Import Duty from U.S Hitachi

[daf45]

Not welding - sorry! I've decided against the Rage 3 thing.

I'm after a discontinued Hitachi sliding mitre saw C10FSH that is meant to be better than its replacement. Heard Hitachi rushed them out cheap but the only dealers I can find with a few left seem to want a lot for them.

So two part question - where in UK can I get one for about 300 sheets? And if I take advantage of the exchange rate with dollars and get a 110v from the USA for 400-500 dollars what else am I likely to get clobbered for? Is it just the VAT on price paid, or is there some other Import Duty that they make up relative to Suggested Retail price combined with direction of the wind???

All welcome - Thanks in advance...

 

[oddball90]

Think if the seller marks it down as a gift you don't have any duty to pay, so if you have somebody over there? Looking at the chinese imports that is how they are getting round import duties at the moment, till customs cotton on.

 

[Hitch]

Beware though, their 110v is different to our 110v from a transformer, we have centre tapped earth, 2 x 55v, i believe.

Not sure about the long term effects on the electrics....

 

[shenion]

Beware though, their 110v is different to our 110v from a transformer, we have centre tapped earth, 2 x 55v, i believe.

Not sure about the long term effects on the electrics....

US regs treat both wires as if they were live. That is for the case where the neutral breaks and the line voltage feeds through the motor back through the neutral.

Most are "double insulated". That means motor is ungrounded and case is isolated from motor.

Should work fine.

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

you'll also have to pay VAT on the postage cost as it's considered that the 'service' is brought into the UK.

Also, AIUI, if it's classed as a gift then they can't put an insurance price on it...

and if they do price it at several hundred dollars then it's more likely to get pulled by customs and then you're in trouble.

I'd always factor in the VAT and pay it, then I have no worries at all.

Regards
Peter

 

[JimM]

Other possible charges also depends on who they send it buy.

If it's a commercial carrier like Fedex, UPS etc then you can pretty much guarantee it'll get clobbered for VAT, and you'll also have to cough up approx £20 for the courier to collect it on HMCE behalf.

If they send it USPS then more chance of it sneaking through but again if it does get caught then you'll have to pay the post office for collecting the VAT

If you're going to buy from the US then now is the time to do it. Great exchange rate and the fact that it's Christmas means there are a huge number of parcels so less chance of getting stung by customs.

Jim

 

[AndyP]

I just got a circular saw from a friend in the US. The postage was more than the saw yet it was still 1/2 the UK saw price. I believe the import duty etc doesnt apply if the value of the 'gift' is less than about £50. Mine hung around in customs for a few days but luckily came thru without any charges attached.
Phew.
Regards Andy

 

[Satsuma]

I brought some electronics for my boat from the US, I was charged VAT and 5% Duty. The currier sent an invoice with a number to call, you ring up and give your card details into an automated service.

I was looking at a sonar for the boat, $1610 (£853) in the states and £2400 over here. I emailed the company and bitched that even after duty and VAT there would have been a huge gap in the price, they relied and said...

Dear Ben,

The US product is unlikely to be CE marked. We can check current price with Silva UK the Lowrance UK distributor. They have some special offers on at the minute on certain products this may be one of them. Thus you actual buy price from us will depend if they have this product on discount.

There may also have been a price fall on this product which has not yet been reflected.

We will check with Silva on Tuesday about this product and come back to you with a best price.

With regards to buying the product from the US, the savings can be substantial however the warranties may only be valid in the US. It may also need adjustment for UK cartridges.

Blah blah blah

Suffice to say they never got back to me. I would buy from the US any day, the only issue is paying, some US companies can't take payment from foreign credit cards.

Ben

 

[lexi]

Import duty about 4per cent?.on top of Vat and carriage. Worst case scenario is also a charge from PO for handing transaction. Luck of the draw mate.

Alex

 

[daf45]

Thank you very much for all the replies.

Sounds like VAT plus around 5% Duty... With the exchange rate still makes it worth a punt.

The seller only uses Fedex and they insist on paying (or at least collecting) the fees.

Madness really, it just goes to show how much more we generally have to pay for stuff here...