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Photo Forum / General Photo Topics / General Topics / May 2008B&H in NYC to England - OK???
I'm thinking of using B&H in New York, looking to buy $1600 worth of camera lenses. Even wioth shipping (but without import duty) I'll be saving around six hundred POUNDS but the quaestion is, is it worthwhile using a dealer on the other side of the Atlantic??? I've had lots of low value stuff from the US in the past, but is it all went wrong on $1600 I would be devastated! Anyone got any experience of B&H shipping to England? did you get charged import duty? I guess for such a large sum it's likely to attract HMC... perhaps I should do separate orders to get the value down and discourage them from taking an interest.. All advice welcome, and thanks in advance.. T > I'm thinking of using B&H in New York, looking to buy $1600 worth of > camera lenses. Even wioth shipping (but without import duty) I'll be [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > T B&H may not be the cheapest place, nor the only trusty online stores, but it has lot of satisfied customers who won't mind to pay a little extra for the piece of mind. I have bought few photography items from B&H, but only when the price is about the same or cheaper than other store. Other than that I don't have any experience how they deal with customer outside of US. >> I'm thinking of using B&H in New York, looking to buy $1600 worth of >> camera lenses. Even wioth shipping (but without import duty) I'll be [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >about the same or cheaper than other store. Other than that I don't have >any experience how they deal with customer outside of US. Much the same I would think... However do remember HMRC will add 17.55 and the shipper will add an admin charge. The often shipper will not release the goods though customs unless they know they will get paid. As a rule of thumb 1600 USD == 850 GBP Vat will be 150 and probably a charge of 15 GBP handling and admin. So if you allow 175 GBP and you are saving about 300 GBP the net "profit" is abut 125 GBP  Signature\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills Staffs England /\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ > I'm thinking of using B&H in New York, looking to buy $1600 worth of > camera lenses. Even wioth shipping (but without import duty) I'll be [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > T Contact B&H. They are extremely reliable and since they ship regularly worldwide they may answer your questions well. >> I'm thinking of using B&H in New York, looking to buy $1600 worth of >> camera lenses. Even wioth shipping (but without import duty) I'll be [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >Contact B&H. They are extremely reliable and since they ship regularly >worldwide they may answer your questions well. I doubt B&H know the import duties and customs rules for other countries. Better to ask them who they ship with and ask the UK end office of the shipper. I ship stuff abroad regularly but I only know the rules for the incoming stuff not the local rules for where it is going. Signature\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills Staffs England /\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ > I'm thinking of using B&H in New York, looking to buy $1600 worth of > camera lenses. Even wioth shipping (but without import duty) I'll be [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > T From B&H's policies: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/HelpCenter/int-customs.jsp Customs € International orders are generally subject to local import duties and taxes. B&H is not responsible for, nor can offer any specific advice regarding any customs related fees that you may incur. For specific information, please consult with your local government import office. € Sales tax is applicable only for purchases made at our New York Superstore or for orders shipped to a New York address. This tax is not a VAT, and cannot be recovered by non-USA visitors when returning home. € Returns & Replacements: If you return a product to us, you will be the exporter from the destination country. Title and risk of loss transfer to us upon our receipt of the merchandise. € Privacy: As your privacy is important to us, we strive to exceed your expectations for privacy. Please be aware that cross-border shipments are subject to inspection by customs authorities. We may also be called upon to provide certain order, shipment, and product information to our international carriers. Carriers may communicate such information to customs authorities for the purpose of facilitating customs clearance and compliance with local laws. >> I'm thinking of using B&H in New York, looking to buy $1600 worth of >> camera lenses. Even wioth shipping (but without import duty) I'll be [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >information to customs authorities for the purpose of facilitating >customs clearance and compliance with local laws. In short you will not escape the VAT, import charges etc. It comes as a surprise to many in this day of easy international shopping with credit cards and web sites. One shipper I know has a warehouse of goods all paid for on line but the UK customers were stunned at being asked to pay VAT/import and admin charges before getting the goods. No payment of the charges they don't deliver. Signature\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills Staffs England /\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ > In short you will not escape the VAT, import charges etc. yebbut, sometimes one gets lucky.. in fact, I've only ever had to pay once so I'm well in front... I think if it's less that some nominally low figure they prolly can't be bothered. > It comes as a surprise to many in this day of easy international > shopping with credit cards and web sites. indeed, a bit of a gamble without a doubt. however on reflection I have decided that the potential savings don't outweigh the arse of it all; if I get caught for UK tax I save about a hundred quid in all. If I get off scoot free, I save £250 - but on this sort of value I reckon the customs alarm will be ringing. Plut the warranty angle of course.. I'll save a bit of cash anyway, I've decied to forego the Nikkor 12-24 and wait for a Tokina 11-16 that should hopefully be loads cheaper in any case. Thanks for everyone's input. T >> In short you will not escape the VAT, import charges etc. > >yebbut, sometimes one gets lucky.. Not any more we will be round to see you later today.... :-) >in fact, I've only ever had to pay once so I'm well in front... I think >if it's less that some nominally low figure they prolly can't be >bothered. Possibly. However I don't think 800 GBP of camera kit will be below that figure... >> It comes as a surprise to many in this day of easy international >>shopping with credit cards and web sites. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >outweigh the arse of it all; if I get caught for UK tax I save about a >hundred quid in all. But have all the hassle for warranty and you might get caught on any shipment back and forth. >If I get off scoot free, I save £250 - but on this sort of value I >reckon the customs alarm will be ringing. You bet they will :-( >Plut the warranty angle of course.. >I'll save a bit of cash anyway, I've decied to forego the Nikkor 12-24 >and wait for a Tokina 11-16 that should hopefully be loads cheaper in >any case. You could get the Tokina cheaper still in the US.... :-) OTOH.... you could look at buying several things from the US and if the money saved is large enough to cover the flight and hotel go and pick them up yourself. A friend of mine once ordered several items from the US and paid for them from the UK. He did not pay shipping but said his nominated carrier would pick them up from the shipping dept of the US company. I think he even emailed them a PDF of the shipping label to use. He flew over, picked up the sealed boxes from the US company and shipped them to the UK himself I am unsure how he did this... Any suggestion that he unpacked the boxes and put the contents in his personal luggage to evade tax would be pure speculation. You would not save money but you would have a "free" holiday in the US. Also you could try out the camera and lenses before leaving the area of the store/city. I once went out with empty bags and bought all the clothes I needed out there (jeans were typically half price or more) Also some other kit as well. May be worth considering. Signature\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills Staffs England /\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ Tony B schrieb: >> In short you will not escape the VAT, import charges etc. > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > and wait for a Tokina 11-16 that should hopefully be loads cheaper in > any case. You'll pay EU duty (app. 4.5% see http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/cgi-bin/tarchap?Lang=EN ) and local English VAT. Duty is on the whole sum (including shipping costs!) and VAT added to everything at the very end so you pay VAT on duty ;-) Andreas SignatureFotos unter http://www.gugau-foto.de/ Special unter http://www.hoellenmusik.de/ Schottland unter http://www.whisky-guide.de/ > Tony B schrieb: >> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > local English VAT. Duty is on the whole sum (including shipping costs!) > and VAT added to everything at the very end so you pay VAT on duty ;-) You may also pay some UK duty, but you should only pay VAT on shipping costs incurred in the EU. If you ship it UPS this is usually assessed as half the shipping cost. Again, if you ship it via UPS, you'll get a bill later that you can pay by post or over the phone. If it gets posted the postman will want paying on your doorstep before he'll release the goods and there's a handling charge on top of £5. My experience is that the Post Office charge a great deal more than anyone else in duty and VAT. SignatureWilliam Black I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Barbeques on fire by the chalets past the castle headland I watched the gift shops glitter in the darkness off the Newborough gate All these moments will be lost in time, like icecream on the beach Time for tea. : >> I'm thinking of using B&H in New York, looking to buy $1600 worth of : >> camera lenses. Even wioth shipping (but without import duty) I'll be [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] : charges before getting the goods. No payment of the charges they don't : deliver. How would you compute the VAT on an object that was neither made nor sold in the taxing country? I'm sure I don't understand VATs very well (we don't have them), but I thought they were imposed on whoever added "value" to the product. Who does that in this case? The carrier? Or is "VAT" in this context just shorthand for "an import duty equivalent to the VAT that would have been paid by the seller if the product had been sold locally in the receiving country"? Bob >: >> I'm thinking of using B&H in New York, looking to buy $1600 worth of >: >> camera lenses. Even wioth shipping (but without import duty) I'll be [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] >How would you compute the VAT on an object that was neither made nor sold in >the taxing country? The item has a value. The Vat is 17.5% of that value when it hits the UK. > I'm sure I don't understand VATs very well (we don't have >them), but I thought they were imposed on whoever added "value" to the >product. Who does that in this case? The carrier? Who sweet... No the Tax people just add tax. They know the cost of everything but the value of nothing :-) >Or is "VAT" in this context just shorthand for "an import duty equivalent to >the VAT that would have been paid by the seller if the product had been sold >locally in the receiving country"? Yes. Signature\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ \/\/\/\/\ Chris Hills Staffs England /\/\/\/\/ \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ > How would you compute the VAT on an object that was neither made nor sold in > the taxing country? I'm sure I don't understand VATs very well (we don't have > them), but I thought they were imposed on whoever added "value" to the > product. Who does that in this case? The carrier? VAT is basically retail sales tax. If you buy goods from outside the EU VAT becomes payable when the goods arrive in the EU. The taxable value of the goods includes purchase and carriage costs and import duty. > Or is "VAT" in this context just shorthand for "an import duty equivalent to > the VAT that would have been paid by the seller if the product had been sold > locally in the receiving country"? No. Import duty is separate, and is calculated according to "The Tariff" published by HMRC. There are many categories of goods, and different rates of duty, that can be checked here: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/cgi-bin/tarchap?Lang=EN > No. Import duty is separate, and is calculated according to "The > Tariff" published by HMRC. There are many categories of goods, and > different rates of duty, that can be checked here: > http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/cgi-bin/tarchap?Lang=EN thanks for the link rob, it would seem HMRC is a bit behind the technology (fancy that) to have an 18-200 lens in the tables.. anyway I decided it was not that worthwhile in th eend and got it sourced in UK. On a more philosophical note, WHY is HMRC allowed to set import tax? Is it supposed to protect our vulnerable domestic camera/TV/car industry? Don't the EU have something to say about it now? I dunno, taxes... T > > No. Import duty is separate, and is calculated according to "The > > Tariff" published by HMRC. There are many categories of goods, and [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > T Me? I live in US and I have no experience about VAT or importing tax, but I have ordered several photography related items from Australia, Hong Kong, and may be 1-2 times from UK and no VAT nor importing tax whatever but a normal S/H fee. Several times they arrived few days sooner than within US. > > No. Import duty is separate, and is calculated according to "The > > Tariff" published by HMRC. There are many categories of goods, and [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > thanks for the link rob, it would seem HMRC is a bit behind the > technology (fancy that) to have an 18-200 lens in the tables.. The TARIC categories are EU-wide, based on the Harmonized System Nomenclature. > anyway I > decided it was not that worthwhile in th eend and got it sourced in UK. > > On a more philosophical note, WHY is HMRC allowed to set import tax? They don't set it, they administer it. > Is > it supposed to protect our vulnerable domestic camera/TV/car industry? It's a source of revenue rather than a protective tariff. > Don't the EU have something to say about it now? The EU has everything to say about duty rates - we're 'harmonized' with the rest of Europe. VAT varies by country, and the UK has the fourth lowest standard rate (Luxembourg, Cyprus and Spain are lower). We also have more xero-rated items (food, medicine, books ...) than most. |
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