import duty

hamboman · May 2007

A friend of mine is heading to the US in a couple of months for work and while he's there he wants to buy a new frame - a santa cruz chama. it's much cheaper there cos of the exchange rate.

problem is, he doesn't want to pay import duty. How likely is it he'll be busted if he just shoves it in his bag and doesn't declare it? Anyone done this?

nicklouse · May 2007

lets put it this way. if he can afford to pay the taxesm then he may as well not even bother buying it.

If he does get stopped and cant afford that import then the frame stays with customs.

dont forget that what is in his bag is no secrect as the X-ray sees all.

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JinjaNinja · May 2007

Isn't there a time limit on how long you've owned the item for. If he's going for a few months he might get lucky and fall inside the limit.

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hamboman · May 2007

good point, i'll tell him. he can afford it he just doesn't want to cough up more of the hard earned to Gordon!

Personally I dont think it's worth the risk.

Silver Bullet · May 2007

how much is he going to have to pay on duty for it?

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Kimbo · May 2007

I have a friend who purchased an Intense from the US when he was there on business. After he purchased the bike he rode it a couple of times so it was no longer new (i.e. used) and this apparently was sufficient for him to avoid import duty when he returned to the UK a couple of weeks later. Not sure what actually would have happened if he got stopped but he didn't, so he saved a bundle.

ride_whenever · May 2007

Also, has he thought of taking an old bike out and a new one back?

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JinjaNinja · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ride_whenever

Also, has he thought of taking an old bike out and a new one back?

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Its not like they check what you take with you 2 months ago, Its the fact you've got a bike frame and nothing else bike related in your bag.

"umm, its my lucky traveling frame" dosen't always cut it!

Of he took an old one out, bought the frame and built it up, then he may get away with it.

However theres a good chance they won't stop him at all if it hasn't got the price tag on it.

<hr noshade size="1"><blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NeillyB
I used some blueberry flavoured one we got from the free clinic once
NEVER AGAIN
My penis was blue for 3 days
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
<center>Join us HERE!</center>

rubber side up · May 2007

Take a cheap argos special out there, throw the frame away, and then bring the new frame back, with some parts attached, but some not. if they ask, tell them you dismantled it to get it in the bag [;)]

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hamboman · May 2007

ruddy good idea, my flatmate has a rusted up old appollo. Not sure if the new frame's gonna fit the forks though!!!

seems like a bit of a kerfuffle too, just to escape 40 quid tax!!

JinjaNinja · May 2007

If its only œ40 then just hope they don't stop and ask you. Even if they do surely the saving on the frame would be more then œ40 IE- still cost effective.

<hr noshade size="1"><blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NeillyB
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NEVER AGAIN
My penis was blue for 3 days
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<center>Join us HERE!</center>

gbrnole · May 2007

I lived in the US for years and always travel back to see family.

Everytime i return from there I end up buying an extra case to bring stuff back in. I have brought back 2 x Technics 1210's turntables before (one in each case), laptops, digital cameras, tons of clothes, snowboards etc.. without problems.

As long as you don't leave any price tags on the items, post instruction manuals back to your UK address whilst in the U.S so you dont have to carry them with you then it can't be proven that you didn't take it out with you.

Sure they scan your bags when you enter the airplane, and chances are if you also have something metal in bags you checked in they will get searched by baggage officers before going on the plane without you knowing (you'll just get a slip put in your luggage) but this is not linked to customs and excise.

I considered buying a Santa Cruz frame from the U.S and bringing it back and I would probably will do when i travel there at the end of this month. I just wont include anything in my baggage that shows I've bought it there, put some grease on it so it looks a bit used and dirty, if i get stopped in customs ill say i took it out with me and was riding it over there.

There's no point bringing out a crappy frame with you in the first place because you cant prove that anyway.

Gibbon on an Orange · May 2007

I baught some new forks whilst out riding in France. I had no problems, and TBH, i didn't even think about it when i was flying back.

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anto164 · May 2007

OR, take a crap bike out there, ditch it properly, and then buy a new TOTR bike out there, you went out with a bike, you come back with a bike.

and no import fees paid [:D]

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import duty

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