Advice on Import Duty

[Satako]

Firstly, I realise that this issue has probably been brought up in the past but I've searched and searched for information on this and I'm not sure the answers I found were entirely relevant to me. I thought my best bet would be to ask those with experience in this matter.

I'm a new importer and am looking for a bit of advice. I was going to import a Nintendo DS until I decided to check a few forum threads from people who did the same thing and started reading up on the issue of import duty.

Now, from the countless amounts of threads and websites I've searched for information on this, the general consensus seems to be that you stand the greatest chance of avoiding the tax if you have the product shipped via airmail. A lot of people who ship via DHL, UPS, EMS or TNT have expressed their disappointment of having to hand over around ?30 upon delivery, despite the product arriving much quicker.

I was looking for purchase the console from Lik-Sang and the games from Video Games Plus. I was told a good tip for avoiding the tax is to purchase the hardware and software separately. I've read that if I e-mail these companies, they'll mark down the price on the parcel in the hope that it slips by customs due to the lower value of the package.

Basically, I'm looking for advice on how to best avoid being stung by this import tax. I don't mind having to wait if it'll mean I have a greater chance of avoiding it. Also, is any one courier service better to use than another? Any help anyone could offer would be most appreciated. Cheers.

[Pacman555]

Buy from Liksang, and ship via either Global Priority or Airmail. It takes longer, but you won't get stung for tax.

[buster_broon]

to be honest - like most people here i dont actually mind giving money for duty, if i can get away with it i will try my best but the thing that annoys me is the release fee charged by couriers and parcelfarce

from something like ?4 duty which using the parcelforce calculator ends up being ?20 because of their stupid fees

rant over

[007]

If you send Play Asia an email, they'll mark the package down for you. Or even mark it as a faulty return, therefor decreasing the likelyhood of you getting stung by customs.

[fragmast3r]

I know its a pain tax etc, but the way i look at it I paid ?160 for the ds/2 games and nice carry case including shipping from play-asia and another 40 in tax etc so ?200 all in, if i had waited for uk release id of waited an extra 3+ months and still of paid ?150 for the ds, ?30 each for the 2 games and ?15 for the case so total uk (estimated price this is) ?225, so even though I paid import duty ive still saved ?25 and got the ds 3 months early

[Ginger Tosser]

My ds was sent via cheap post (still insured), my import duty was ?11 (via Royal Mail).

The problem with marking down is customs have the right to charge what they think the item is worth.

As said above i'd take the hit with the duty on the console. Also order the games separately. You'll probably get them with any charges.

[Giga_Death]

I bought

2 x SmartJoy FRAG (Keyboard and Mouse Adapter) - ?30.21
1 x Dead Or Alive: UItimate (US NTSC) - ?31.30
1 x Halo 2 (US NTSC) - ?31.30
1 x Hori Fighting Stick Ex - ?31.33
2 x SmartJoy X USB Adapter (Connect Xbox Joypads to PC) both free (payback points + when you order 2 SmartJoy FRAGS - value ?13.48)

+ ?20.76 shipping costs

and didn't get taxed anything using DHL from Lik Sang and arrived at my door in 2 days from shippng date. Of course they could always send a fat invoice at a later date...

[randombs]

i just ordered five saturn games from ebay for around ?15 ($29.50) from japan last week. i decided, as the value is within the ?18 limit, that i'd use EMS courier as it was only ?5 more than airmail. thing is, i'm hearing conflicting reports that they either only charge tax on the actual value, or that they charge tax on the overall value (price + delivery charge)

anyone?

[Giga_Death]

I wouldn't worry about something under ?20... especially if the actual value of items is less than ?18.

If you're buying from an Ebay retailer (basically a real shop [pays taxes etc] who trades on ebay) and the games are manufacturer wrapped it'd be hard to say to customs that they are second hand, although you can always send them a message tp mark the items as gifts. It's much more easier to do this to someone on ebay than to a faceless customer service email to a corporate entity... maybe they will maybe they won't.

If they're second hand items, there's no reason any VAT should be applied.

[randombs]

hmm thing is the person seems like a shop (called hit-japan or something) but i'll wait and see anyway. heck, if i had probs i could always take my lappy down there and show 'em how much it all cost doubt it'd work though