Buying from the USA

Rekusu

Hi there,

Don't know if this is the correct forum as I cannot find an appropriate forum. Have also searched the forums but cannot find anything, so here goes.

I need to buy a couple of small items from America, costing US$10 and $24 respectively. But US web base companies on eBay and Amazon, don't know about the post office, so want to zap me with around US50 each courier charges.

Is there a method to buy items without such an excessive charge? I don't have any American friends and don't know anyone who is about to visit in the next X months.

Thanks,

Rex

DeeLasVegas

What are you trying to buy?

mmikailian

i did hear of a storing company ages ago? that you could send your bits too and they would send on not sure if that would be cheaper i cant remember details but i am sure i saw it in the ebaying bit of this website? shame though depending what it was i could have collected for you lol only came back Friday

Bella_b

Have a look at the HM & Customs website. I think if you buy something under a certain amount there is no duty.

Lugh_Chronain

Yes, you could also try contacting HM Revenue & Customs as well. Might take a while to return your query though they are very helpful.

Would also help if you posted what you're after as someone might be able to track it down for cheapish in the UK.

JAG

Also see this website http://www.dutycalculator.com

Rekusu

Thanks for the replies. As I said in my question, the items will cost less than $20; specifically, I have an American washing machine and the hot / cold inlet hoses are 3/4" NPS (American thread); UK uses 3/4" BSP and the two are not compatible. I am looking for either a pair of 90 degree elbows or hot and cold pipes with 90 degree elbows, with 3/4" NPS threads. Reason is to get the machine closer to the wall. The supplied hoses fit, but the come horizontally from the machine so that it will have to be around 8" from the wall. Either of these items are unlikely to incur Customs duty, but $60 courier charges are out of the question when I'm sure that postal cost would be reasonable. Rex

johnnyreggae

Try someone like Pipeline Center for industrial / offshore type items as I think they also use the American thread and may have elbows - thinking about it most are taper (npt) not nps but it may be worth an ask

Always_Harassed

There are stockists in the UK for American machines. Do a search on yell. I spoke to a couple of stockists before I bought my machine.

KxMx

Customs fees are calculated on value and postage costs. So duty would be payable on the $60 postage cost as well, taking you over the limits even before the value of the goods was calculated.