Tom Ford on Ebay UK customs question

[Dw3610wm]

ellaw guys, quick question:

My Friend thrifted a 80% cashmere and 20% silk Tom Ford jacket for an awesome $500, it is used but in BNWOT condition, he bought it from the UK and the seller was in NY; he already payed almost 30GBP shipping, would customs be anal about this and ask him to pay duty tax/VAT? Even though it has no tags on it?

Seller (on the page of the auction) has written only this regarding VAT;

Estimated VAT
Seller charges VAT for items dispatched to: NY (8.835%).

Nothing about UK, or UK customs.

Please lemme know guys I am sure there a couple of professional thrifters out there who can help!!

Best,

 

[ManofKent]

Probably yes.

Some packages slip through, but generally they're getting hotter on parcels from the states.

Don't forget there's also the carrier admin fee at this end (RoyalMail is £8).

Last Pocket Square I bought from the states got caught and as it was 4p over the £18 value threshold it cost me an additional £10 odd.

Could be an expensive bill.

 

[Dw3610wm]

crap but how will they know the value of it? I doubt customs people know Tom Ford; its shipped by UPS. Very strange as I bought around $60 worth of stuff shipped and nothing happened with customs they just delivered it to our hall of residence (were both students)... so lets see any more input is more than welcome!!

 

[rebel222]

I'm about to go on a rant. . . .

I cannot be BNWOT if it is used. Period.

 

[ManofKent]

Originally Posted by Dw3610wm

crap but how will they know the value of it? I doubt customs people know Tom Ford; its shipped by UPS. Very strange as I bought around $60 worth of stuff shipped and nothing happened with customs they just delivered it to our hall of residence (were both students)... so lets see any more input is more than welcome!!

If customs pick it up, it will charged on the value the seller has put on the customs declaration form attached to the parcel.

 

[Dw3610wm]

'BNWOT condition' was the phrase I used, any input though on possible screwing by way of customs? I hope this would not be the case!! How will they know who Tom Ford is and what price range he is in? Would it just be 10% of the 500 dollars he payed?

 

[Dw3610wm]

Originally Posted by ManofKent

If customs pick it up, it will charged on the value the seller has put on the customs declaration form attached to the parcel.

Sorry I posted before reading this, damn and would he give the full retail value? If thats the case my friend is completely fucked forgivemyfrench. I don't think he will mind paying 10 percent of 500$, but $5000 on the other hand... this is ridiculous that the seller didn't say anything (and a very reputable one, that), thank you so much for the input so far, please keep it coming very distressed atm!

 

[winston]

Yes, customs go by marked value, not by what they think the item is worth based on actual knowledge of the brand. This is why I get sellers to make the value low for me.

I've bought from a seller recently who won't mark value lower than $100, and customs then charges VAT as if the $100 value is one hundred pounds sterling. I'm looking at the invoice now: at the old VAT rate, I paid £16.60 plus 13.50 clearance fee (that's express mail - priority is £8 as MoK said) for a total of £30.10 on an item that could've been only £65. So you could be paying a lot.

 

[ManofKent]

Assuming the seller has declared the value as $500, then you're looking at £8-£15 carrier fee, around £50 duty (12% I think) and then another £75ish VAT - so probably around £135. Obviously if the seller has put the value down as $5000 you can multiply it by ten...

It's not the sellers job to advise on import duty etc. that's the buyers responsibility.

 

[Dw3610wm]

Originally Posted by winston

Yes, customs go by marked value, not by what they think the item is worth based on actual knowledge of the brand. This is why I get sellers to make the value low for me.

I've bought from a seller recently who won't mark value lower than $100, and customs then charges VAT as if the $100 value is one hundred pounds sterling. I'm looking at the invoice now: at the old VAT rate, I paid £16.60 plus 13.50 clearance fee (that's express mail - priority is £8 as MoK said) for a total of £30.10 on an item that could've been only £65. So you could be paying a lot.

Originally Posted by ManofKent

Assuming the seller has declared the value as $500, then you're looking at £8-£15 carrier fee, around £50 duty (12% I think) and then another £75ish VAT - so probably around £135. Obviously if the seller has put the value down as $5000 you can multiply it by ten...

It's not the sellers job to advise on import duty etc. that's the buyers responsibility.

Thank you very much for this guys, its very strange as I have shipped something worth $100 from the USA with no hitch, thats why I told him it would be fine shipping from U.S, damn I feel real stupid now... Surely though the seller should have mentioned something regarding this? If its a substantial amount of money like 135 pounds? He is a very reputable seller who makes a living doing this, so I can't understand the lack of information he would supply on this. Could it be possible that the seller has added these costs in his BUY IT NOW price (the option my friend took, he didn't wait for the auction to finish) and the Shipping charges?

Thank you for your input guys, really appreciate it! Looking forward to your replies..

 

[Nicola]

Originally Posted by winston

Yes, customs go by marked value, not by what they think the item is worth based on actual knowledge of the brand. This is why I get sellers to make the value low for me.
.

I wouldn't count on that. It's a crap shoot. If they look at it and decide it's worth more you risk having to convince it isn't. OTOH if it's used have the seller mark it has rags

Then it's priced by weight.

UPS is the devil's evil brother.

 

[ManofKent]

Originally Posted by Dw3610wm

Thank you very much for this guys, its very strange as I have shipped something worth $100 from the USA with no hitch, thats why I told him it would be fine shipping from U.S, damn I feel real stupid now... Surely though the seller should have mentioned something regarding this? If its a substantial amount of money like 135 pounds? He is a very reputable seller who makes a living doing this, so I can't understand the lack of information he would supply on this. Could it be possible that the seller has added these costs in his BUY IT NOW price (the option my friend took, he didn't wait for the auction to finish) and the Shipping charges?

Thank you for your input guys, really appreciate it! Looking forward to your replies..

The fees are nothing to do with the seller - they're between the importer (your friend) and HM Customs & Revenue.

Sometimes the Post Office/handler doesn't spot the parcel and it will go through without charges, other times (increasingly frequently) the parcel will be stopped. Purchases under £18 are exempt as are most gifts under £40 but above that fees apply. There's plenty of detail on the HM Revenue & Customs web pages:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm

 

[BareSolid]

Never mind.

 

[Dw3610wm]

Thank you very much Nicola, I do see your point.. My point is that if its used, the price is completely subjective so I hope the seller (he has already shipped this a week or so a go) subject it to a very low price

Originally Posted by ManofKent

The fees are nothing to do with the seller - they're between the importer (your friend) and HM Customs & Revenue.

Sometimes the Post Office/handler doesn't spot the parcel and it will go through without charges, other times (increasingly frequently) the parcel will be stopped. Purchases under £18 are exempt as are most gifts under £40 but above that fees apply. There's plenty of detail on the HM Revenue & Customs web pages:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm

thanks for the link; it shows that only goods above £120 will have to be paid duty for, would a HMRC worker really value a blazer at more than £120 (provided that the seller has marked its value low)? As I am not sure they are the most knowledgeable in ultralux brands... I hope not anyway... If my friend does get screwed can we bounce the package back to the seller and get a refund (he does accept returns)? Thank you so much guys, please keep the input coming! My distress is easing haha

 

[ManofKent]

Originally Posted by Dw3610wm

Thank you very much Nicola, I do see your point.. My point is that if its used, the price is completely subjective so I hope the seller (he has already shipped this a week or so a go) subject it to a very low price



thanks for the link; it shows that only goods above £120 will have to be paid duty for, would a HMRC worker really value a blazer at more than £120 (provided that the seller has marked its value low)? As I am not sure they are the most knowledgeable in ultralux brands... I hope not anyway... If my friend does get screwed can we bounce the package back to the seller and get a refund (he does accept returns)? Thank you so much guys, please keep the input coming! My distress is easing haha

I'm not sure where you're reading the 120. Its definitely 18 - as I said I got stung on 18 pound and 4 pence. He'll be lucky if it doesn't cost him bit. If he gets charged more than the 130 ish due on a $500 purchase he may be able to dispute it with evidence of the purchase price.