We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Import duty on item shipped from Asia?
Options

BlueCow1975
Posts: 1,422 Forumite
Am toying with the idea of ordering a nintendo ds lite from Ebay from a seller with 100% feedback and top seller status who has sold a number of the same items all with good feedback. The package I am looking at is 89.99 and comes unlocked to a specific region and has a 100 games bundle with it as well as a 12 month warranty.
I just wondered if anyone could advise me where I stand on import duty / customs issues and what I may be expected to pay. The item is being sent from Asia. Thanks.
I just wondered if anyone could advise me where I stand on import duty / customs issues and what I may be expected to pay. The item is being sent from Asia. Thanks.
0
Comments
-
There won't be any import duty but you will have VAT to pay and a handling and collection fee charged by the courier.
This fee will be somewhere between £8 and about £15 depending on which courier is used.
There are a couple of things to bear in mind and they are:
1/. The 100 game bundle is in all probability made of of illegally copied games, and if this is the case they may not work properly and the shipment could get impounded by customs.
2/ The 12 month warranty will probably involve you having to pay to return the item back to the seller and if they fail to honour this warranty there won't be much that you can do about it.0 -
Thanks for the information - really helpful.0
-
If ebay spot they are selling fakes then they wont be on ebay for long so your warranty could
be very short. Less than the 45 days claim limit.
If its faulty is it worth the cost of shipping it back to them?
I only buy cheap throw away items from china. If it doesnt work chuck it and leave negative.
Cheaper than sending it back for a refund thats possibly less than the item cost.
Just ordered a phone case and screen protector for 99p, Cant wait to see if its going to be used
or straight from the postman to the bin.Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...0 -
I buy a lot from the Far East but would not buy an expensive electrical item unless I could afford to throw my money away.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.0
-
There is a reason why it will be cheaper than other comparable listings and its not because its a bargain.'The More I know about people the Better I like my Dog'
Samuel Clemens0 -
I buy items from different countries but I'd never buy an electrical item from Asia or China unless I was prepared to lose the money. There's too high a chance of it being counterfeit.., and its not worth returning an item to such a country. There are so many UK sellers, its just not worth the risk.
Also always check a sellers feedback for items. It will give u a way of assessing the risk.., and make sure u look closely at sellers feedback, not just buyers feedback. Its easy to confuse the two.
The hundred games bundle is likely to be on the hard drive rather than game cartridges (postage costs from Asia would be astronomical otherwise).., you'd need to know how to use them.0 -
Thanks folks. Sensible advice as usual. :cool:
Was dithering about it and instinct told me it was not a sensible idea - but then I was romanced by the price and fact that the guy has been trading for over a year with hundreds of positive feedback on the same item.
I have now seen sense and will stick with a dependable UK trader.0 -
Blue Cow, I posted about this seller (I think) as well as I also thought it seemed to good to be true. Have you found anything slightly less suspect in the UK which is a reasonable price please?“Listen earnestly to anything your children want to tell you, no matter what. If you don't listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won't tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff.”0
-
BlueCow1975 wrote: »Am toying with the idea of ordering a nintendo ds lite from Ebay from a seller with 100% feedback and top seller status who has sold a number of the same items all with good feedback. The package I am looking at is 89.99 and comes unlocked to a specific region and has a 100 games bundle with it as well as a 12 month warranty.
I just wondered if anyone could advise me where I stand on import duty / customs issues and what I may be expected to pay. The item is being sent from Asia. Thanks.
iv seen those auctions & the 100 games are on an R4 card which are illegal to own, buy & sell in the UK. oh & btw all NDSLs are not region locked & will play any games from anywhere in the world out of the box0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.4K Spending & Discounts
- 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.8K Life & Family
- 256.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards