sites like thinkgeek.com?

azwethinkweiz

Hey,

Just wondering if anyone knows of a site like thinkgeek.com within the EU? I'm afraid if I buy from thinkgeek that I'll get my package caught up in customs and have to pay tax (aswell as the 40 dollars it costs in shipping anyway!).

I really like the stuff off the site though, thought they'd make good gifts. any ideas? Thanks!

JJ

You're right to be concerned about paying tax. I bought something from thinkgeek.com and I got stung big time on taxes on top of the already high shipping.

Kintarō Hattori

Not within the EU but www.dealextreme.com is extremely popular as it rather cheap and includes free shipping with everything.

Another site I've not used but heard good things about is http://www.chinavasion.com.

richardw001

firebox.co.uk have some of the same stock - not as extensive however you might find what your looking for

azwethinkweiz

Thanks for the replies guys.. I'll have a look at those sites suggested! I was actually looking to buy my brother a companion cube (from the game Portal) but can't seem to spot it anywhere except on thinkgeek!

EDIT:

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Not within the EU but www.dealextreme.com is extremely popular as it rather cheap and includes free shipping with everything.

Another site I've not used but heard good things about is http://www.chinavasion.com.

Anyone know if i'll get stung on customs using these sites too?

Kintarō Hattori

azwethinkweiz wrote: »

Thanks for the replies guys.. I'll have a look at those sites suggested! I was actually looking to buy my brother a companion cube (from the game Portal) but can't seem to spot it anywhere except on thinkgeek!

EDIT:


Anyone know if i'll get stung on customs using these sites too?

Most likely you will as Customs so seem to pay particular attention to goods coming from Hong Kong. If you are buying multiple items keep your goods to below €22 in value. Once any shipment is below that value you don't pay VAT on it. If you are buying something for more than €22 well then you may get lucky but then again you may not.

jor el

You might find the same or similar items on eBay, being posted from within the EU.

_Whimsical_

jor el wrote: »

You might find the same or similar items on eBay, being posted from within the EU.

Good option. I have found some things from thinkgeek were considerably cheaper on ebay. I bought the cat money box they have in stock atm on ebay for €12 inc delivery last week as a gift. It's $50 inc delivery to buy from thinkgeek and there would be customs on top of that.

Definitely avoid thinkgeek if you aren't fully prepared to pay customs charges. Their stuff arrives in a box that's plastered with their logo. There is no chance of it slipping through the net I'd say.

Also remember when you're calculating charges that you have to pay the courier company either €10 or €15 just to collect the money at your door.

Another option is www.firebox.com which is based in the UK.

azwethinkweiz

Thanks for the replies folks! I decided to buy a few bits from firebox.co.uk and from getdigital.de, didnt know about those sites at all! Thanks for the suggestions, really appreciated! :D:D

geography_nut

Good choice. I'd just like to add a cautionary tale of my own from think geek. Got stung for over 46 euro in tax (on top of the 26-odd for delivery and the cost of the items) because they decided to ship the presents i ordered in two packages without giving me a choice! Then, when they arrived, none of the electronics worked!!!! I was fuming! But I couldn't send them back because it would cost more than double the product price in tax alone (excluding delivery) and i ended up having to go shop for the christmas presents after all that cost anyway because nothing worked! Words can't explain how disgusted I am with their poor service so spread the word where ever possible to avoid them like a bad plague!!!! :mad:

jor el

So you placed 1 order, and something was DOA, and this somehow means that TG should be avoided by everyone at all costs? That's just stupid. I suppose you've never ever bought something in a shop that didn't work properly then? If you didn't send it back, or did you even contact them, then how do you know that their service is as bad as you claim?

If you had sent it back, you would have been able to reclaim the import duty, as the item was defective. This is irrelevant to the purchase and the problem though.

_Whimsical_

jor el wrote: »

So you placed 1 order, and something was DOA, and this somehow means that TG should be avoided by everyone at all costs? That's just stupid. I suppose you've never ever bought something in a shop that didn't work properly then? If you didn't send it back, or did you even contact them, then how do you know that their service is as bad as you claim?

If you had sent it back, you would have been able to reclaim the import duty, as the item was defective. This is irrelevant to the purchase and the problem though.

Ok maybe the OP spoke a bit too strongly there in warning people to never buy there again but he makes an important point too. If you buy from outside the EU you don't enjoy the same consumer rights if things go wrong and returning items is expensive so it is worth bearing it in mind before you shop. Also small things like a shipment arriving in two boxes can be disappointing because you can end up paying the delivery company an extra 15 euro for recouping the duty from you on two packs instead of one.It can make something just too expensive for someone in these times.

That's interesting about reclaiming the import duty though. Thank you for sharing that.

VenomIreland

I've heard of people getting stuff from Thinkgeek shipped to places in the US and then they ship it out to you. It'd be slower, but cheaper.

EDIT: I probably wouldn't use these myself though, so I've sent Thinkgeek a message on Twitter (customer support just got me copy-paste sh/te)