amazon.co.uk - custom charge

sanova76

Hi,
I'm thinking to buy some cds from a amazon marketplace that located in Japan.  Do you know if I will get custom charge when it arrives in UK?  I've asked amazon customer service and he said any custom fee/additional tax should shown when you go to checkout.  It doesn't show any custom charges when I go to checkout but I just when to make sure before I decided to buy.  Anybody has experience before?

Please advise.
Many thanks.
San 

jon81uk

Are you buying from amazon.co.uk or amazon.jp?

If you are buying from the UK site (amazon.co.uk) then Amazon may take a deposit to pay taxes from see Amazon.co.uk Help: About Customs, Duties & Taxes

If you are buying from the Japanese Amazon site then you will pay tax when the item enters the UK.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

If it's a marketplace seller and the goods aren't fulfilled by Amazon then they'll come from Japan and it's doubtful the seller will pre-pay customs so I think you have to pay customs for anything over £15. 

sanova76

I'll be buying it from the amazon UK site.  When I check the seller/shop information, the item is located in Japan.  I've read the information about customs charge, from what I can understand, I'm still liable for custom charge for items bought outside the UK.  I guess it'll be cheaper if I buy from a Japanese site directly.

Fosterdog

Even buying from a Japanese site directly you are still liable for customers charges and VAT when you import goods into the U.K. so only worth doing that if the overall price is cheaper anyway and the company you buy from has a good reputation. At least doing it through Amazon you have some additional protections such as the A-Z guarentee.

sanova76

Sorry, I meant to say that if I buy directly from the japanese site, it might cost the same/cheaper after import/custom charge.  Sometimes the prices in amazon is slightly higher than RRP.  I initially thought all items bought from amazon UK won't get custom charge. I'll do a comparison before decided to buy.

[Deleted User]

I've bought from Amazon US and Japan, and generally, if the product is sold by Amazon, they will factor in the duty and VAT into the amount you pay - you can see the breakdown just before you pay. You won't have to pay more, but if the amount billed by customs is less, you get a refund (which I have had before). If it's from a marketplace seller, you will most likely have to pay duty once it arrives in the UK.