jonathan.e

Big D, I think you’re missing the point slightly. Up until very recently you could be 95% certain that Amazon packages would incur no duty. It is only recently there has been a noticable increase in the frequency of customs charges for their shipments. We’ve all got orders in place with them and on things like the X Files set it is impossible to "break up" the cost as it is one unit at $90.

However FWIW I’m happy to report that my Treasures of American Film Archives set ($70) arrived with nothing to pay. Seems pot luck whether you’re charged or not.

Henry_Krinkle

If you have a 'big' order coming to the UK, and you want to know how much the worst case scenario is going to cost you, then here is the formula(feel free to correct me if you know better):-

Customs charges are based on the cost of the items in their native country, plus any shipping charges relevant.

So if we take the 'X-Files - Season 2" as an example, the relevant figure would be $89.99 + $7.95 = $97.94 ...at the rate of exchange of 1.453(this changes all the time) this makes it £67.41.

Then you have to multiply this by the 'Duty Rate'(3.5%) to get 'Value A' ...so £67.41 * 3.5% = £2.36(Value A = £2.36)

Then you have to add your initial amount(£67.41) to 'Value A'(£2.36) and multiply that figure by the VAT Rate(17.5%) to get 'Value B' ...so £67.41 + £2.36 * 17.5% = £12.21(Value B = £12.21)

Then (are you still with me?) you add Value A to Value B to get your final customs charge ...£2.36 + £12.21 = £14.57.

From what others in this forum have said, it appears that if your initial amount is £18 or less, you won't pay any charges. Also, remember, the Post Office put their own charge on top of customs (about £1.50) so this would bring your total up to £16.07.

jonathon.e, it's good to see your package got through unscathed. I'm too chicken, I've split all my orders into singles (except 'X-Files' of course, hope I'm as lucky!)

grazzy

Hi everyone, I wrote this piece of text for my website last year, hope you find some of the info useful:

There seems great confusion over the payment of customs duties on DVDs ordered from the USA. I spoke to H.M.Customs and Excise and was given the following information:

C.I.S. value is the Cost of the Contents Including Shipping

Items which are excluded from duties:

Parcels under £18 C.I.S. value
Parcels under £36 C.I.S. value, if the parcel is a GIFT, the parcel must be marked to that effect.

Breakdown of the charges if your parcel is over £18 (or £36 for a gift):

Import Duty: 3.5% of the C.I.S.
VAT: 17.5% on everything (C.I.S + Import duty)

Note: If you are using a carrier company, BEWARE! They charge an additional handling charge to get them through customs quick (not-optional), UPS charge £10. My advise it to stick to normal US Airmail or US Priority Airmail it is cheaper, generally quick (1 week) and it has a knock-on effect on the cost of everything as the C.I.S. value is lower. So it isn't the end of the world but it is worth bearing in mind. Having spoken to many people, not every parcel gets checked and you might be lucky, it is impossible for every parcel entering the UK to be inspected. Assume you will be charged and then if you don't then it's a bonus!

Cheers,

Phil.

Precious

ok second package arrived from Amazon - no charge. No blue stamp on box and package vaule say $39. I've got two more to arrive one single, which was posted before this one which has just arrived, and a big one next week.
Will let you know how I get on.

Big D

I'm certainly not missing the point, I have imported over 200 DVD's from the USA and certainly know the system, having paid duty only two to three times I know that if you order more than $60 of DVD's at one time, you quite often get screwed by customs.

The point being that if you order more than $60 that you really deserve to get caught.

After all if you speed down the motorway at 100MPH then you deserve to get caught, at about 80MPH you have more chance of getting away with it.

Order more than about $60 and more often than not you will get your fingers burned.

As stated before your definately a muppet if you continue to try and cheat the system.

jonathan.e

Big D, where did you get this arbritrary $60 from? The limitation is £18 (approx $27) which was illustrated last week when I was charged for a package valued at £18.66. You may psychologically kid yourself that there is less chance of being caught by customs for a $60 order rather than a $600 order but if they are both sent standard worldmail, they are both as likely to attract the unwanted attention of UK customs. Only orders under £18 in value are safe, even "Gift" orders can be subject to VAT and duty.

The point that you are missing in relation to Amazon is that very rarely before the last month or so did anyone in the UK get charged by customs - they are now, hence this thread.

Big D

Big D got banned

[This message has been edited by gkleinman (edited November 16, 2000).]

MrBlair

Recieved a set of DVDs from Amazon.com yesterday. Total Cost = 120 dollars. Total Customs charge = 0. The box came direct from Jamaica.

The biggest surprise was an enclosed voucher: 10 dollars off when you spend 50 dollars at Amazon.com

Sweet.

MrBlair

In response to Big D, obviously the bigger the parcel the more likely, customs will notice it. BUT if your parcel comes via Europe there will be ZERO custom charges.

The only reason people are incurring customs fines are that their orders are coming direct from outside Europe.

I know I'm stating the obvious but there are some confused people posting here.

therecanbeonlyone

Received one of my orders today ($135)and as usual no tax

------------------
Well who hit your's then, Goliaths big brother?

My DVD Profiler

MOZZ

Received another order this morning $52 value this also had a Zurich stamp on but I did not incur any charges this time

Henry_Krinkle

Received 'Fantasia Anthology' this morning, total cost = $56.94, Customs charge = £9.67!!

The last 2 'big' packages I've received have incurred custom charges and I still have 'X-Files #2' to come
...I'm starting to feel persecuted!

exm

Had all my packages taxes with 17,5% Dutch Taxes because they were labeled as 'DIGITAL VIDEO DISC'. My Ultimate Toy Story Box was labeled as 'UNKNOWN' (with $57 as a value!) -> No taxes!

Mark Carpenter

I want to know what Big D said!

... ;-)

I ordered one DVD from Amazon at $20 value and marked it as a gift. (although didn't bother to put in a message...)

I should be recieving it later this week; i hope i'm not charged by customs.

13

quote:<HR>Originally posted by Mark Carpenter:
I want to know what Big D said!

... ;-)
<HR>

I saw it before it was pulled, he just started slinging insults. I think theres a copy around here somewhere :-)

I ignored the warnings and went ahead and made a big amazon order, fingers crossed.

LARRY64

I just received an order from Amazon UK, valued at $25.00. It had a white customs label with a stamped signature on it, and no charge.

I have ordered many single DVD's from Blackstar and have never been charged by customs.

therecanbeonlyone

I received an order from Amazon(7 discs) taday and for the first time it was taxed but as all I used to pay for the discs were free GC each disc only cost £3 each

------------------
Well who hit your's then? Goliaths big brother!!

My DVD Profiler

den291

quote:<HR>Originally posted by den291:
Wish me luck then, as I have just ordered the Tenchi Muyo boxset for $109 shipped (paid for by freeride gc

I'll let you know what happens!<HR>

And what happened was I got a £17 Customs charge, cant complain really as £17 for this hugely expensive boxset is a bargain

Sandor Rizner

I've had 3 worldmail orders from Amazon (one for $167...) but was'n caught sofar.

I might be lucky or the German customs authorities take these things easier.

Wish me good luck for the coming orders.

FlashHeart

Does anybody know the situation with replacement discs? My MI2 from amazon was damaged. It came as a single disc through customs with no problems (nice amazon sent it separately from my larger order - which is on its way and I expect to get clobbered with that one ). The problem is that amazon upgraded the replacement to UPS and Mr HMC&E slapped an £8.40 charge on it - for just 1 disc! I telephoned UPS and told them it has zero value to me as it's a replacement for a damaged item. UPS then told me they had forgotten to add their charge to it. At the moment it's back with customs while they try to sort it out. Has anybody had any experience with this and what the legal situation is regarding customs?


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Henry_Krinkle

I had a similar problem with 'From Dusk Til Dawn', the replacement disc arrived with a £8.64 customs charge!!!

I pointed out to the delivery man that it was a 'free' replacement disc and so refused to pay the charge. He advised me to get in touch with amazon and ask them to directly inform UPS of this, they would then re-deliver it.
By the time amazon had read my e-mail and responded, the disc had already been returned to them.

Amazon, to their credit, offered to re-send the disc out to me and fully refund any customs charges that I received. They also offered to give me my money back if I preferred... ...which I did, as I decided I could live with the small fault on the disc and I couldn't be bothered with all the hassle.

So, contact amazon and explain the situation, they've always been excellent in my experience.

KayUK

I'm overdue an amazon package by 2 weeks, it had 3 X men in it, one for me, 2 for Xmas presents, in retrospect a big mistake.
I think I'm going to be paying for Tony Blair's Christmas if this goes on.
Someone told me that customs is always like this about this time, simply because it's Christmas, and customs can make a killing.
Anyone else think that they're gonna calm down in the New Year, or is this it?

FlashHeart

Henry

Many thanks for the advice. It was what I was about to do as I've fallen foul of the UPS 'three attempts and you're out' policy. They are asking for the exact same amount. As least they are consistent


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jonathan.e

The moral here is bundle your order together with a title due for release on the 21st. Then it should hit UK shores just after Xmas. Can’t see the disgruntled holiday staff at C&E being too bothered about checking packages on boxing day.

I’ve got a couple of big orders on their way now (X Files, Bond and a few single discs) and whether or not they are charged, I’m pretty much done with Amazon. It’s just not worth the extra expense and delay anymore.

Daren

I just received:

Perfect Storm
Gladiator
Escape from New York

No custom charges as per usual and it came via Zurich, don't take the piss and Customs won't.