importing goods. the true cost

[mercmanuk]

Hi we all like a bargain, but what is the true cost to the paying customer of our cameras and lenses, is any one able to throw any light on this, some basic costings would help, i will try and do some searching meanwhile if any finds anything post it here. People think they have a Bargain but then again

EG, this is only an example Canon 5D £600 imported from HongKong looks good on the surface but is it, to export good in Hong Kong you have to go over the $4000 mark before the customs become interested, but our laws are different and the full cost of import is born by the byer customs /vat/shipping become apparent.

so guess would be £600 + vat 17.5%=£705.00 >>>anything else to add

this one is based on a £10 thousand pound import but it just a quick guide you could cost it down and guess some of it will not apply but opening a box has a cost implication

You will pay Vat on that so - 1750
You might have to pay duty on your goods so you will have to give customs a call.Can vary from nothing to about 20% (Highest duty i have heard off)
Total customs clearence fees etc - 300

If your container gets searched (xrayed) and extra 43 quid

Some more here



it would be good if we had some basic guidlines and web sites that import gear and ones to avoid.

Regards Mark

 

[fracster]

Mark, trying to get "one over" on HMRC is not a wise idea. Sure I have bought from HK before, but it is fraught with risk and warranty issues,should any arise.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Ummm....not sure what you're getting at there, Mark. The 5d @ £600 + vat + import duty, would, by the looks of it, still be cheaper than buying one in the UK....

On the other hand the UK seller I bought my first 70-200 VR off turned out not to be paying the vat/import duty, but yet wasn't any cheaper than goods bought through legitimate channels -in fact he was £30 dearer than the UK Nikon dealer I ended up getting the second lens from!

 

[mercmanuk]

^^^^ hang on forget the figures and i am not trying to avoid anything just trying to show what potential buyers would end up paying if they brought from abroad,


Just showing them the pitfalls or benefits the prices are made up for the Canon 5D just as an example.

Regards Mark


simplyelectronics they impoet from abroad....what are the on going cost to the buyer

 

[mercmanuk]

Mark, trying to get "one over" on HMRC is not a wise idea. Sure I have bought from HK before, but it is fraught with risk and warranty issues,should any arise.

this is the kind of thing that needs to be spelled out,people on here are buying high grade high cost electronic gear, just trying to make people aware

Regards Mark.

 

[fracster]

Fair comment bud, I got hold of the wrong end of the stick..........

 

[Steep]

I say "If you can't do the arithmetic, you shouldn't be allowed out with money"

I've bought from abroad before, always in full knowledge of the true 'potential' cost including taxes and return fees for faults. If the potential price comes anywhere near the UK price then I buy locally. In the case of my bigma even tax paid and with return postage to Sigma to get a fault rectified I'm still over £100 better off than buying it in the UK.

 

[mercmanuk]

I say "If you can't do the arithmetic, you shouldn't be allowed out with money"

I've bought from abroad before, always in full knowledge of the true 'potential' cost including taxes and return fees for faults. If the potential price comes anywhere near the UK price then I buy locally. In the case of my bigma even tax paid and with return postage to Sigma to get a fault rectified I'm still over £100 better off than buying it in the UK.

I understand what you are saying, but it won't hurt to help, forums are a place for advice and help, we weren't born with a import information leaflet in our mouths, but if thats the way you feel then sharing your experiences is up to you, although you did sound like my Dad a bit

Regards Mark.

 

[Steep]

Thought I was helping

 

[Flash In The Pan]

I say "If you can't do the arithmetic, you shouldn't be allowed out with money"

I've bought from abroad before, always in full knowledge of the true 'potential' cost including taxes and return fees for faults. If the potential price comes anywhere near the UK price then I buy locally. In the case of my bigma even tax paid and with return postage to Sigma to get a fault rectified I'm still over £100 better off than buying it in the UK.

Is a £100 saving on something like a Bigma really worth losing the warranty over? I'd be wary with something like Sigma, where there is a greater chance of something going wrong, than a Nikon or Canon product.

There's also a risk of the lens getting nabbed by HMRC on return from any repair work in, say HK and the vat/duty getting added on then. Going OT for a second,I wonder how Sigma UK are in regard to Mack warranties? If they will carry out repair work on an HK 120-300 and bill Mack, then it would still be financial sense to buy something like that from HK....

 

[Steep]

Is a £100 saving on something like a Bigma really worth losing the warranty over? I'd be wary with something like Sigma, where there is a greater chance of something going wrong, than a Nikon or Canon product.

There's also a risk of the lens getting nabbed by HMRC on return from any repair work in, say HK and the vat/duty getting added on then. Going OT for a second,I wonder how Sigma UK are in regard to Mack warranties? If they will carry out repair work on an HK 120-300 and bill Mack, then it would still be financial sense to buy something like that from HK....

You need to read my post again m8. I said I had paid the tax therefore no loss of guarantee and had returned the lens to Sigma(UK) for repair. After that I'm still £100 in the black, plus which and specific to this deal I have six years of extended warranty through Mack as well.

 

[Steep]

After the first year is up, Sigma will repair the lens at their standard rates, Mack either pay that or refund me once I've paid it.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that if you do the arithmetic and the price is right then buying from abroad can be a good way to go, but you must go into it with full knowledge and eyes open.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

You need to read my post again m8. I said I had paid the tax therefore no loss of guarantee and had returned the lens to Sigma(UK) for repair. After that I'm still £100 in the black, plus which and specific to this deal I have six years of extended warranty through Mack as well.

Ahhh...gotcha.I thought you were meaning that you had factored in the costs of having to pay the taxes etc if you got caught by HMRC at a later date. My mistake

 

[mercmanuk]

So from the few posts there's things like warranty, duty, returning goods via post/courier, all these have to be factored in when buying from abroad, A cheeky thing e-bay does is offer international sellers goods when you search, which makes them look more attractive to UK buyers, i always have to check the box UK only when i begin a new search which is a pain, but this method of selling puts interesting and attractive offers in the face of the unsuspecting buyers, I'm sure there breaking sale/trades descriptions act on charges to the UK which we should be able to view for each individual sale from non EU countries, this breakdown would assist the buyer when making a decision.

Regards Mark.

 

[Matt]

when we buy in anything from the US we assume 22% import and vat, thats not been wrong for us yet.