imports from Usa
I want to buy some gadgets for my G which are only available in USA.But the shipping costs are prohibitive :x .
What is the best route to follow here. :?:
What I need is a pair of Hella spot/fog lights (cant get them in Europe)
and an ExtremeAire Magnum Compressor. You dont want to know the price difference compared with Europe and USA.
Why is it that they get everything cheaper?
If you are ordering a lot or heavy items then get a freight forwarder and send them by ocean.
I use DHL Ocean. But there are lots to try.
I have ordered gear from the US a couple of times and been banged for tax both times ..
Twodogs
if you get the freight right, even with the tax it wouldnot be as much.
The only problem is it tends to cost the same to bring in one palette as it does four. So maybe try and find somebody to share with or a freight consolidator.
What are you bringing back if you don't mind my asking?
It is not big or bulky at all Maxwell. Pair of Hella auxilary lights and a Extreme Aire compressor 12 volts ( this is the G wagen of compressors !!!)
http://www.extremeoutback.com/index.cgi?cart_id=7583923.4012&pid=114
There was a service recommended by someone .. and from a Google search this looks like it;
You get it shipped to them within USA (many US suppliers will only do this) .. they then ship to you.
50 Kg was $383 or £190 estimated.... now the risk is what you get hit by.. as a rule;
1. £25-30 handling fee at UK airport
.. then all costs added up including freight costs to add cumulatively.. :roll:
2. 10% duty (but this can be down as low as 4% if you quote the right code)
3. 17.5% VAT on top.
at $1.70/$ (now $2/£) you basically just took your US price and that is what it cost delivered in UK (maybe just under) .. now exchange rates are better for us so it might be a bit better but just be pleasently surprised if you beat $1=£1 actually landed on your floor.
Now .. New York is only £200 return? .. plus a hotel room .. if you get into expensive light items but customs are tightening up on the £200 odd import duty free.. or if you are lucky (small parcels seem to fall into this count) then UK customs ignore the parcel and you get it in on the cheap... but do not expect this to happen. Alternative are friends coming from US but still has customs hanging over it..
Ring the Customs and Excise commodity code section 01702 366077 and check the code for what you want. If you don't you can bet UPS etc won't look very hard (there's an awful lot of commodity codes) and will just charge a standard 10%. For the description "car parts for use on spark ignited petrol/diesel engine" commodity code is 8409910000. This equals 2.7% import duty. Give customs a ring, they're unhelpful, but you should get there in the end
Description Commodity Code Import Tax
Car parts - engines 8409910000 2.7%
Car parts - body 8708299090 4.5% :wink:
Car parts - brake pads 8708319900 4.5%
Car parts - brake discs 8708399000 4.5%
Not great, but better than 10% normal charged…
it is getting complicated!
That is why we have importers... it is time consuming and rarely worth the effort if you can source it here.
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How do we do that?
Pay for the goods then involve a freight forwarder
to pick them up or something in this order. Do you know any? Or shall I just google for some? Might work.