Amazon.co.uk Marketplace question

d3moliti0n · 21-07-2009, 11:19 AM

Hi

I have ordered a DVD box set (region 1) from the Amazon.co.uk Marketplace, at a total cost of £40.89 (£39.68 for the box set and £1.21 for postage). Does importing via the Amazon.co.uk Marketplace still mean I can be charged customs/tax/handling fees on this item? And is it likely that I am going to be charged customs/tax/handling fees on this item?

Thanks for your help.

Alphathon · 21-07-2009, 12:18 PM

I would say that depends entirelly on the seller. If they already have the DVDs in the UK then no fees, but if they don't then you probably would have to pay.

d3moliti0n · 21-07-2009, 12:33 PM

Yeah, I think they are coming from the USA as the delivery time is stated as 6-11 days and the seller is called 'supermart_usa'.

AndyCob · 21-07-2009, 12:57 PM

If whatever you ordered is shipping from outside the EU and is over the duty limit (forget exactly how much it is now, it's gone up over the years, I think it's around £26-28 and actually includes the cost of shipping rather than just the item value) then it may attract customs duty and VAT. However customs deals with so many items I believe they randomly pick things rather than assessing each and every individual small low value package so you may get away with it, or not.

nwgarratt · 21-07-2009, 1:57 PM

Limit is just £18 (before shipping charge) and anything over may get 15% customs import VAT and £8 admin fee from the Post Office. There is no duty payable anymore.

d3moliti0n · 21-07-2009, 2:21 PM

So I could end up paying £13.95 in import VAT and handling fee's. Ok, thanks for the help.

nwgarratt · 21-07-2009, 2:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d3moliti0n

So I could end up paying £13.95 in import VAT and handling fee's. Ok, thanks for the help.

Yes that is about right. It is the admin fee that makes it so high. Also, expect it to be up to 2 weeks in customs if it doesn't get through.

mikegambit · 21-07-2009, 7:48 PM

Many Amazon US Marketplace sellers send stuff in quite inconspicuous packaging and I've had quite a few with no customs charges , even my 30 disc Alias boxset and Land of the Giants boxset which both came from Amazon themselves got through unscathed so it depends on how lucky you are.

Virtually all my Playusa £18+ items got stopped , even the ones that were only about £22 so I stopped using them for £18+ items.

I tried again last Xmas with the Austin Powers Bluray set at £27.99 and it got through ok.

d3moliti0n · 21-07-2009, 7:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikegambit

Many Amazon US Marketplace sellers send stuff in quite inconspicuous packaging and I've had quite a few with no customs charges , even my 30 disc Alias boxset and Land of the Giants boxset which both came from Amazon themselves got through unscathed so it depends on how lucky you are.

Virtually all my Playusa £18+ items got stopped , even the ones that were only about £22 so I stopped using them for £18+ items.

I tried again last Xmas with the Austin Powers Bluray set at £27.99 and it got through ok.

Is that Amazon US as in the American Amazon Marketplace or US sellers selling DVD's on the UK Amazon Marketplace?

The only thing that I have ordered from outside of the UK that has been over £18 has been the Angel US box set from Amazon.com when it was in the Gold Box deal last Christmas and I got a customs charge of about £15 on that.

AndyCob · 22-07-2009, 5:54 PM

It's hit and miss. The admin fees are quite variable too depending on who you ship with. I once ordered a £22 package that was shipped by D*L. It attrated a duty and vat charge of 26p (yes that's pence), the D*L customs handling fee for this was £27.99, more than the item was worth which is why I will never use them for anything ever again.