Buying from America on eBay

ju5t1n
ju5t1n Posts: 2,028
edited December 2011 in Road buying advice
I’ve found a nice frame on eBay and the small print says that the buyer is responsible for all import duties. Do you always have to pay these or is it a lottery?

Comments

  • It's a lottery, but from experience I've only had problems when I've bought new items.

    Saying that, a frame is going to be in a big box, so regardless of age I think it might draw more attention.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Depends what the seller puts on the customs declaration. I always work on duty and vat being 25% of the consignment cost - if I don't get charged, then there's a bonus. I just bought some TRP brakes from the US - they cost £100 and then HM Customs / Post Office charged me another £33 (£25 + £8 handling charge) - I'm pretty annoyed because TRP have such a useless distributor in the UK but I didn't have any choice.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Going on my experience of importing guitars, the customs guys know their stuff and will ping you for the correct duty. And the annoying Royal Mail / Parcelforce charge for doing the papaerwork for you.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Just to add, I'm waiting on a consignment of 3 custom titanium frames from China and awaiting to see how much I get stung for them...
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • brettjmcc
    brettjmcc Posts: 1,361
    My Cannondale stuff from the US has always come straight through. Similar story with soome SRAM TT shifters from Canada a few months back.
    BMC GF01
    Quintana Roo Cd01
    Project High End Hack
    Cannondale Synapse SL (gone)
    I like Carbon
  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Just to add, I'm waiting on a consignment of 3 custom titanium frames from China and awaiting to see how much I get stung for them...

    I just bought a carbon frame from China and got charged the same as every other import from the Far East i've bought - nil!!

    Would be interested in what you pay on multiple items though Monty Dog. I've been considering a Chinese Titanium frame too - to build up for LEJOG next year.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Frames are currently sat in Bejing, hopefully they'll be here in a week.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..