UK Customs (Import Advice)

Kev M

Kev M

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4,347
Name
You can call me Sir.
Edit My Images
Yes
morning all,

I've recently bought a camera from america off of ebay and it's now sat in customs awaiting processing. It seems once inside the UK I'll lose all abilities to track the item as it was sent via USPS rather than a courier. It arrive at customs on the 11th, does anyone know how long it's likely to be stuck there whilst they work out how much they're going to fleece me in tax?

Cheers,
Kev
 
My first US bought camera sat in customs for six weeks! so long that the supplier sent me a replacement thinking it had gone missing. I doubt yours will take that long but I suppose a few days to a week would be normal.
 
Mmm...

Just about half an hour ago I sent away to the sates for a battery grip... (it was the only place I could get one the worked with my camera and had an extra shutter button)

I hope it doesn`t get nailed by customs for weeks... :(

I`ve sent away to Canada for gaming stuff in the past and it was here in a matter of days.

Hope your camera doesn`t get held up for to long Kev M.
 
I ordered a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead http://reallyrightstuff.com/ballheads/02.html the BH-55 LR and the item was stuck in customs for 3 days...

Once leaving the US, depending on which courier then takes over in the UK, it may be possible to continue tracking if you know who'll be delivering the item....Mine came from Parcelforce and I had to pay the duty/VAT/handling fee at the depot before it was handed over..

Based on the then exchange rate, the ballhead was £262 plus £68.68 fees, to give you an idea of the duty payable...

I have no idea whether camera bodies are subject to a different rate..
 
I think lenses and bodies attract different rates but seeing as it's sencond hand and all in one box together I doubt they'll be able to distinguish one bit from another. fingers crossed it turns up soon, idle hands and all that.
 
Digital camera bodies (slr bodies and compacts) are subject to vat only, not import duty. Everything else is subject to import duty at something like 5% (variable according to product, but it's a ballpark figure) + vat on top of all of that. Yes, the usual tax on tax scam.
 
triffic Mister E, you've cheared me up no end. All this talk of tax reminds me of one of my favourite sayings.

"A fine is a tax for being stupid and tax is a fine for being successful".
 
DSLR's are VAT only but lenses have 6.7% in addition to the VAT

Bob
 
Wonder what they'll charge me for a 2nd hand film camera then?
 
Kev M said:
Wonder what they'll charge me for a 2nd hand film camera then?
Click to expand...

Import duty is charged as a percentage of the items declared customs value (even for 2nd-hand items I'm afraid). So 4.9% of whatever the sender declares its value as basically!
 
Looks like I got lucky. No import duty, VAT only which came to £25, better than expected.

Cheers for the responses everyone.
 
It is mate, moved there in July.
 
I lived there for about 6 months this year at the mother in laws. Do you go to any of the camera clubs in Burton? There's a couple of found online but was wondering if they're worth going along to.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top