Ugg Boots from £62 delivered

[MSE Martin]

Please also read the official MoneySavingExpert.com Daily Updated Guide on finding the Cheapest Uggs.

9 October 2007

What’s the deal with cheap Ugg Boots?

While trendy sheepskin Ugg boots typically cost over £170 on the high street, it’s possible to save heaps by ordering from Australian websites which deliver to the UK.

When is an Ugg not an Ugg?

Having done some digging, it appears that in Australia, the word Ugg is a generic term for sheepskin boots. So just because a pair of Ugg Boots isn’t made by “UGG® Australia” –the famous brand beloved by celebs such as Pammy Anderson – they aren’t necessarily fake.

Aussie folks have been making Ugg-style sheepskin boots for over a century. Many MoneySavers have given feedback that alternative brands such as Kiwi Sheepskins and Snug Australia can be just as snug and comfy as UGG Australia. Kiwi Sheepskins start from £50 inc delivery and Snug Australia from £62; so if you’re not fussed about the posh brand, these can be a baa-gain (sorry!).

How to check that boots are genuine UGG Australia

The famous UGG Australia brand is made by Deckers corporation. If that's what you're after there are ways to spot imposters.

• UGG Australia boots have a large middle G on the logo, as seen on the Office website
• They have real sheepskin fur inside; fakes often use synthentic
• They are made in New Zealand, Australia, and more recently, China
• If you want to check that a retailer is legit, email Deckers at info@uggaustralia.com and ask that retailer is licensed to sell UGG Australias

There's an interesting explanation of the history of the Ugg trademark on Wikipedia.

The cheapest supplier of 'genuine' Uggs

Update 17 December 07. Some MoneySavers have expressed concerns over the quality and legitimacy of Ugg Australia boots from one seller, Australia Direct. To investigate, we sent a pair of the suspected fake boots to Deckers, the company that owns Ugg Australia. They confirmed that they were indeed genuine, but were old stock from 2004.

Two suppliers which have had good reports from MoneySavers are Kiwi website hartings.co.nz and American site rei.com. Yet please read up to date feedback from MoneySavers on this thread before choosing a retailer.

How to pay

Using the right piece of plastic is the cheapest way... but make sure it's the right plastic, read the Spending Overseas article for details.

Credit cards are better than debit cards!

Spend on your credit card and you have more rights than you do on a debit card. This is all about Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act which makes the card provider jointly liable with the retailer if anything should go pear-shaped.

Up until recently this didn't apply to goods bought overseas but this was challenged so buy abroad and you are now protected. Pay for goods over £100 fully or partially on your credit card and if something goes wrong you can simply make a claim direct against the card provider without having to contact the retailer at all.

Don't forget to factor in customs charges and delivery times

If you're new to overseas shopping, remember that items can take longer to arrive than those bought in the UK; often two to three weeks. You’ll also have to pay customs duty on goods coming into the UK from non-EU countries. There a full explanation on customs charges in the Buy from the US article (while the article concentrates on the US, most of the info's still relevant when buying from any overseas website).

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Martin

PS This post has been added to the discussion to give some a more detailed researched summary. Thank you very much to MoneySaver me4bargains for starting it off (see below).

[me4bargains]

My mate has just shown me an Australian website selling genuine Ugg boots for £52 + £10 postage.
She wasn't subject to a custom charge either, tried hers on and I am in love!
Just ordered a tall black pair before the price goes up again.

In additon you get a further $5 aus dollars (£1.60) off if you join their mailing list.

http://www.snugaustralia.com.au/

MoneySavingExpert.com Offical Note: Are these Ugg Boots Genuine?

We're currently researching whether these Ugg Boots are genuine and the definitions of it. That research will appear in the free weekly MoneySaving email which includes all the updated info (add yourself to the distrbution list)

[beachlou]

Thanks for this! I have just ordered the Classic Tall boots in Chestnut-also got the discount of £1.90. Can't wait for them to be delivered...gonna be needing them soon I think oif the weather continues like this!

[kingdong]

Just a heads up to expect a nice fat bill from Customs for the import duty.

[me4bargains]

Originally Posted by kingdong

Just a heads up to expect a nice fat bill from Customs for the import duty.

It clearly states in my post that my friend did not have to pay Custom duty and she has ordered from them twice.
Read.

[pulliptears]

If you purchase goods through the Internet you should be aware that customs duty and VAT will be payable, as follows:

• Customs duty - if the amount of duty is £7 and over.
• Import VAT - if the value of the goods is £18 and over.

Your friend was lucky. Parcels do slip through, but at £62 the parcel is liable for customs charges and in all probablility will be charged on entry to the country.

Also be aware that HM Customs can keep the parcel for 2 weeks or so whilst they calculate duty.

[yenners]

thanks me4bargains - i've been wanting a pair of uggs but not willing to fork out over £100 for them.

yes, customs duty is a bit hit and miss, isn't it? your friend must have been lucky.

[ajdj]

Also be careful, they may be genuine 'Australia made' but they are not Genuine 'Ugg Australia' boots as sold in Selfridges and worn by celebrities world over. You will find it difficult to get such a big discount off the genuine article.

[me4bargains]

Originally Posted by ajdj

Also be careful, they may be genuine 'Australia made' but they are not Genuine 'Ugg Australia' boots as sold in Selfridges and worn by celebrities world over. You will find it difficult to get such a big discount off the genuine article.

I saw them, they are genuine Ugg boots Labels everything. But thanks
She had them delieverd by DHL is that she wasn't charged extra?

[ajdj]

Oh, thats good then. Just a little suprised to not see them advertising the fact they are Ugg Australia. There are so many sites selling fakes or cheaper sheepkin versions that it is hard to tell sometimes.

My friend got hers from this site and they do advertise the fact they are an Ugg Australia stockist- http://aussiedirect.stores.yahoo.net/uggausran.html

I think this is the site i will be buying from as the Classic short works out to about £70 which is still a good saving on UK price and they are offering to pay your tax for you too. (They paid my friends which worked out to about £30 from memory).

[me4bargains]

On the home page it says :'welcome to SNUG Australia
the provider of genuine Australian made premium quality ugg boots and sheepskin footwear.'

[pulliptears]

Originally Posted by me4bargains

I saw them, they are genuine Ugg boots Labels everything. But thanks
She had them delieverd by DHL is that she wasn't charged extra?

No, as I say its just luck.

I had £300 NERF bars for the car delivered from New York, they were huge and took 2 men to lift them. They passed through customs like a breeze with no import.

A month later I ordered a jacket from the USA, £80. Small, inconspicuous parcel. Had to pay customs

A lot of Uggs are Australian made, but as was said previously they are not genuine "Ugg Australia" brands

[GabbaGabbaHey]

Originally Posted by me4bargains

She had them delieverd by DHL is that she wasn't charged extra?

Whenever I have had overseas parcels delivered by DHL, the invoice for duty (and VAT, where applicable) has always followed a week or so later. They also charge a collection fee.

While the Post Office can be a bit hit and miss for collecting duty, my personal experience is that parcels delivered by courier are invariably charged duty.

[ajdj]

Originally Posted by me4bargains

On the home page it says :'welcome to SNUG Australia
the provider of genuine Australian made premium quality ugg boots and sheepskin footwear.'

Yes, the problem is though that firstly the genuine 'Ugg Australia' boots are not made in Australia. They are actually made in New Zealand and China. Secondly the term 'Ugg' on its own means nothing- that is not the registered trademark of a genuine boot. Only the 'Ugg Australia' logo is the registered trademark of the genuine article.

See this article for some help- http://reviews.ebay.ie/THE-UGG-BOOT-...00000003242921

And the official website for good photos of a genuine boot for comparison-
http://www.uggaustralia.com/ProductD...=Classic+Short

I would urge everyone to be careful before parting with any money- it is a lot of money to risk buying a boot that may well be of the same style, but not of the same quality. A few minutes research may be well spent.

[jaypr]

Originally Posted by GabbaGabbaHey

Whenever I have had overseas parcels delivered by DHL, the invoice for duty (and VAT, where applicable) has always followed a week or so later. They also charge a collection fee.

While the Post Office can be a bit hit and miss for collecting duty, my personal experience is that parcels delivered by courier are invariably charged duty.

True, happened to me before when ordering from Abercrombie in the US. DHL delivered, then a week later an invoice for the duty in the post.

Jason

[pudding]

I ordered some from australia...£10 delivery and no customs but they didn't last me 2 minutes....Don't know if this is all ugg boots but I have just purchased some more today (The ones made in china..deckers..worn by pamela anderson etc..) hopefully these might be better than the ones I got from australia..will wait and see..My brother-in law lives in the states so paid £75 for the tall ones and got them through www.uggaustralia.com
It's up to each individual which one's to buy really..

[pulliptears]

I had some £10 ones from Claires Accessories 2 months ago, Ive lived in them and they are still like new.

I know the quality of the sheepskin is better in the proper ones, but for the purposes of a UK winter these will do me just fine!

[jasmineswhiskers]

Originally Posted by me4bargains

I saw them, they are genuine Ugg boots Labels everything. But thanks
She had them delieverd by DHL is that she wasn't charged extra?

They aren't the 'UGG Australia' that all the celebs wear but i have seen these before and they seem quite good quality and well made. I ordered some ugg boots for my kids the other week - made in New Zealand from real sheepskin, great quality etc from http://www.kiwi-sheepskins.com/ They arrived in a week and no vat/duty/handling fee etc (came via royal mail).
Does anyone know if they escaped vat + duty because they were children's?
Anyway i'm very impressed with them - very much like my UGG Australia's - and they were pretty cheap considering.

[Miró]

Originally Posted by jasmineswhiskers

I ordered some ugg boots for my kids the other week - made in New Zealand from real sheepskin, great quality etc from http://www.kiwi-sheepskins.com/ They arrived in a week and no vat/duty/handling fee etc (came via royal mail).
Does anyone know if they escaped vat + duty because they were children's?
Anyway i'm very impressed with them - very much like my UGG Australia's - and they were pretty cheap considering.

I've had a couple of pairs of adult boots from this company and can't speak highly enough of them, (both boots and company!) Have never had to pay duty/import fees and the quality is brilliant. If quality is more important than a trendy label then give this company a go!!!

[kingdong]

Originally Posted by me4bargains

It clearly states in my post that my friend did not have to pay Custom duty and she has ordered from them twice.
Read.

Dont be so ignorant and rude. it's a-hole responses like yours that makes newbie posters like me want to think twice about posting a helpful follow up to an existing post.

I did read your post, just thought I should point out the obvious - you are likely to be stung import duty. Perhaps a bargain at face value yes, but when some people are likely to get stung 20 notes or so on top of that price, would it still be such a bargain?

Just because your friend got lucky does not mean that everyone who imports from this place are not liable for import duty.

Read.