Buying a pedal from America

Happynoj · #1 02-11-2008, 06:40 AM

Hi there

I live in the UK, and I'm thinking about ordering a pedal from America, as I buy it and have it delivered to the UK cheaper that I can get it here. However, will there be a customs charge or something? Because I heard some stuff about people who ordered basses and things from the US, and then got charged loads when it was delivered. Was wondering if anyone knew how this works.

dannybuoy · #2 02-11-2008, 06:50 AM

Depends on how lucky you are. I've ordered stuff on ebay from the states and have never had to pay any import duty or taxes. When they ship it via certain companies like FedEx they are supposed to value the shipment and I think this has a bearing on whether or not you'll get charged. I had a $150 pedal delivered that had $20 'gift' in the description on the attached delievery note. Most big companies with a large volume of shipments will not be willing to undervalue the shipment like this though as they can get in trouble for it!

**DosiYanarchy** · #3 02-11-2008, 07:11 AM

i think part of it has to do with the value stated, as dannybuoy said, and also just how lucky you are, i got an Arion bass distortion (value £10) from America and there was no excess, i also got my sansamp (i paid £112) from the states and no charge again. however i got my Boss Super octave OC3 from the states and the guy had shipped it in this box that about 4x the size of the pedal, and i had to go to the parcelforce depot, pay a £8 processing fee and an £8 tax, so i ended up spending more that i would have over here.
id say that largely if the pedal is small enough, you could be ok, but LEGALLY everything should be declared its full value and all recipients of goods should pay the tax, but there are ways round this as mentioned previously, but i think at least most companies would hesitate in putting untrue declarations on their parcels, as if it sez "$20 gift" then thats probably all they'll be covered for insurance-wise should the pedal get lost in the post or damaged.

im more and more tempted to just say '**** it' and get them from the states anyway, because some pedals are just too hard to get over here at any sort or reasonable price.

Toasted · #4 02-11-2008, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happynoj

Hi there

I live in the UK, and I'm thinking about ordering a pedal from America, as I buy it and have it delivered to the UK cheaper that I can get it here. However, will there be a customs charge or something? Because I heard some stuff about people who ordered basses and things from the US, and then got charged loads when it was delivered. Was wondering if anyone knew how this works.

If you work on tax at 22% of the marked value, and then a clearing fee anywhere between £8 (post office) and £14 (fedex) then that's normally about right.

HMRC getting much more strict on import tax / duty. You get hit about 80% of the time.

If the sender writes anything on the green import form other than the true value, they're commiting a criminal offence in the USA and as we live in an EU member state HMRC are more than covered to confiscate your item, find out the correct tax and charge you that, and fine you more for trying to evade the law.

Joe.

Happynoj · #5 02-11-2008, 11:22 AM

So tax on a pedal that costs about £90 would be roughly £15-20? + £8 handling fee?

If I'm looking at an extra £20-30 on top of the £90 I would be spending anyway it doesn't really look like it is worth it...

EDIT: As a student do I have to pay the tax?

Alfie · #6 02-11-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happynoj

EDIT: As a student do I have to pay the tax?

Yeah, it is basically VAT.

Also, I have never paid customs duty and tax on pedals and other smaller stuff bought from North America. However this is more due to widespread and systematic undervaluing on customs forms. So long as you know where to go.