Hi all
Wonder if anyone can advise on how UK customs work on buying vintage MOC from the USA ?
I have been away for a few days but got back today to find a postal card through the door saying I owe £21.40 as there is a customs charge !
I am waiting on a AFA Star destroyer ESB MOC which cost me $125.00 (£79.00) with $20.00 carriage so this must be it.
Is there any recourse on getting any of the money back or is there a tariff they use on vintage toys ?
I have bought quite a few things from the states but this is the first time I have ever had a bill ..... could they charge Duty and VAT ?
Any help/advice would be gratefully received

Cheers
Tony

Tony,

im not sure exactley how it works but it looks like its a percentage of the value of the item??
i bought a fair bit from the states with the most expensive being slightly more than you mentioned above, BUT ive never had any hassle from custome, maybe ive been lucky? but i have heard a few peeps getting "stung"

sorry i cant help more

Andy

Hey Andy
Thanks for the reply.
Maybe its a case of luck but if I had known I would have asked the Ebay seller to reduce the value but its just a bugger if you dont realise you gotta add this potentially to the cost ........ maybe they pick out a certain percentage ????
Cheers
Tony

Hi Tony, unlucky mate

here's a link to a recent thread about custom charges/experiences - might help

http://www.imperialgunneryforum.com/vintage-chat-f1/i-guess-it-happens-to-the-best-of-us-t1855.htm

Anything over £40(ish) mate can be taxed.
It sucks, they hit you with the tax and a handling fee.

I find that stuff not tracked is much more likely to get thru. Tracked parcels from the us tend to be delivered by parcel force and its those fuckers that are shit hot on stopping stuff.

If you refuse to pay it they will return to sender, no way around it im afraid.

I now have a few collecting buddies from across the pond that i can get stuff sent to if a seller won't declare a lower value for me. I usually get £40 max put on the customs and have been fine, BUT its a risk so i usually pay for tracked if the items worth a fair bit.
Obviously if something gets damaged your screwed for compo

Thanks Paul I must have missed that thread and thats the bloody note I got also !!

Thanks also Del .... guess I was a bit naive there and should have thought about it !!
Still you live and learn and will be that much more clued up next time !!
Tony

Your lucky, first time i got hit was for £70.

In 15 years ive only been had twice, so not bad going.

Now I hope you understand us ( mexicans) when we tell everybody to declare a low value....It`s a pain in the ass paying 50 for taxes for a 300 action figure!!! ....

When I send things to other countries, this is what I do.... I go to walmart, buy a very cheap SW item and ask for the note/receipt.. and when I declare the value will be less than 10 for a SW action figure.... of course, here goes the tricky part .....you can`t insure it for the full price!.... Nothing is perfect in life!

merlin wrote:

Now I hope you understand us ( mexicans) when we tell everybody to declare a low value....It`s a pain in the ass paying 50 for taxes for a 300 action figure!!! ....

When I send things to other countries, this is what I do.... I go to walmart, buy a very cheap SW item and ask for the note/receipt.. and when I declare the value will be less than 10 for a SW action figure.... of course, here goes the tricky part .....you can`t insure it for the full price!.... Nothing is perfect in life!

How often do you guys in Mexico get hit Alfodoso?

Its seems its very random in the UK and thankfully its not that frequent!

Tony your right mate getting on of those bloody payment slips is a real learning curve!

jaymassive619 wrote:

merlin wrote:

Now I hope you understand us ( mexicans) when we tell everybody to declare a low value....It`s a pain in the ass paying 50 for taxes for a 300 action figure!!! ....

When I send things to other countries, this is what I do.... I go to walmart, buy a very cheap SW item and ask for the note/receipt.. and when I declare the value will be less than 10 for a SW action figure.... of course, here goes the tricky part .....you can`t insure it for the full price!.... Nothing is perfect in life!

How often do you guys in Mexico get hit Alfodoso?

Its seems its very random in the UK and thankfully its not that frequent!

Tony your right mate getting on of those bloody payment slips is a real learning curve!

It`s kind of random also....sometimes for the same amount ( let`s say 3000USD) you can pay a very high tax and then a very low..

Thanks for the reply guys.
Apparently the £21.40 broke down as £13.40 VAT and £8.00 Royal Mail International Handling ... well thats ok then
Jay I do think its how its sent and what the value is as to whether your caught or maybe as you say its just random and your unlucky if its your turn !!
Tony

lately, the customs here in Spain,are being very rude too.
This is due a goberment command, to recover more taxes on importations, i think this is globad...

it,s annoying how they charge vat and other stuff, i had a few big hits which put me off buying from states