you pay to have it in your ‘grubby little hands’.

[dest]

Ive ordered loads of stuff from America (not all car parts) but have never had to pay any extra duty or handling!
The price on the site + the p&p stated on the site, and a week later its appeared on my doorstep

[Error404]

i think you've been lucky TBH!

[dest]

It also helps if you ask them to mark the goods as a gift

[S2central.net]

It depends how it gets shipped and by whom from the states. I've had a few things come from big companies thru on-line shopping etc and it generally comes with a courier like FedEx. You generally get the dreaded customs & excise form to sign *before* the goods are allowed to be delivered - not always though. There's some minimum charges and of course FedEx get their handling fees. Think it was about £30 to cover all charges for approx $300 worth of gear - so its not insignificant.#

If buying stuff from privateers on the bay then you can ask they send as USPS (US Postal Service) International and request they mark small amounts on the export paperwork and mark them as a gift. Need to be careful though, cos if an item worth $1000 gets lost / broken in transit but its only declared as a gift worth $50 then you'll find yourself shafted wrt insurance.

Paul

[dest]

I got a loom from 034 Motorsport which came via USPS and then Parcel Force delivered it.
Also had items via UPS (note, not USPS!) and have never paid any extra either.

The only time I have ever had to pay is when someone sent me some records years ago and marked the parcel to be paid for at my end after I had already paid him for postage!

[Flat on my back]

.

Thought most legit companies would complete the 'Customs Declaration' form with details of the goods being shipped and value...you then get stung.

Dont know the legalaties of the 'Declaration' form...anyone know...

[urs4quattro]

Will find out soon. Have some 034 goodies due to be delivered this week...

[Cullam3n]

A few months ago was a good time Exchange rate is dropping now. XE.com says it's $1.96 to the pound but while back it was planted on about $2.11.

[DarrenM]

Digging up old thread here but rather than start a new one, whats the latest on importing goods into UK?

Reason i ask, I may well teaming up with a repuatable US tuning business and altho I'll be their UK agent, goods would be supplied direct from US directly to UK customer. Goods would be payed for either directly on .co.uk website (which is linked directly to US so i dont handle the money) or I take payment over the phone (again, i dont actually process payment, just merely pass the c/card details on)

Longer term, the plan is I carry lots more stock and rent actual shop premises, this would be a long time away tho.

Parts would work out a lot cheaper than what most current UK suppliers are selling them for, just need to make sure the tax/import duties dont bump it up massively otherwise it'll just be a waste of time.

Anyones any thoughts or feedback?

[Acidburn]

Would be interested to hear how you get on with this darren, I know a couple of people doing this the other way round and taking stuff from the uk -> usa in bulk have gone the opposite and got a container full of stuff taking abroad. It all depends how much stuff etc, might be worthwhile hearing from some of the people on this site that supply from america or asking them direct i.e. nononsense/joe

or you could just have alot of holidays/spare luggage.

[Jamo]

Digging up old thread here but rather than start a new one, whats the latest on importing goods into UK?

Reason i ask, I may well teaming up with a repuatable US tuning business and altho I'll be their UK agent, goods would be supplied direct from US directly to UK customer. Goods would be payed for either directly on .co.uk website (which is linked directly to US so i dont handle the money) or I take payment over the phone (again, i dont actually process payment, just merely pass the c/card details on)

Longer term, the plan is I carry lots more stock and rent actual shop premises, this would be a long time away tho.

Parts would work out a lot cheaper than what most current UK suppliers are selling them for, just need to make sure the tax/import duties dont bump it up massively otherwise it'll just be a waste of time.

Anyones any thoughts or feedback?

Unless the goods are going to be low value marked you'll find it will put people off.

It's a minimum of 20-30 import tax on goods at low value as long as customs do not deem otherwise.

[DarrenM]

Thanx for the advice,gonna do a bit more digging with them later today.

[Jamo]

Worth speaking to Joe at Axismotorsport ( forum name Nononsense ) and Marc aka A4kquattro as they do a far bit of exporting to the U.K

Terrybullwon and Audiman have also done a fair bit of buying from the U.S

[Error404]

To make it viable in terms of cost to the end user you really need to ship in bulk i.e. container full or it works out more expensive than just buying direct from the states / or you make no margin. The only way to get a competitive retail price to the UK consumer is through getting the goods to the UK cheaper than they can via direct shipping as if you do everything by the book the import / VAT tax issue is the same regardless - obviously US retailers / distros can also mark up small direct packages as "gifts" which you can't do... Having the goods on the shelf in the UK is attractive to buyers, but arguably not as attractive as a cheaper price tag in general.
I looked into doing something similar a while back and the capital outley is not insignificant - good luck