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Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 8th, '22, 08:31
by ptolemyx
I just got these bad boys from fleabay. Item from Italy and was excellent value at £426.11 including p&p to Engerland. In my naivety I forgot about you lot voting for Brexit and have been stung £106.53 customs charge. I certainly would not have ordered them If I'd known the cost would be £532.64 :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402910077904 ... SwlgNgwJ4u

That £106.53 is petrol for four ride outs I will not be doing.

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 8th, '22, 08:55
by Jug
Just think of it as a freedom tax, and it goes on paying to keep the grey ones anyway so you'll get it back soon enough. :D

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 8th, '22, 09:09
by Jug
I tell you what sucks... that VAT should have been added by ebay when you pay (even though they warn it might be added later).
I just clicked the 'buy it now' and sure enough it didn't get added.

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 8th, '22, 10:39
by Jay
I also got stung with buying new tyres £75 customs tax :(

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 8th, '22, 14:56
by billinom8s
They are b'stards

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 8th, '22, 15:01
by Jug
Just checked the VAT rules on ebay and it seems that ebay only collects the VAT (for EU goods) if the value is up to £135 inc shipping.
For orders above that you will get hit on delivery for extra, plus a handling fee from the shipper...

So as Brian said.. beware if the total is above £135.

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 9th, '22, 05:28
by ptolemyx
Fleabay sure ought to make it clear in big technicolour letters. Yes, at the end of the day it's my fault for clicking to buy without checking.

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 9th, '22, 06:24
by Tvrv37
It's fair to say that eBay emailed all users prior to the changes but people tend not to read these updates. Also Caveat Emptor (buyer beware) has existed in the purchase of physical goods in the UK for ever. Which means if the deal looks to good to be true it probably is! That's the reason goods through officially imported sources cost what they do.

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 10th, '22, 06:04
by ptolemyx
Trouble is when hypnotised by lovely shiny things that we absolutely must have most folk lose their ability to check the small print. Not wise but normal human behaviour.
Richard, I think I paid my share over 48 years employment B-)

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 11th, '22, 14:57
by menzies3032
ptolemyx wrote: Feb 8th, '22, 08:31 I just got these bad boys from fleabay. Item from Italy and was excellent value at £426.11 including p&p to Engerland. In my naivety I forgot about you lot voting for Brexit and have been stung £106.53 customs charge. I certainly would not have ordered them If I'd known the cost would be £532.64 :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402910077904 ... SwlgNgwJ4u

That £106.53 is petrol for four ride outs I will not be doing.
OK time to get Technical.
To start off I work for FedEx and we have spent since Brexit to try and get people to complete export documentation correctly so that customers in the UK are not over charged for goods and services they purchase in the UK.

Based on the product its self every product has its own tariff code and this applies different % charges to the import tax and can have a big impact on what you pay as a customer. I recently bought some electrical goods from Germany for £150 and paid £14 on import duty and taxes. I would suggest that the shipper did not correctly complete the export documentation and you are therefore paying full and default tax rates which sounds way to high. I would suggest you challenge this with the seller if they completed this correctly as I think you are entitled a part refund from HMRC but the seller has to action this.
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Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 12th, '22, 06:26
by ptolemyx
Thanks for that Rob.
Fact is I've had my moan and the likely anguish involved in seeking a part refund of duty is too much for me. Interestingly if the duty was (vat equivalent) 20% then UPS have added a 5% charge. I've always tried to just use UK sellers who will have paid duty on imports and the ticket price is the actual price paid but, as I said, this time I was like a lamped rabbit and dropped my guard.

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 12th, '22, 12:20
by bkingalan
At least you may have saved me some money Brian,
Looking at something in Ireland and he's going to send it as a gift 👍👍👍

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 12th, '22, 22:09
by Robbo87
bkingalan wrote: Feb 12th, '22, 12:20 At least you may have saved me some money Brian,
Looking at something in Ireland and he's going to send it as a gift 👍👍👍
What's she called? And is Annette aware? :)):

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 13th, '22, 13:53
by bkingalan
Robbo87 wrote: Feb 12th, '22, 22:09
bkingalan wrote: Feb 12th, '22, 12:20 At least you may have saved me some money Brian,
Looking at something in Ireland and he's going to send it as a gift 👍👍👍
What's she called? And is Annette aware? :)):
She would be happier if it was a she and not something to go on the other woman 🤣😂

Re: Beware buying from Europe

Posted: Feb 13th, '22, 22:53
by Robbo87
bkingalan wrote: Feb 13th, '22, 13:53
Robbo87 wrote: Feb 12th, '22, 22:09
bkingalan wrote: Feb 12th, '22, 12:20 At least you may have saved me some money Brian,
Looking at something in Ireland and he's going to send it as a gift 👍👍👍
What's she called? And is Annette aware? :)):
She would be happier if it was a she and not something to go on the other woman 🤣😂
The plot thickens . . . . 🤫