Prom dress from China

frames1_uk

My daughter is wanting a dress from ebay (haven't decided which one or seller yet) but definitely one of the ones in China (as good prices).

I have read that they 'hold no responsibility for customs charges' and was wondering what experiences anyone has had with this? Are the charges inevitable or random?

Thanks

bargainbetty

http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/

Look it up!

frames1_uk

wow I had no idea! I've never bought anything from China from ebay. So once the goods enter the country do customs call the buyer to get the charges paid?

Sazzarella

Usually Royal Mail put the little card through the door with the price on and then you go to the depo and pay for it and pick it up.

shaun_from_Africa

but definitely one of the ones in China (as good prices).

Don't forget to weigh up the possible pitfalls against the possible savings.

When the dress turns up, if it is not as described or damaged, your daughter will probably be required to return it back to China before getting a refund, and the chances are that she will have to cover the cost of this herself. (and it will have to go by a method that provides proof of delivery in China and this won't be cheap.

Hermia

frames1_uk wrote: »

My daughter is wanting a dress from ebay (haven't decided which one or seller yet) but definitely one of the ones in China (as good prices).

Make sure you read the feedback very carefully. I sew and on one sewing forum I go on Chinese sellers of prom/wedding/party dressers are often discussed as the professional dressmakers often have clients who want them to try and fix poorly-made dresses that look nothing like the picture.

montymud

A good place to buy is Light In The Box, the quality is very good

KxMx

A friend took a risk with a wedding dress from China and it arrived with a zipped back instead of lace-up as she'd ordered, so she had to pay for it to be changed.

forgotmyname

Sending the item back to China maybe very costly. Dont forget it needs to be fully tracked.

I bought an item for £5 or £7 including delivery (i forget which). To return it would have cost me £14. Work that out.

I only buy stuff im happy to throw away if its junk.

sheilavw

We bought our daughters prom dress from China 4 years ago off Ebay. We didn't get charged anything on delivery. We carefully measured her and the dress was perfect. It came in a tiny little package so was very creased. We hired a hoop to go underneath. It was £73 including delivery. The following year she had 3 girls all wanting to buy it

paddyrg

Just exercise caution - you have no buyers rights, you're dependent on sellers goodwill. Sometimes due to the language gap, things you ask for are not exactly understood - you may want a blood red, but you mean congealed blood, they mean fresh; you want a particular type of pleat which has a different name outside the UK; fabrics may be plasticky or sweaty; you might find the common 'same same' will apply to a copy of a well-designed item which has been knocked up by a sweatshop kid and is superficially similar enough for the language gap to make it impossible to object. Duty, VAT, import clearance fees can add up. Resizing may be impossible. Photographs may very well just be copied from competitors adverts (EXTREMELY common on Alibaba for instance). In short, you're taking a punt.

If you need the dress for a certain date and it has to be right, go to a UK dressmaker who will measure and pin and adjust and get the job done right. If you absolutely must get one from China, be aware you MAY need to get it remade anyway in the UK. Distance works against you for custom items like tailoring!