importing from USA

In message <[email hidden]>, Richard Goodman
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Has anyone imported a bike or bike parts from the USA?

Not a whole bike, but parts and other things on occasion.

Quoted message said:

How much extra, percentage-wise, did you have to pay on taxes and duties to get it in?

There is import duty, VAT - (for goods worth more than GBP 18., 36 if it's a gift), and if the
PO deliver the package possibly a fee to collect said duty. However this seems rather erratic in
reality, we have sometimes has this duty collect by the PO on other occasions not, for no
obvious reason.

I think duty on bike parts was about 6%.

I had booklet from C&E about the various tariffs, I would guess the info might be on the C&E
website now.

<http://www.hmce.gov.uk/index.htm>
--
Chris French, Leeds

Quoted message said:

There is import duty, VAT - (for goods worth more than GBP 18., 36 if it's a gift), and if the
PO deliver the package possibly a fee to collect said duty. However this seems rather erratic in
reality, we have sometimes has this duty collect by the PO on other occasions not, for no
obvious reason.

I think duty on bike parts was about 6%.

It can be a fine balancing act between a saving and a loss being made

On some ocassions I have marginally lost out on importing goods and on other ocassions have made
appreciable savings especially when the Post Office/ Customs fails to charge import duty.

You can find yourself being hit with a double or triple whammy if import duty is charged because I
think VAT is then levied on: The value of the goods inc import duty (double whammy) The postal
charge (triple whammy) The disproportionately large collection fee levied by the P.O. (double -
double whammy)

I have also found that smaller packages eligible for import duty charges often get through unscathed
whereas the larger packages seem to attract more attention. Some of the more savvy international
vendors use 'helpful customs declaration labelling' to minimise the import duties.

Vernon Levy Leeds

"chris French" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I had booklet from C&E about the various tariffs, I would guess the info might be on the C&E
website now.

<http://www.hmce.gov.uk/index.htm>
--

Thanks Chris, I'd looked on the C&E site but the tariffs aren't online, so that's why I asked here.
I'd guessed charging could be erratic - likely to be more so, I think, for small parts than for a
whole bike though!

I'd still like to know if anyone knows the exact rate of duty for bicycles...

Rich

Richard Goodman said:

Has anyone imported a bike or bike parts from the USA? How much extra, percentage-wise, did you
have to pay on taxes and duties to get it in?

Rich

Yep, frequently. Bikes cost ((bike cost + shipping cost) plus 15% duty) plus 17.5% VAT, components
are 4.8% duty (but if you are bringing it in with you they won't go for taking the wheels off and
calling a bike a pile of components - I know, I've tried !). You can look up individual duty rates
on the TARIC site europa.eu.inttaric en.htmOpen ↗. Bicycles are
code 8712 00 30.

Typically mail ordering a bike will cost about $200 for shipping. Which combined with the above
usually works out to negate any price difference between here and there. UPS, DHL etc all have
shipping cost calculators on their site and if you use places like Supergo they have international
shipping calculators built into their ordering system.

For small stuff they may bung it in the post and most times it gets through without customs charges
but you risk it not turning up. On big or expensive stuff it will invariably go by a company such as
DHL who will treat it like any other consignment and go through the full import procedure (for which
they may charge you). Also consider what happens if the frame,part turns up damaged or faulty.

(One for the FAQ, Guy? )

Tony

--
"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." Mark Twain

VERNON LEVY must be edykated coz e writed:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There is import duty, VAT - (for goods worth more than GBP 18., 36 if it's a gift), and if the PO
deliver the package possibly a fee to collect said duty. However this seems rather erratic in
reality, we have sometimes has this duty collect by the PO on other occasions not, for no obvious
reason.

I think duty on bike parts was about 6%.

Duty on parts is 4.5%

--
Ian

catrike.co.ukcatrike.co.ukOpen ↗

In message <[email hidden]>, Richard Goodman
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

"chris French" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I had booklet from C&E about the various tariffs, I would guess the info might be on the C&E
website now.

<http://www.hmce.gov.uk/index.htm>
--

Thanks Chris, I'd looked on the C&E site but the tariffs aren't online, so that's why I asked here.

Ahhh.....

Quoted message said:

'd guessed charging could be erratic - likely to be more so, I think, for small parts than for a
whole bike though!

Yes, I doubt if a bike would get through without being charged.

Quoted message said:

I'd still like to know if anyone knows the exact rate of duty for bicycles...

Ring them up and ask?

When I rang them they were very helpful.

--
Chris French, Leeds

"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yep, frequently. Bikes cost ((bike cost + shipping cost) plus 15% duty) plus 17.5% VAT, components
are 4.8% duty (but if you are bringing it in with you they won't go for taking the wheels off and
calling a bike a pile of components - I know, I've tried !). You can look up individual duty rates
on the TARIC site europa.eu.inttaric en.htmOpen ↗.

Bicycles

Quoted message said:

are code 8712 00 30.

Typically mail ordering a bike will cost about $200 for shipping. Which combined with the above

.. is bloody annoying. Ouch!

Quoted message said:

usually works out to negate any price difference between here and there.

Or worse. It certainly makes it a whole lot more expensive prospect!

<snip>

Quoted message said:

(One for the FAQ, Guy? )

Not a bad idea. Thanks for the definitive reply.

Rich

Richard Goodman said:

.. is bloody annoying. Ouch!

Yes, lots of people look at the US prices which are around the same in $ as £'s and think it'll be
cheaper to import one. The reality is duty and VAT take up a lot of the difference. Plus you have
to know what you are doing. Quite often the name is the same but the bike has different componentry
in the US.

Bottom line, if its something specific you can't get here import is an option but if you are doing
to save money other than on small bits and pieces, you are almost certainly not going to unless its
a really special deal.

Have you tried the European on-line sites? You can get some good prices from people like bicycles.de

Tony

--
"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." Mark Twain

Richard Goodman must be edykated coz e writed:

Quoted message said:

"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Yep, frequently. Bikes cost ((bike cost + shipping cost) plus 15% duty) plus 17.5% VAT,
components are 4.8% duty (but if you are bringing it in with you they won't go for taking the
wheels off and calling a bike a pile of components - I know, I've tried !). You can look up
individual duty rates on the TARIC site
europa.eu.inttaric en.htmOpen ↗.

Bicycles

Quoted message said:

are code 8712 00 30.

Typically mail ordering a bike will cost about $200 for shipping. Which combined with the above

.. is bloody annoying. Ouch!

Quoted message said:

usually works out to negate any price difference between here and there.

Or worse. It certainly makes it a whole lot more expensive prospect!

Importing yourself can be a false economy, we supply the Catrike at a lower price than if you import
one yourself, plus we give a guarantee with the product and assemble and set up the trike, it is
worth doing all your sums first.

--
Ian

catrike.co.ukcatrike.co.ukOpen ↗