US online buying/Shipping

shockframe

I would like to buy a clothes off american sites but I havent done so yet. I want to know if any of you have any experience of buying off us websites and if so is there a way of getting around the cost of us shipping around $40 for first item.

jor el

Shipping isn't an optional extra, there's nothing to get around if you want to buy from a foreign country.

Captain Chaos

There is customs fees at 21.5% of the total cost for all goods bought outside the EU, I have been charged with every time I bought online outside the EU.

shockframe

Captain Chaos wrote: »

There is customs fees at 21.5% of the total cost for all goods bought outside the EU, I have been charged with every time I bought online outside the EU.

so if i bought an item for $90 with $40 shipping charge how would the 21.5% of the cost be included do you know?

jor el

VAT would not be included from the seller. It would be applied when it comes into Ireland, and you would have to pay the delivery agent (An Post or Courier). There will be a handling fee of up to 15 euro on top of that too.

techguy

Captain Chaos wrote: »

There is customs fees at 21.5% of the total cost for all goods bought outside the EU, I have been charged with every time I bought online outside the EU.

Not quite...

You pay ~12% on to the total of your goods + shipping then add ~21% (VAT) to that..

thats what customs charge you.

Note: If the company you order from uses fedex then you will definately get stung. USPS doesn't declare goods so theres a high chance you won't get stung for duty.

If you are ordering a lot then you could bring the package in through the UK..their import taxes are lower IIRC..

rubadub

shockframe wrote: »

I would like to buy a clothes off american sites but I havent done so yet. I want to know if any of you have any experience of buying off us websites and if so is there a way of getting around the cost of us shipping around $40 for first item.

You can email and ask what the cheapes possible shipping is. Let them know you will understand if it takes time for it to arrive. I get dvds on www.dvdpacific.com they have several options, some dvds took MONTHS to arrive, I did not mind, and saved a lot on postage. Many will automatically go for speedy postage so the customer does not complain, if you make it known you wil not complain they might go cheaper, esp. smaller companies, big ones can be automated and will not. This is esp. true of ebay sellers.

techguy wrote: »

Not quite...

You pay ~12% on to the total of your goods + shipping then add ~21% (VAT) to that..

thats what customs charge you.

Duty varies between goods, also the duty rate is higher now than in previous years, AFAIK at €22 you are liable to pay VAT but not duty. I think duty comes in around €150. If it is a gift the VAT limit is €45, and in reality most goods, gift or not, are not charge VAT below €45.

Since you are charged VAT on the combined shipping and cost price, it is also in your interest to ask for cheaper postage. AFAIK in theory if you paid 1cent for a pencil and €22 postage then you are liable to pay VAT.

jor el

I have never been charged duty. They usually don't bother as it could be as low as 1%. In the majority of cases, it's VAT plus handling fee.

Duty limit is 150 euro anyway.

shockframe

techguy wrote: »

Not quite...

You pay ~12% on to the total of your goods + shipping then add ~21% (VAT) to that..

thats what customs charge you.

Note: If the company you order from uses fedex then you will definately get stung. USPS doesn't declare goods so theres a high chance you won't get stung for duty.

If you are ordering a lot then you could bring the package in through the UK..their import taxes are lower IIRC..

thanks for letting me know that. Would you have used myus.com before. I came across this. It looks as though it could get the goods over cheaper.

techguy

shockframe wrote: »

thanks for letting me know that. Would you have used myus.com before. I came across this. It looks as though it could get the goods over cheaper.

No problems.. These rates (12%) are for general clothing items and the VAT (21%) applies to all goods..

As "jor el" has said the Duty limit is €150 but the limit for VAT is like €20-30 or something low like that..

So.. If the carrier is fedex they always declare your goods if there is something to be paid. You will pay what was owed + €10 handling to Fedex. You'll get that bill 2-3 wks after you receive your parcel.

Its hit and miss with other carriers as its down to the customs intercepting the package and charging.. This never really happens though..

--
As for the like of myus.com and the many otheres.. These all seem pretty expensive at the end of the day as you must rent out a PO box style service from them on an annual basis + the charges for each package they relay over for you..

I think it would only be worthwhile if you were getting a lot of stuff over.. You could check out ebay to see if you can buy these services on a one off basis where there is no subscription neccessary..

Where doo you plan on buying the clothes from??