Buying from the US on ebay

[reb78]

I need a set of new drive wheels for a mower.

They are extortionate in the UK - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115319731418

They are waaay cheaper in the US, some places have them for $10 each. This place has a pair and is about £100 cheaper than the UK link including postage - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195684047251

I've never bought from the US. Am i likely to get clobbered for extra taxes if I buy these, negating the price difference?

 

[Pete.]

If you buy them and they ship by the global shipping program then you should be ok, I think.

 

[Wildefalcon]

I've bought stuff from the USA on eBay this year, a diff for my Landrover. If they ship to the UK they sometimes offer an "all taxes paid" option. Takes a while but it did work.

 

[reb78]

I've bought stuff from the USA on eBay this year, a diff for my Landrover. If they ship to the UK they sometimes offer an "all taxes paid" option. Takes a while but it did work.

If you buy them and they ship by the global shipping program then you should be ok, I think.

I cant see that or an option for it on my link. I might be missing something?

 

[JOEPRO]

I cant see that or an option for it on my link. I might be missing something?

That likely means the seller hasn't checked the box for global shipping programme.

Message the seller through eBay and explain you would like to buy it and can they change the settings on the listing to include it in the global shipping programme.

 

[JOEPRO]

There are pros and cons of ebay global shipping. Mostly pros to be fair.

Pros.
Good shipping prices - better than you can get from the Post office in USA sometimes by far.
You get the ebay protection as normal
It works out the taxes and shipping etc all in advance so you know when buying what your in for. And no extra tax then when it gets here.

Cons
Shipping can take 2 or 2 weeks.
Ebay does not take account of normal tax allowances here. Aka you pay duty even on small items that are otherwise under the threshold here but it balances out with the better shipping prices overall.

 

[stumcf]

If used is an option:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32482825...NV4widKQI6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[Ubique]

The tax & duty on US$20 isn't going to be significant, you'll still be saving a lot - have you looked on Amazon.com? they do tax & duty paid prices on stuff from the US most of the time.

 

[reb78]

If used is an option:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32482825...NV4widKQI6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Good spot. Thanks! I have messaged them.

 

[reb78]

The tax & duty on US$20 isn't going to be significant, you'll still be saving a lot - have you looked on Amazon.com? they do tax & duty paid prices on stuff from the US most of the time.

I think for the two wheels it still works out around half of any UK price I can find even with tax and handling.

 

[Memmeddu]

I've tried once
Extra taxes
Extra vat
Import taxes
Plus they require personal data like ID , fiscal number etc
Not worth sharing my personal information with eBay.
I've preferred buy from another extraeurpean country paying import taxes .

I'm in Italy and Even buying from UK it's quite risky
I've once bought air arc carbons from UK
The item was cheaper than the shipping, import taxes combo
Which showed up with the currier because eBay makes you pay the import taxes at the moment you're buying something, I've paid them twice ,once buying online, and once cash to the currier to get the item .
I'd prefer even not to imagine how much would cost me buying something from the us

 

[chrismac]

For info, I bought last week and item from amazon.com it came from America, less than half the cost of the UK and arrived in 6 days!! I was well impressed.

 

[m_c]

Ebay does not take account of normal tax allowances here. Aka you pay duty even on small items that are otherwise under the threshold here but it balances out with the better shipping prices overall.

The whole import tax/VAT situation changed with withdrawal from the EU.
As part of the agreement, the UK became the frontrunner for any foreign company/marketplace (i.e. eBay) exporting into the UK, having to collect UK VAT at source for goods under the value of ~£150.

IIRC the same process comes into force the whole of the EU this year.

 

[RichardM]

Ebay should collect Vat for items priced under £135, including shipping costs, at checkout.

 

[6ply]

Personally I'd be making a trip to the local dump/recycling centre to look for old mowers. Usually dirt cheap.

 

[reb78]

Personally I'd be making a trip to the local dump/recycling centre to look for old mowers. Usually dirt cheap.

These are quite uncommon. Its a hardy mower for rough ground. I doubt i would find one at a tip.

 

[frank horton]

I got ripped off with a 1930's m/cycle speedo.......
obv used and beaten up.......
the tax and import duty along with transport it cost almost as much as the item.......
not going to do that again........!!!!!!!!!

 

[zzr1200]

I try to buy via Amazon from the USA, mainly because of the global shipping plus Amazon seem to sort out any import taxes, and delivery is fairly fast as well, the package just arrives on the doorstep...
............
Plus the shipping charges can be eye wateringly expensive from the US.

 

[Agroshield]

They are extortionate in the UK - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115319731418

This place has a pair and is about £100 cheaper than the UK

The UK ones are OEM. The US ones could be aftermarket. Research the cost of a genuine Murray part to verify it is a fair comparison.

With OEM ones, you will get the same life as the ones you already have. Aftermarket ones might be good, they might not.

 

[reb78]

The UK ones are OEM. The US ones could be aftermarket. Research the cost of a genuine Murray part to verify it is a fair comparison.

With OEM ones, you will get the same life as the ones you already have. Aftermarket ones might be good, they might not.

I agree but this is an old machine and soemthing else wont last as long as the original wheels, hence wanting to spend the bare minimum on the wheels. Even for OEM, £70 a wheel is silly. It was a £1000 mower when new so almost 15% of the new price for two wheels seems a bit much.