Using Amazon.COM rather than Amazon.CO.UK

[BlasterBates]

I would order in the UK. I once ordered something small cross border into Switzerland and it failed to appear, I presume it got stuck in customs, was refunded.

My advice just order in the UK and get it in a couple of days. Plus can you imagine the "faff" of trying to get a refund from a US co.

[Troll]

I'm looking at a Dell XPS 27 - $1799 (£1100) in the States versus £1598 in UK ...barstewards!

Total shipping charges: £14225.15
Import duty & VAT: £3066.50 << wtf! shirley some mistake!
Import duty & VAT handling charges: £130.74
Product costs: £1107.32
Total costs: £18529.72

I'll tell you what. Buy me the air ticket and I'll fly over and fetch it for you myself. I'll need a couple of days in a nice hotel over there to recover from the jet lag though! All other expenses paid of course. I guarantee it'll be less than half the £18k you've been quoted

Oh arrrr

There be what 'appens when you fook up the sizes and use mm rather than cm!

Total shipping charges: £94.09
Import duty & VAT: £238.82
Import duty & VAT handling charges: £11.23
Product costs: £1100.00
Total costs: £1444.14

Much better but those scurvy dogs at Dell UK be aware to price the UK products so close- the scallywags

oh arrr

[Platypus]

I'm looking at a Dell XPS 27 - $1799 (£1100) in the States versus £1598 in UK ...barstewards!


Total shipping charges: £14225.15 Delivery time:
Import duty & VAT: £3066.50 << wtf! shirley some mistake!
Import duty & VAT handling charges: £130.74
Product costs: £1107.32
Total costs: £18529.72

I'll tell you what. Buy me the air ticket and I'll fly over and fetch it for you myself. I'll need a couple of days in a nice hotel over there to recover from the jet lag though! All other expenses paid of course. I guarantee it'll be less than half the £18k you've been quoted

[Troll]

I'm looking at a Dell XPS 27 - $1799 (£1100) in the States versus £1598 in UK ...barstewards!


Total shipping charges: £14225.15 Delivery time:
Import duty & VAT: £3066.50 << wtf! shirley some mistake!
Import duty & VAT handling charges: £130.74
Product costs: £1107.32
Total costs: £18529.72

[eek]

It used to be the case that only certain product types could be bought from amazon.com for delivery to the UK.

Apart from books and obscure dvd's there is little that ends up cheaper once Customs get involved. Unlike the early 1990's when it was worth travelling to New York because 1 apple mac with flight and hotel was cheaper there than buying it in London even if you were caught at heathrow.

[Platypus]

Looking at a new pair of headphone to go with the iPhone 5 and want the Klipsch Image S4i II, which on the UK Amazon site are £89, on the US site they are only $99 so about ~£61. Has anyone ever bought anything on the US site and tried to ship it to the UK? Is it any hassle?

I've bought loads from Amazon.com

It's a doddle if Amazon are shipping it.

But I've only bought books and DVDs ... is there a chance you'll get clobbered for import duty or VAT or both? That I don't know.

[Old Hack]

Make sure all the pricing information inside the parcel is removed.

I've had friends who have had real birthday presents shipped from countries around the world and have got stung for duty because the price tags were left on.

No, of course. It started with an iPod, which was £180 here, or $175 there, and the exchange rate was 2:1

Ridiculous really, but there you go.

[SueEllen]

We get friends to order the gear in the US, then to ship stuff and mark it as birthday present. Never had issues before.

Make sure all the pricing information inside the parcel is removed.

I've had friends who have had real birthday presents shipped from countries around the world and have got stung for duty because the price tags were left on.

[Old Hack]

We get friends to order the gear in the US, then to ship stuff and mark it as birthday present. Never had issues before.

[d000hg]

You can do it, but if your parcel gets inspected you may find they charge you the duty you should have paid plus a processing fee.

I've had this happen even with books before.

[Moscow Mule]

You can price it up on bundle box for free (inc duty etc) to see if it's worth it or not.

I would expect not.

When you get the headphones, comeback and give us a review, I've always used Shure in the past, but quite fancy the rugged version of what you're after.

Stinky-linky: http://www.bundlebox.com/shipping_estimate/

Comes out about £103 quid...

[escapeUK]

I used to do this a long time ago with books, as it was much cheaper to buy books and ship them all around the world than buy them in rip off Britain.

Of course there is no import duty, VAT etc on books, on headphones there is. The duty free limit has been reduced lately too, I think its now a princely £14 or £15.

You will also find that you are charged a "handling charge" by royal mail or whoever to collect the tax, this is often as much or more than the tax.

The system is designed to discourage you from doing this. THEY WILL HAVE THEIR TAX!

[SimonMac]

Looking at a new pair of headphone to go with the iPhone 5 and want the Klipsch Image S4i II, which on the UK Amazon site are £89, on the US site they are only $99 so about ~£61. Has anyone ever bought anything on the US site and tried to ship it to the UK? Is it any hassle?