I'm going to be buying about £100 [$200] worth of Biotest supps [and TC's book :] from T-Nation in around a week, but i was wondering if anyone in the Kent/Medway area wanted to join me and split the shipping and insane import costs.
Not me man, i'm in cardiff area, but us UK heads should set up some timetable together so we can all work against these stupid costs. Like a calendar of when we're all planning to order, then do it together. I want to get some HOT-ROX soon.
I'm up for a mid-late august buy. We'd need to get details and stuff nice and thorough though.
Oh and before posting i saw this disclaimer at the bottom, think this affects stuff? Like at the bottom of the quote
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Unless someone has a better suggestion, we would have to find a reliable person or people to give money to, who would then place the order of all the products and distribute them accordingly.
The costs of shipping and import duties would also be split after the package arrives, and once costs are sorted out the good are delivered - this is where something like Paypal might come in handy.
rsg wrote:
JDK wrote:
Wouldn't the customs tax be a percentage? If so, then ordering in bulk wouldn't help any - am I (hopefully) missing something?
That's the thing, in my experience they seem to charge random amounts, and charged me more for my last order, which was smaller than the previous one.
Here is some info I found on a govt website:
3.1 How are customs charges calculated?
Charges are raised by Customs staff at the postal depots where the packages are received. However, in some cases special arrangements are in place for goods purchased on the internet (see paragraph 3.4 below). The amount of customs charges payable will depend on the type of goods imported and will consist of one or more of the following:
Customs duty - this is usually charged as a percentage of the value. The percentage varies depending on the type of goods and their country of origin. Duty is charged on the price paid for the goods including any local sales taxes plus postage, packing and insurance costs. However, postage is excluded from the calculation for duty on gifts sent by post except for Express Mail Service (EMS).
Where the value of gifts is below £290 per consignment a flat rate of duty of 3.5% will be applied, but only if it is to your advantage.
Note: Customs duty will be waived if the amount is less than £7.
Excise duty - this is charged on alcohol and tobacco products and is additional to customs duty. The excise duty on wines and spirits depends on the alcohol content and whether wine is sparkling or still. Duty on cigarettes is based on the percentage of the recommended retail selling price combined with a quantity charge. On other tobacco products eg cigars or hand rolling tobacco, it is charged on the net weight.
Value Added Tax (VAT) - Import VAT is charged at the same rate that applies to similar goods sold in the UK. The value of the goods for import VAT is based on the value for customs duty plus any import duties charged.
-----------------------------------
As you can see, with typical govt. uselessness, there is no clear answer, just a "charges will be calculated depending on the type of goods"
A load of flannel, basically.
Since the charge is a percentage, I fail to see how we can turn this to our advantage.
But if anyone can elighten me, I would be up for buying a load of 'Flameout'.
1. The Duty Rate is 12.8% and VAT is 17.5%.
2. 100GBP x 12.8% = 12.80GBP. This is A.
2. 100GBP + 12.80GBP = 112.80GBP x 17.5% = 19.74GBP This is B.
3. A + B = 32.54GBP
So you "should" be paying around 32.54GBP for an order of 100GBP, as well as being charge by Parcel Force or whoever to clear this charge and so on.
Still doesn't explain to me how I was charged more last time on a larger order, but it might give a good estimate on what we can expect to pay.
So, I think ultimately we will be saving on shipping costs, and maybe some on importing duties depending on what they come up with.
We could always ship via FedEx as they only send the customs charge a few weeks later, and then refuse to pay it afterwards. (I'm kidding; maybe.)
rsg wrote:
We could always ship via FedEx as they only send the customs charge a few weeks later, and then refuse to pay it afterwards. (I'm kidding; maybe.)
Um, well don't tell anyone, but I am in the process of ignoring my customs invoice from fedex.
I'll see how persistent they become.
Hell, it's not like I haven't paid them for shipping the stuff...
Join date: Jan 2005
Location: Illinois, USA
Posts: 1350
I'm envisioning this thread turning into something like the movie "Blow" with Bushy getting caught with two suitcases full of Metabolic Drive as he's trying to sneak them through customs.
tveddy wrote:
I'm envisioning this thread turning into something like the movie "Blow" with Bushy getting caught with two suitcases full of Metabolic Drive as he's trying to sneak them through customs.
Ha! Well you know what, it would almost be worthwhile to fly out to the states, load up a holdall of Flameout, HOT-ROX, etc that had been sent to a mates house, go out on the town with my bud, have a cracking night, and then fly home again.
Actually, if I had any capital at the moment, I might do that.
Unfortunately though, interest rates have gone up again. Not good for the mortgage repayments...
Count yourselves lucky guys. I live in Norway and get stuff shipped to me from the UK. Customs don't mind if a product is coming from a EC country but seem to almost automatically turn back any supplements from the US! The choice of supplements ain't great over here and expensive.
Join date: Jan 2005
Location: Illinois, USA
Posts: 1350
quick Q bushy, how do the customs work in say... France. is it cheaper after you account for the strength of the pound to import them to france (or some other country) and then pick them up and run back across on the underwater train?
Join date: Jan 2005
Location: Illinois, USA
Posts: 1350
oh here's another one. Our coaches used to just check a bag at the airport to send gamefilm, and then the other coaches would do the same. then you just pick it up at the airport. could you do that with a friend from the states?
I don't know about the France angle, but we're not that strong against the euro I feel.
Mind you, international trade and import/export of suppliments wasn't my major, haha.
I have in the past used American frineds to send me the odd bottle of spike or HOT-ROX.
I may do so again...
Actually, if the british chaps on this thread got together, we could surely find a t-brother who wanted to make a little coin in exchange for shipping stuff over here.
OK, so it would require some mild 'white lies' on the customs forms, but hey, who's to know...
Join date: Jan 2005
Location: Illinois, USA
Posts: 1350
thats true, it could be bought online and then shipped as something that cost $15 instead of $150. thats an interesting angle, theoretically of course.
