[GenryDont]

bought two things from the US

a headcrab hat and headcrab soft toy from Valve store, total about $90 inc del, no other charges.

and 5 computer fans form Jabtech total $30 inc del, no other charges

Paying import duty is not a given - it all depends on if your pacakge is opened and checked by customs. They don't check everything, although items coming from certain locations and / or companies are more likely to be checked than others.

[sasquatch999]

Paying import duty is not a given - it all depends on if your pacakge is opened and checked by customs. They don't check everything, although items coming from certain locations and / or companies are more likely to be checked than others.

Yup..

Few years ago i ordered something from Xoxide.. they used their nice tape with their logo and all printed on it...

Mailman came to door and asked if I wanted to accept it , as it was opened by customs and a duty fee was comin ontop..

I payed duty for the items as much as for the whole items plus shipment, well I learned my lesson back then.[yes]

[Usogwdkb]

Gift value allowed before VAT is £18 - this is why the likes of cd-wow.co.uk do so well as the majority of music/DVD and games come in under this value.
Marking as "Gift" in no ways makes your package immune to tax/VAT.

- Hay look, a gift, we'd better let that one through

Do you think maybe those people smuggling illegal items around might try that too if it meant their package definitely wouldn't get stopped?

When buying abroad do the following:
Look at the cost of the item
Now add VAT on top
Now add around 10% for Tax (an average).

Now, if it is still a good price then go for it.
If it gets stopped then you are prepared as you looked at the whole price.
If it doesn't get stopped then your quids in on the deal.

[Ferkilort]

Well if I go by that then its still only just above £200 so its all good [thumbup]

[9uWzBx4l]

well i ordered a pair of nikes and shirts back then when they were not so available here and actually had to drive to the customs pay...

i ordered stuff from hong kong and got charged

i ordered stuff from play.co.uk and didnt get charged.

i guess its a little luck involved.

That's because it's within the EU, as you are
Then you only pay VAT and no import duty. And it's always the VAT% in the country you order your stuff from.

[SasV7ReJ]

That's because it's within the EU, as you are
Then you only pay VAT and no import duty. And it's always the VAT% in the country you order your stuff from.

they didnt even charge VAT, sorry if i was not being clear

[GenryDont]

they didnt even charge VAT, sorry if i was not being clear

You are paying VAT, its just built into the price and not listed seperately. It would be illegal to do otherwise.

[9uWzBx4l]

You are paying VAT, its just built into the price and not listed seperately. It would be illegal to do otherwise.

Just what I was gonna say

[SasV7ReJ]

Alright...

So... Why did the frankfurt customs than actually look at my package if vat is already paid for and it originated on guernsey or jersey whatever.

If these islands are so tight together with the eu customs systems i guess there would be no need to actually inspect my delivery.

According to EU law the VAT would have to be charged in germany and not already on guernsey/jersey island since i am an end consumer. I actually think thats why play.com is rather cheap, because they do not add vat on their prices. if it wouldnt be for certain games unavailable here, the prices are not much better than amazon (including vat)

[9uWzBx4l]

Alright...

So... Why did the frankfurt customs than actually look at my package if vat is already paid for and it originated on guernsey or jersey whatever.

If these islands are so tight together with the eu customs systems i guess there would be no need to actually inspect my delivery.

According to EU law the VAT would have to be charged in germany and not already on guernsey/jersey island since i am an end consumer. I actually think thats why play.com is rather cheap, because they do not add vat on their prices. if it wouldnt be for certain games unavailable here, the prices are not much better than amazon (including vat)

Customs look in packages to check there's no drugs, illegal items etc. and that has nothing to with whether or not you payed VAT.

Now that I get to think about it, I actually heard something about Play.com not charging VAT or something like that, because of theire location. But I don't know anything about that for sure.

[Gudronich]

If you send via surface mail you tend to have a better chance of it slipping through customs, at least through personal experience with things over £100 coming from America. Although some people would probably rather just pay VAT and get their item quickly.