Buying golf clubs on eBay

MrSherry

Hi guys, I was thinking of buying some new clubs on eBay (not a full set just some wedges) and I was wondering would I have to pay VAT on them when getting them shipped here? I think they use USPS to ship them.

Any help appreciated, Thanks.

newport2

If they're from outside the EU, you will have to most likely pay duty

Tones69

MrSherry wrote: »

Hi guys, I was thinking of buying some new clubs on eBay (not a full set just some wedges) and I was wondering would I have to pay VAT on them when getting them shipped here? I think they use USPS to ship them.

Any help appreciated, Thanks.

Ask them can they mark the package as "gift" or a value under $50

Jasonw

Tones69 wrote: »

Ask them can they mark the package as "gift" or a value under $50

Good Idea. Cheat on your taxes. The rest of us don't mind paying your share.:rolleyes:

TheRiddler

You will have to pay vat and import/customs duty, unless marked down as a gift as previously stated. Some sellers will have issues with this and customs can investigate any package they deem foreign purchases.

TheDoc

MrSherry wrote: »

Hi guys, I was thinking of buying some new clubs on eBay (not a full set just some wedges) and I was wondering would I have to pay VAT on them when getting them shipped here? I think they use USPS to ship them.

Any help appreciated, Thanks.

This is United States Postal Service, so gets checked by An Post.

From 100 cages of packages they check ten, so you have a 10% chance of being stung.

Tones69

Jasonw wrote: »

Tones69 wrote: »

Ask them can they mark the package as "gift" or a value under $50

Good Idea. Cheat on your taxes. The rest of us don't mind paying your share.:rolleyes:

Oh my god

Jasonw

Tones69 wrote: »

Oh my god

my thoughts exactly

vicwatson

Check with customs and excise in Nenagh.

As far as I am aware golf equipment IS NOT subject to duty.

newport2

vicwatson wrote: »

Check with customs and excise in Nenagh.

As far as I am aware golf equipment IS NOT subject to duty.

It is. They've also tightened up quite a bit in recent years, you will get charged more often than not

TheDoc

vicwatson wrote: »

Check with customs and excise in Nenagh.

As far as I am aware golf equipment IS NOT subject to duty.

They are, me and my Da are pretty big buyers for golf stuff online. He bought a set of irons and a couple of wedges and I've bought my fair share of wedges, putters, drivers and woods.

They are retail goods therefore subject to customs duty once outside of the EU. As said above, ALWAYS try to get USPS is coming from America, or whatever countries national postal service.

Typically slower, but its always cheaper, registered just the same and youve a fair chance to dodge additional charges.

And Jason I don't think there is any negative outlook from the general populace on dodging customs duty...considering our VAT rates and Excise duty is one of the highest in the world. And its not like its going to directly help the postal service.

MrSherry

Tones69 wrote: »

MrSherry wrote: »

Hi guys, I was thinking of buying some new clubs on eBay (not a full set just some wedges) and I was wondering would I have to pay VAT on them when getting them shipped here? I think they use USPS to ship them.

Any help appreciated, Thanks.

Ask them can they mark the package as "gift" or a value under $50

Thanks, great idea!!

GreeBo

TheDoc wrote: »

And Jason I don't think there is any negative outlook from the general populace on dodging customs duty...considering our VAT rates and Excise duty is one of the highest in the world. And its not like its going to directly help the postal service.

And less people paying them will make them go up or down do you reckon?
Pay your taxes. One of the reasons they are cheaper elsewhere is because you are not paying the Irish tax. If everyone bought everything from non Irish producers and didnt pay tax where do you reckon we would all be?

golfnut1

GreeBo wrote: »

TheDoc wrote: »

And Jason I don't think there is any negative outlook from the general populace on dodging customs duty...considering our VAT rates and Excise duty is one of the highest in the world. And its not like its going to directly help the postal service.

And less people paying them will make them go up or down do you reckon?
Pay your taxes. One of the reasons they are cheaper elsewhere is because you are not paying the Irish tax. If everyone bought everything from non Irish producers and didnt pay tax where do you reckon we would all be?

A valid point greebo but during the Celtic tiger we were all fleeced by Irish golf retailers. Prov1 60 a box now 39 delivered.

MrSherry

This boards is some job lads, great community of helpful people!

neckedit

golfnut1 wrote: »

A valid point greebo but during the Celtic tiger we were all fleeced by Irish golf retailers. Prov1 60 a box now 39 delivered.

What a lot of b******S, Been a golf retailer all my life and never charged €60 for a dozen pro v1's!! Its always the retailer ripping ya off!, as for better prices, ya reckon maybe the internet site you are buying them off don't have the same costings attached to them as the High street retailer.

Tones69

neckedit wrote: »

What a lot of b******S, Been a golf retailer all my life and never charged €60 for a dozen pro v1's!! Its always the retailer ripping ya off!, as for better prices, ya reckon maybe the internet site you are buying them off don't have the same costings attached to them as the High street retailer.

50 euro in most pro shops for dozen pro v1s. 15 quid for a sleeve ive seen too.. (Mcguirks and halpenny etc charge €46) You cannot blame people for shopping in america/england etc etc, if ireland was cheap and america was expensive the americans would be buying from here too, its the way the world works.

We are the only country in the world that has VRT on cars which is a crazy amount also, people now buying in the uk and europe and still saving a bomb even with the VRT added on top. Ireland is a disgracefully expensive country, cant put people down for bothering their asses to go and find better value abroad! Most irish would rather pay the extra here and give out about it

golfnut1

neckedit wrote: »

golfnut1 wrote: »

A valid point greebo but during the Celtic tiger we were all fleeced by Irish golf retailers. Prov1 60 a box now 39 delivered.

What a lot of b******S, Been a golf retailer all my life and never charged €60 for a dozen pro v1's!! Its always the retailer ripping ya off!, as for better prices, ya reckon maybe the internet site you are buying them off don't have the same costings attached to them as the High street retailer.

That's good for you.
The same retailer was selling Prov1 for 60 during the boom and now sells them delivered for 39.95. Vat has increased during this time so it not down to that.
The point I'm making is that greebo makes a valid and well though out point but there is another side to the story and if someone want to buy from ebay (which employ a lot in this country) or an Irish retailer who as employ people that's fine. One should not be critical of anyone for shopping in the right place for that customer.

TheDoc

neckedit wrote: »

What a lot of b******S, Been a golf retailer all my life and never charged €60 for a dozen pro v1's!! Its always the retailer ripping ya off!, as for better prices, ya reckon maybe the internet site you are buying them off don't have the same costings attached to them as the High street retailer.

I remember the €60 for a dozen anyway.

I don't want to fling out an arguement, buts its typically the same old same old from Irish retailers. And I was working with one for a number of years.

The simple fact is the cost of running a business in Ireland is extremely high, creating extremely high end prices for customers. Higher wages, poor innovation, lower work ethic, unwillingness for globalisation etc.

That however does not and should not breed sympathy or guilt for me to "have" to buy Irish.

I've spent alot of money this year with my local club pro, a small portion is because our club finally has a pro shop and I want to ensure it stays, but moreso because he was smart and open minded enough to know I could get the items for much cheaper online, and he was willing to do some good deals.

And Greebo these taxes are not like your PAYE etc. And I don't like to see them refered to as such.

These are taxes that penalise the consumer for finding better pricing abroad and try to balance the scales to get you to buy Irish, covering the cracks within the Irish retail economy.

You can refer to the recent years of people scapering up North to avoid the stupid VAT price we have here, and the reprocusion was the government to increase it to try make up the deficit. The outcome was what any intellegent person realised, the margin would grow and and inevitable outcome would be our VAT prices having to be lowered.

Ireland is a shockingly uncompetitive country in the retail and exports/import sector for a number of reasons more fitting to a different forum

But I would totally agree with the point made that for golf equipment we have been fleeced.

Case 1:

I bought a set of Taylor Made RAC's brand new from Mcguirks that cost €799.
My father bought the exact same set from Ebay, an American Retailer operating on said site, for €399, the next week.

Case 2 :
Odyssey two ball white hot. I paid €179 in Mcugirks and again when my Da tried it and loved it, strutted onto Ebay and picked it up brand new for €120

Case 3:
Have a look at any pair of golf shoes in a retailer against online


There really isn't any debate. Ireland is more expensive, and as a consumer you shouldn't feel guilted into buying Irish. But even moreso there should be initiatives to tackle the problem, not raising taxes associated to cover the cracks.