Bought a lens on eBay

Finnt

Hi all I just bought a lens from eBay second hand it coming from the us what's the chances I'll get caught for duty? And how much is it likely to be?

Telchak

From the US, I'd say it's almost certain you'll get hit for duty. Chinese sellers often mark pakages as low value, but I'd say American ones are much less likely to do this.

You get charged VAT at 21% and a post office handling fee of something like €6 (:

Finnt

What's the vat calculated on? Is it what I paid or what it's worth new or what it's worth now!

PCPhoto

its usually vat/import duty of the price of the package and postage - and approx works out 21% of the overall price that you paid.

pixbyjohn

Make sure you keep a copy of your receipt or paypal/credit card receipt as you may be asked to produce it. I bought a new lens from the states a few years ago and was charged inport on it. I had to produce the paypal receipt before they charged and released the lens.

Finnt

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Make sure you keep a copy of your receipt or paypal/credit card receipt as you may be asked to produce it. I bought a new lens from the states a few years ago and was charged inport on it. I had to produce the paypal receipt before they charged and released the lens.

Where did you gave to go to get it back?

Telchak

They'll send you a letter asking you to email them the paypal receipt. When they calculate how much you have to pay, they'll then email you back a reference number that you can use to pay the duty on the revenue website (using credit/laser card). They'll then post it on to you (:

Gumbo

In all my years buying online, ebay, amazon etc etc etc the one and only time io got hit for customs was from an American item on ebay. A Flywheel for my old Honda integra Type R.

The guy knocked on the door with the parcel, and said i had to pay 21e in order for him to give it to me, and made me sign some forms, gave me a recipt and went on his way.

squareballoon

I got a Vat invoice once when I bought some lights on eBay. I emailed back asking where I needed to send the money to and heard nothing back. That was 4 years ago.

Finnt

I've bought bits from the us before and never had any problems just don't want hassle with forms and all that!! Seems a bit like everones experience is a bit different?
I wonder do they screen every package?

Creamy Goodness

kceire wrote: »

In all my years buying online, ebay, amazon etc etc etc the one and only time io got hit for customs was from an American item on ebay. A Flywheel for my old Honda integra Type R.

The guy knocked on the door with the parcel, and said i had to pay 21e in order for him to give it to me, and made me sign some forms, gave me a recipt and went on his way.

You only ever had to pay customs and vat if the item being sent originates from outside the E.U. otherwise you just pay the local VAT in the E.U. country.

Gumbo

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

You only ever had to pay customs and vat if the item being sent originates from outside the E.U. otherwise you just pay the local VAT in the E.U. country.

yep, from the USA would qualify as outside the EU then :mad:

Finnt

How long does post take from the us?

Kenny Logins

Finnt wrote: »

How long does post take from the us?

Did you get a track and trace number?

peckerhead

PCPhoto wrote: »

its usually vat/import duty of the price of the package and postage - and approx works out 21% of the overall price that you paid.

Postage is not included for the purposes of reckoning duty, but it is for VAT. See this thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055862554 and this guide: http://images.fedex.com/downloads/invoice/Duties_Taxes_Invoice_guide_ie.pdf

I recently bought a DSLR and extras for €307; it got here in about 5 days (from California) with standard UPS registered airmail, and no VAT/duty bill...

Kenny Logins

peckerhead wrote: »

Postage is not included for the purposes of reckoning duty, but it is for VAT. See this thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055862554 and this guide: http://images.fedex.com/downloads/invoice/Duties_Taxes_Invoice_guide_ie.pdf

I recently bought a DSLR and extras for €307; it got here in about 5 days (from California) with standard UPS registered airmail, and no VAT/duty bill...

I assume you meant USPS?

Finnt

The lens cleared customs yesterday checked this morning,
Does this mean it's on it's way to me or have they just toted up what I'll have to pay them?

Gumbo

Finnt wrote: »

The lens cleared customs yesterday checked this morning,
Does this mean it's on it's way to me or have they just toted up what I'll have to pay them?

cleared customs means it has passed through them and they are allowing it into the country. will mostlikey head to the courier HQ, and from there to your local dispatch centre.

you should get it tomorrow i'd imagine.
customs charges may not become apparant until the guy is at your door though.
hopefully they dont hit you for anything!

Kenny Logins

Finnt wrote: »

The lens cleared customs yesterday checked this morning,
Does this mean it's on it's way to me or have they just toted up what I'll have to pay them?

With who? AnPost, UPS, Fedex... DHL?

Finnt

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Finnt wrote: »

The lens cleared customs yesterday checked this morning,
Does this mean it's on it's way to me or have they just toted up what I'll have to pay them?

With who? AnPost, UPS, Fedex... DHL?

It was sent with usps so I assume it'll be an Post

Finnt

The lens arrived with a customs bill of €59! Kind of takes the good out of it!!
Anyway time to see was it worth it!

Kenny Logins

Finnt wrote: »

The lens arrived with a customs bill of €59! Kind of takes the good out of it!!
Anyway time to see was it worth it!

Unlucky... How did it compare after all charges were included?

Finnt

It's an ef-s 60mm macro lens it retails here for about €500 with the customs and postage I had it here for €275 it's about a month old and it's spotless in fairness but it would have been sweet if it wasn't for the customs!

Gumbo

Finnt wrote: »

It's an ef-s 60mm macro lens it retails here for about €500 with the customs and postage I had it here for €275 it's about a month old and it's spotless in fairness but it would have been sweet if it wasn't for the customs!

Agh not the end of the world then, still a decent price, although similar to what you would get one here for - http://www.adverts.ie/lenses/efs-60mm-f2-8-macro-canon/1107524

best of luck with it and post some shots too

ThOnda

Shipping from US is poxy, I got always caught and had to pay in duty almost more than what was the saving when compared to UK or EU sellers.
Go to ebay.de - the German version. Most of the sellers there ship within EU and older stuff is most of the time cheaper than from UK.

Finnt

kceire wrote: »

best of luck with it and post some shots too

Thanks I will post some I've been lurking around here for a while,
Tried it out last night great lens I'm struggling with the shallow DoF at 1:1 tho!

hbr

Finnt wrote: »

It's an ef-s 60mm macro lens it retails here for about €500 with the customs and postage I had it here for €275 it's about a month old and it's spotless in fairness but it would have been sweet if it wasn't for the customs!

The price is still ok. The 60mm Canon is an excellent macro lens.
It is also a superb general purpose 60mm prime lens. Good luck
with it.