Reclaiming VAT from Ebay Global Shipping Program

cormie

Hey folks,
I'm looking to buy a phone from the US for business use, it's only available from AT&T so has to be purchased from the US and the cheapest way is via eBay.

The phone will be shipped through the Global Shipping Program, which is where sellers ship the item to eBay and eBay ship it on and you pay customs etc at checkout with eBay and don't have to pay them on arrival.

I believe with regular shipments, you can reclaim the VAT paid (and possibly more costs from duty etc?)

However, on the item page it says only UK residents can reclaim the VAT?

Does anyone know how exactly this works and if there's any way to cut these costs?

Any feedback would be great

my3cents

I look forward to hearing how you get on with this? I virtually stopped using ebay after a couple of run ins with the Global Shipping Program. The issue for buyers is that once the item has been shipped the seller no longer has any responsibility for delivery so in the case of non delivery or damage you have to deal with the faceless organisation that is Pitney Bowes iirc, that and the excessive delivery times from UK sellers using the program.

cormie

Thanks a lot for the reply. I haven't found anything out since unfortunately.

I don't like the sound of doing this all through that Pitney Bowes group, but I don't think there's any other way I'm going to get this phone without paying a lot more!