DVDsoon v Customs

[Tardis]

I know it''s a free for all, pot luck and all that but generally speaking, have members found that orders from DVDsoon over the customs limit pass through without getting penalised by customs.

I'm thinking of buying just over the limit (£24:00) for the first time and wondering what my chances were of not getting hit.

[Godfather]

I've been hit on 2 out of 2 orders that were around £25 each a couple of months ago. Haven't tried it again recently!

[smartiepants]

my order for a £30 box set got by without custom charges about 3 weeks ago from DVDsoon

[figrin_dan]

My last dvdsoon order had the price $0.00 on it. They may be getting naughty again.

[BIONIC MAN]

Got The A Team box set a few weeks back , worked out about 49p over the £18.00 and had to pay £4.20 to the Tight Customs Man

I would say it's pot luck

[oskarbackman]

If I order 3 movies for say £8 each(£24 in total and over the limit) and order them separetely are there any risk that the custom will add them together and charge me?

[Garrett]

It depends if they send them as one order, one £24 is likely to be hit. 3 £8 no way.

[sjp1966]

I just called HM Customs as i was confused as to how custom charges work. they said to me that the charges on an item are as followings

3.5% of the entire price (including postage) +17.5% VAT

Therefore if you buy a DVD at £17.00 and there is £2.00 postage you would pay 21% in charges 3.5%+17.5% i am not sure if this includes the hit the post office generates too

[cybersoga]

that's excluding administration fees added by the post office or whatever courier that delivers it in this country.

[Simon6776]

Originally Posted by sjp1966

Therefore if you buy a DVD at £17.00 and there is £2.00 postage you would pay 21% in charges 3.5%+17.5% i am not sure if this includes the hit the post office generates too

Actually, no. The shipping costs are not included unless the total cost of the goods are over £18. Therefore, a DVD costing £17.99 + £2 shipping, will not be hit, but a DVD costing £18.99 + £2 shipping, would be hit for the total £20.99. That's how I understand it, and this was confirmed by DVD Pacific.

[sjp1966]

Originally Posted by Simon6776

Actually, no. The shipping costs are not included unless the total cost of the goods are over £18. Therefore, a DVD costing £17.99 + £2 shipping, will not be hit, but a DVD costing £18.99 + £2 shipping, would be hit for the total £20.99. That's how I understand it, and this was confirmed by DVD Pacific.

Not according to HM Customs, i specifically asked her the question by saying " if i ordered a DVD for £17.00 and the postage was £3.00, would i get hit for a customs charge, she said yes it includes the postage amount too, and that is when she told me the percentages charged.

That maybe DVD Pacifics view on things, but i was told this by HM Customs directly

[Greg]

Have you seen the sticky on this forum?

Have a look here at the first post, should answer all your customs questions

Customs/Importing/Charges

[chris110]

Originally Posted by sjp1966

Not according to HM Customs, i specifically asked her the question by saying " if i ordered a DVD for £17.00 and the postage was £3.00, would i get hit for a customs charge, she said yes it includes the postage amount too, and that is when she told me the percentages charged.

That maybe DVD Pacifics view on things, but i was told this by HM Customs directly

You are wrong, Ive looked into this further and have actually ordered from both amazon canada, and dvd pacific whereby the order was under £18 but the total value including postage was above £18. Both came through with no problems and a customs stamp on them too to say there was nothing to pay.

[sjp1966]

Originally Posted by chris110

You are wrong, Ive looked into this further and have actually ordered from both amazon canada, and dvd pacific whereby the order was under £18 but the total value including postage was above £18. Both came through with no problems and a customs stamp on them too to say there was nothing to pay.

I can only go by what the person at HM Customs told me, if they don't know then what chance do we have. If what happened with your purchases you made is the norm then beleive me i'm glad as that means we have more leeway. although not much

[Simon6776]

Originally Posted by sjp1966

I can only go by what the person at HM Customs told me, if they don't know then what chance do we have.

Indeed. I have asked HMC&E two or three times about this, and received a different interpretation of the rules each time. Truth is, I'm not sure even they know for sure. As many DVDs are borderline whether to charge customs or not, why can't they raise the ceiling to a definite amount (say £25?), that being the total payment for the order, regardless of shipping costs.