[PaulBoy]

Hi - I reported on this thread (#19) that I had ordered some Grado SR225 headphones from Ornec based in Hong Kong & was pleasantly suprised that when signing for them with the courier (DHL) no customs/duty was requested ...
That was on 12/3 - On 6/4 I received a written request from DHL for £21 for Import VAT
So instead of the £45 I thought I'd saved on the UK dealer price I "only" saved £24 - still a saving but I thought it was only fair to point this out in case my original post misled anyone ... Paul

[StevieDvd]

It's worth noting that the major courier companies tend to send out invoices for any duties/fees a while after delivery, especially if the receiver of the goods is a company itself.

After all it is the 'duty' of the receiver to pay is it not?

[-Ad-]

Unlucky.

When i bought my Grado HF-1's from Todd the vinyl junkie, i never recieved a customs reciept later on. I got these amazing headphones for £140 delivered, and they are better than the SR225's. I'm glad i found headfi and got one of the last pairs.

Anyway, the amount of customs duty to be paid (if any), will be down to how the customs declaration was filled out.

Enjoy the 225's their great cans
ad

edit: I see you have the HF-1S stevie, and a nice assort of cans. Headfi member i presume

[DennyL]

I don't understand this at all. I just went to the Ornec site and put those Grados into my basket and went far enough through the check-out to see that the postage is £21, making a total price of £137. So the £21 duty was less than the VAT rate of 17.5% (15.3%, in fact). I'm wondering whether these were declared as 'Gift' or 'Commercial', and what Ornec declared the value to be, and whether the courrier levied a handling charge.

I am constantly thinking of buying goodies from the US, and I work out a budget cost by adding 25% to the item cost and shipping cost, assuming that I should be ready to pay VAT at 17.5% plus a courrier handling charge. Maybe the 25% is too pessimistic, what do you peeps think?

[PaulBoy]

DennyL - The SR225's were £101 when I bought mine if that helps your calculations (?) - As I said I am still happy with the price I paid (just not as happy as I was before the VAT bill arrived ) - I just felt if someone read my original post it might be misleading & we're all trying to help each other here at the end of the day
FWIW the Grados are excellent - Paul

[Reano]

Welcome to the Force that is Grado don't be tempted by the Senn and Beyer boys. Although I must say that the AKG 701's are tempting me and from europe can get for well under £200 including postage hmmm

[RandomLee]

I'm pretty sure that if you get goods marked as gift then you're only insured up to the value of £18 or somethnig like that.

I've been screwed over by import tax a few times, but then other times I've gotten away with it. Just the chance you take when ordering from outside the EU.

[StevieDvd]

Adfinni, yes I am a head-fi member (same userame there), I pop up here to help out UK people as a balance to the multitude of US on head-fi.

As to the duty, I created a spreadsheet based on reading some customs guide on what gets charged. If the details are still the same then the customs duty is worked out on cost (which includes shipping costs), then vat is based on cost + duty and the carrier adds their admin fee. I have the customs duty as 3.5% and it usually works out about what I'm charged (when I get charged).

I have been charged when the item has been marked gift but have let that slide - I believe if you make a fuss they mark you down as check/charge everything for this one.

Steve

[probedb]

I got my UM-2s from the USA no problem with customs and they were £175.

It's true though, if you use fedex, ups etc they will bill you for customs and handling charges.

[Daneel]

Originally Posted by Reano

Welcome to the Force that is Grado don't be tempted by the Senn and Beyer boys. Although I must say that the AKG 701's are tempting me and from europe can get for well under £200 including postage hmmm

Might I ask where from? They are selling for $299 from headroom which is a great price but I'll be hit with import duty and VAT. I fancy a new set of cans and trying to decide between the HD 650 and AKG 701. If I can get the 701s for under £200 with no hassle I think the decision is made.

[extremelydodgy]

When I bought the Reimyo DAC from a Japanese supplier, he filled the customs declaration at the full value despite my instructions. As a result I was charged VAT, duty and handing fee on top of the £1300 equivalent that I paid for it, which probably made it pretty similar in price to a UK-based supplier.


The same thing with lots of more minor purchases... TNT charged me £40 including handling fee on a £90 headphone from Singapore. The supplier never used to fill out customs declaration in full but they started it seems.


As said by others, USPS > Royal Mail are more likely to sail through. Other more commercial carriers, you will definitely be stung.


Some suppliers will refuse to do so. Others will actually charge you the amount including tax. Others will unilaterally fill out a very low but plausible amount. Others will fill out whatever you tell them. It's best to ask before you buy if it's something that will fall into a value which is dutiable.

[avanzato]

I go to the effort of getting my purchases declared properly as it's the value that any insurance claim is based on. Also customs aren't stupid and they can decide their own value for items they think are being misdeclared or even confiscate them.

I would also hazard a guess that any package labeled as 'gift' will be far more likely to be opened now, as it must be the widest known (but mythical) 'tax dodge' there is. The standard post lets more items through due to the volume of post handled and there's no way to check every single piece coming in.