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I'm in the UK, but have one coming from the US

N

Nintendolinky

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jan 29, 2008
624
175
Hi, I bought one on ebay from a very respectable seller. Its the 16GB Model, and according to fedex its on its way here, I'm in Wakefield UK. The seller said he put it down as a gift with a price of 550 quid, i.e the price i paid. Will I have to pay and import tax, and does anyone know if there will be a hold up at customs, according to fedex, its on the way to Stansted airport, does anyone have an estimate on when i will get it. Cannot wait.
Thanks.
 
You'll have to pay both import duty and VAT. In total this will amount to just over £100. :eek: Customs now check every single item going through. It will also be held up at Customs while they decide on how much to charge. Could be a couple of hours, might be a week.
 
Nintendolinky said:
Hi, I bought one on ebay from a very respectable seller. Its the 16GB Model, and according to fedex its on its way here, I'm in Wakefield UK. The seller said he put it down as a gift with a price of 550 quid, i.e the price i paid. Will I have to pay and import tax, and does anyone know if there will be a hold up at customs, according to fedex, its on the way to Stansted airport, does anyone have an estimate on when i will get it. Cannot wait.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

These are questions you probably should have asked the seller on eBay...
 
-Ryan- said:
You'll have to pay both import duty and VAT. In total this will amount to just over £100. :eek: Customs now check every single item going through. It will also be held up at Customs while they decide on how much to charge. Could be a couple of hours, might be a week.
Click to expand...

Seriously, I hope not. The seller said he had everything sorted, i also paid an extra $40 on top of the $99 I paid for postage. It apparently meant I got International Priority Service, and all fees paid. :eek: :(
 
Nintendolinky said:
Hi, I bought one on ebay from a very respectable seller. Its the 16GB Model, and according to fedex its on its way here, I'm in Wakefield UK. The seller said he put it down as a gift with a price of 550 quid, i.e the price i paid. Will I have to pay and import tax, and does anyone know if there will be a hold up at customs, according to fedex, its on the way to Stansted airport, does anyone have an estimate on when i will get it. Cannot wait.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Depending on how the customs declaration has been handled you may or may not have to pay duty. You will almost certainly have to pay VAT. I've also got one on it's way to UK but the company shipping mine have prepaid the VAT and have classified in a way not incurr duty. I expect to receive it on Wednesday.
 
I think mine will be delivered Wednesday also, if I did have to pay all this excess, would I pay when the fedex guy gets to my door. If the iPad is at Stansted tomorrow do people think I might get it Tuesday.
 
Nintendolinky said:
I think mine will be delivered Wednesday also, if I did have to pay all this excess, would I pay when the fedex guy gets to my door. If the iPad is at Stansted tomorrow do people think I might get it Tuesday.
Click to expand...
It depends. I'm not sure about Fedex, but most couriers you have to pay the fees either over the phone or go to the depot. The benefit of the latter being that you can just get it when you pay.
 
The couriers usually pay customs and then you pay them plus a heavy administrative fee prior to the item being delivered. Some will let you pay on delivery.
 
I bought mine like Ratty using Bundle Box as a shipping agent who charged us shipping and prepayment of Vat as the ipad is classified as no duty payable just the VAT.

Fingers crossed for Wednesday delivery
 
If the seller shipped FedEx and shipped it 'Free Carrier', then the seller is the one paying the duty. I learned that the hard way when I sold something recently. :(
 
Simon1966 said:
I bought mine like Ratty using Bundle Box as a shipping agent who charged us shipping and prepayment of Vat as the ipad is classified as no duty payable just the VAT.

Fingers crossed for Wednesday delivery
Click to expand...

Does that mean I will not have to pay import duty as when I rang Fedex, they clearly knew it was a iPad.
 
Nintendolinky said:
He marked the iPad as a gift, will that help.
Click to expand...
Nope, you still have to pay the same amount. Also, it does seem that duty has been waived for import to the UK, however, you still need to pay VAT at 17.5% which is almost £100.
 
-Ryan- said:
Nope, you still have to pay the same amount. Also, it does seem that duty has been waived for import to the UK, however, you still need to pay VAT at 17.5% which is almost £100.
Click to expand...

Well that is the biggest piece of crap ever, is that definite. That is my app budget gone :) it is now starting to become a huge amount of money I have spent. :eek:
 
Importing stuff from the USA to the UK is very hit or miss. All depends what the person says and pays for at the post office (In the States)

Best bet is to have £150 in cash in your house this week to cover any costs!!


Mine shipped on the 3rd and left Miami yesterday morning. However I don't think it will be processed today by customs as its a BANK HOLIDAY.

Mine is coming Via USPS Express Mail, and tracking has not updated since yesterday morning.
 
Ducky280 said:
Importing stuff from the USA to the UK is very hit or miss. All depends what the person says and pays for at the post office (In the States)

Best bet is to have £150 in cash in your house this week to cover any costs!!


Mine shipped on the 3rd and left Miami yesterday morning. However I don't think it will be processed today by customs as its a BANK HOLIDAY.

Mine is coming Via USPS Express Mail, and tracking has not updated since yesterday morning.
Click to expand...

FWIW, whenever I have received a package from the US via Fedex, they have delivered it as normal and then sent a invoice in the mail for any charges.
 
If someone carried a boxed ipad through customs from the States, would they have any problems? :confused:
 
Nintendolinky said:
He marked the iPad as a gift, will that help.
Click to expand...

Don't want to worry you but it could actually make things worse if C&E sniff around, as you are ultimately responsible in the eyes of HMG C&E, not the sender.

That's a worst case scenario, but possible... VAT + Duty + Fine :eek:
 
I think I ended up paying just over £500 from Bundlebox for a 32gb iPad, with all duties and shipping paid. Will be here tomorrow or Wednesday.
 
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