Buying from the USA

Careful_Shopper_3

I know it's not clothes buying but a couple of weeks ago I dipped my toe in American waters and bought Betty Boop comforter (like a bedspread), curtains, pillowcases and sheet set for my daughter for about £6 more than the UK charge for the comforter alone!!!! The price included 4 - 10 days delivery, was marked as gift and arrived in 6 working days. I will defo be buying from USA again.

paul93anderson

Careful_Shopper wrote:

I know it's not clothes buying but a couple of weeks ago I dipped my toe in American waters and bought Betty Boop comforter (like a bedspread), curtains, pillowcases and sheet set for my daughter for about £6 more than the UK charge for the comforter alone!!!! The price included 4 - 10 days delivery, was marked as gift and arrived in 6 working days. I will defo be buying from USA again.

I saw an example of this on a new BBC programme, entitled "Foreign Exchange". Some of the best bargains wee to be found in area such as bedding, towells, etc. Did you buy this via a store or from the Betty Boop website? It certainly seems to me that there are plenty of bargains out there if you know where to look.

paul93anderson

xueta wrote:

From the https://www.royalmail.com website:


The Post Office charges (£4) are much lower than other couriers - it's not unusual to be charged £20+ for this service from others! Although in theory items that are marked as <£18 merchandise or <£36 gifts should not be charged VAT, UK customs reserve the right to open and inspect packages at random. Some companies that regularly under-declare high value items such as cameras and designer goods are beginning to fall foul of this rule.



Interesting question ... I've not heard of individual consumers buying directly from abroad for these items. It makes more sense economically for large companies to buy raw materials (e.g. cotton, coffee) in bulk and to transport these back to the U.K. for processing. It is the final processing and packaging that makes the final product an 'attractive buy' for us; the local product is often unfinished and may be inferior to the 'export' grade goods that you or I are used to. I was very disappointed with the coffee served in Kenya and South America, for instance. However, if you do come across good sites selling these goods, then do please spread the word!

My thinking was that it makes sense for the large companies to but raw materials in bulk, but it does make sense for the small farmers to sell "cheaply". The sort of items I had in mind were coffee beans, Egyptian cotton - t-shirts, towells, etc, and some of those brialliantly coloured African clothes - a real kaleidascope of colours. It just struck me that there was the possibility of paying a good price for a product in local terms whilst at the same time getting something original and for a good value. Supporting small producers but in a way that benefits both parties. I can't help but feel that there is an opportunity here somewhere. I suppose in some countries £18 or ££36 represent a significant sum of money. No doubt there are loads of potential pitfalls. But it often seems to me that the west pays lip service to free trade. Perhaps this is an area where free trade might really help the small producer raher than the multi-national company. Just a thought.

xueta

paul93anderson wrote:

The sort of items I had in mind were coffee beans, Egyptian cotton - t-shirts, towels, etc, and some of those brilliantly coloured African clothes - a real kaleidoscope of colours. It just struck me that there was the possibility of paying a good price for a product in local terms whilst at the same time getting something original and for a good value. Supporting small producers but in a way that benefits both parties. I can't help but feel that there is an opportunity here somewhere ... No doubt there are loads of potential pitfalls.

It's a nice idea, but the logistics of getting the goods from the small producer directly to the end consumer in a foreign country are presently too complicated to make these sorts of ventures economically viable.

A number of small businesses in recent years have attempted similar schemes, buying directly from artisans' cooperatives in Africa and selling decorative objects (not foodstuffs) in small independent chains in the UK. However, the reality is that once the goods have been imported and have arrived onto the shelves instore, the costs have soared. This makes these items unattractive for the end buyer, who also doesn't like the idea that these goods are so readily available - these buyers are often looking for that unique authentic 'piece' that they can tell their friends they purchased on holiday for next-to-nothing from a starving woodcarver in Botswana or wherever!!!!

Customs regulations are also strict on the import of food, vegetable and plant matter into the UK ... reminds me of the time an Environmental Health Officer knocked on my door to ask about 'my' consignment of 'bush meat' that they had intercepted at Heathrow!!!!:rolleyes: I think someone had seen the 'For Sale' sign outside our house at that time and thought it safe to use as a forwarding address!!! ... but that's going off topic

paul93anderson

.........but it just struck me that it wasn't beyond the whit of man (or indeed woman) to strike up a one to one or few to few relationship whereby goods could be sold direct at better prices than are available from lager mutlinationals and to individual consumers.

Inaddition it might be possible to get bespoke or unusual items, not available to people in the major stores.

In these days where e-mails make communication instant and free (subject to access to a PC), very cheap flights are increasingly common place and where mobile phone exist in places where fixed line phone don't it, struck me that there was an opportunity to empower the individual. True it would lack economy of scale, but on the other hand there are no shareholders to satisfy, premises to maintain, or the need to compromise on quality or style which is part and parcel decision making in a large conglomerate.

PS - would coffee beans be classsified as a foodstuff.

PPS - it must have given you quite a shock when The environmental Health Office came to interrogate you about your consignment of bust meat. I trust all ended well.

lnjk

Has anyone got any idea where I might get Harley Davidson Accesssories and Parts in the US and that would deliver to the UK or anywhere in the UK that is reasonable priced??

Thanks

paul93anderson

This was my first post and I was pleasantly surprised by the helpful and informative responses.

Prior to the posting I had searched endlessly on the Web for a succinct guide to buying goods from the USA: not just about issues such as import duties, postage costs, etc, but also trying to locate stores that are happy to sell goods to Overseas (UK) Customers. Whilst I have had some useful help I still have a very limited understanding of which US stores positively welcome UK Customers and would be grateful for more feedback.

I think I am now going to delay any purchase until the New Year to avoid Christmas post problems and also because its probably the same the world over: goods are cheaper after Christmas.

Just to broaden the subject a tad further - does anyone have any experience of buying goods from other European Countries. Presumably there are only postage costs to add to purchases from other European Countries?

Thanks in anticipation of your help.

Paul.

karlgriffiths

Hi, came on the board to look for info' on customs too.
I ordered clothing for the first time from American Eagle https://www.ae.com
The value equated to £100 (postage an additional £28) The parcel was sent by USPS (standard US service) The parcel arrived today with a £52.26 Customs charge. I have sent it back to the depot and have 3 days to decide whether to keep it. As far as i understand i have to pay VAT 17.5 % on items over £18. So do i minus £18 from the £100 value of my order and pay VAT on the £82? Or on the £100. In any case this would be under £20- What else am i paying for? It would be nice to understand the costs. I don't have a clue !

Thanks if u can advise.

Liv

xueta

karlgriffiths wrote:

Hi, came on the board to look for info' on customs too.
I ordered clothing for the first time from American Eagle https://www.ae.com
The value equated to £100 (postage an additional £28) The parcel was sent by USPS (standard US service) The parcel arrived today with a £52.26 Customs charge. I have sent it back to the depot and have 3 days to decide whether to keep it. As far as i understand i have to pay VAT 17.5 % on items over £18. So do i minus £18 from the £100 value of my order and pay VAT on the £82? Or on the £100. In any case this would be under £20- What else am i paying for? It would be nice to understand the costs. I don't have a clue !

Thanks if u can advise.

Liv

OUCH!! You've been stung proper!
By declaring the full value of the goods, you will have incurred import VAT and customs duty, plus Royal Mail's handling fee.

VAT is calculated at the standard rate (17.5%) on the TOTAL amount including postage (and not just on the amount above £18). Customs duty varies according to the product and country of origin. It just so happens that there are additional customs duties to be paid on goods from USA; these have been gradually phased in since 2004 and as of March 2005 stands at 17% of the total. Royal Mail's handling charge of £4 for paying the duty to clear customs seems positively paltry in comparison!

Next time remember to ask if the shop can post in packets of less that £18 or £36 if it is a gift!

catch22

Will there ever come a time when one doesn't have to pay any customs? When buying from other EU countries is there a different allowance?

I'm actually disappointed with some of the American shops, why do they feel the need to charge so much for postage? I was interested in a bicycle t-shirt that cost $30, they then wanted to charge me $60 for postage.