shopping on a USA based site

[jean88]

Have anyone bought anything from a US site? I am based at the UK. Or should we just stick to UK based sites? What about taxes?

Thanks

[SteveD]

Have a look here:

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&propertyType=document&resetCT=true&id=HMCE_CL_001454

Questions similar to yours have been asked before on here and several people have given examples of import duties they have had to pay (sometimes completely out of proportion to the cost of the items they had ordered).

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

[mystress]

Sorry jean,but I agree with SteveD,

Other people have commented on this before onAB,

If the person/company sending you goods from the US does not declare them as a gift,you may incur the following:~

Postage (obviously)

Import Duty

VAT.

As SteveD says,don't do it.You will probably loose any savings that you thought you might make;and might even pay more than buying it in the UK.

[nicola_red]

I buy from the US regularly and rarely have any problems.  I've only had an issue with customs charges once.  I'd always check the site's shipping policies and in particular how they will mark the package - email them and ask before you buy if unsure.  Last Friday I ordered a part for a guitar from a US site, paid $20 for shipping and it arrived via DHL on Monday.  On the same day I ordered a T shirt from a UK site, paid four quid postage and it only arrived yesterday.  I think it's worth paying the extra shipping costs for the higher level of customer service US sites tend to provide.

[clairelb]

I’ve bought books from US sellers and it was no different to buying from the UK.  Maybe it was because they were so cheap that there were no problems.

[Morrisonker]

In case it helps at all, I bought some shoes from the Hot Topic website, based in America and to help with the taxes they label all non-american deliveries as gifts.  Not sure if they're actually allowed to do that or not, but it's very nice of them :)