eBay USA

darrell1967

Does anybody have experience of buying off eBay USA? I’m talking import duties or taxes and can deals be had?

Charlie_Croker

The biggest problem I’ve found with eBay.com or rather American suppliers is their reluctance to post to the UK so it’s handy having a friend stateside that is willing to post goods onwards. No problems with customs thus far doing it this way.

shiznit76

Look on ebay UK site and include USA in your search results. Usually give postage prices to UK. Depending what you are looking for taxes may not be needed

lesfirth

I have just bought a bit of golfing gear from a USA seller on Ebay UK. The stuff cost £88 including P&P. I had to pay Royal Mail £ 22 for VAT and a handling charge before they would deliver. Still a great buy. I have bought things from USA in the past and paid no VAT or import duty.

Longshot

I've found it hit and miss buying stuff privately from the States. Some items have attracted customs and some not. No discernible pattern.

Charlie_Croker

lesfirth said:

...The stuff cost £88 including P&P. I had to pay Royal Mail £ 22 for VAT and a handling charge before they would deliver.

So the VAT (at current rates) was £17.60 (you could argue that, you shouldn’t pay VAT for the carriage paid stateside, as this was a service provided abroad. But I digress) making the so called handling charge £4.40 which is a cheek IMHO
You might of gathered, I don’t much like these random charges

Charlie_Croker

Notice 143: a guide for international post users:



The whole of Notice 143 from gov.uk can be read here
https://gov.uk/government/publications/notice-143-a-guide-for-international-post-users/notice-143-a-guide-for-international-post-users