BUYING AN ITEM FROM INDIA

[thesilverguy]

Just thought I would put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard about this).   I bought a pack of 200gm Trinadaian spice powder from a seller in India listed with free postage so on the spur of the moment while buying my usual ground curry spice from our usual source bought one of these to try for £15.14 pence.   It has actually cost me £15.50 EXTRA in import duty, VAT and EXTORTIONATE FEDEX fees of £12.00.

Anyone else come across this total rip off before.  I spoke to ebay with my concerns saying that this should be stated clearly on the listing and the usual withering response was NOT INTERESTED.  Spoke to the seller and got the usual "I not understanding what you say scenario"

I dont mind paying the vat and import duty of about £2.50 but the £12.00 fee from fedex is an insult and my business will not be using FEDEX again.

ANYONE ELSE COME ACROSS THIS.

I cant understand why the guy used fedex and not the post

[thesilverguy]

Many thanks captain. Still cant see the need to use fedex for sush a low value item though. India do have a reasonable postal system

[arkwebus]

@thesilverguy 

You have been lucky/persistent!  All clearance agents charge a fee for their service. Royal Mail charges £8.  Certainly all the [highly experienced] posters who answer questions on this board know of it and expect it!

It gets worse now that the new EU arrangements are in force. The £15 waiver is gone it seems so that an item at £5 will get £1 VAT and £8 clearance.  

[thesilverguy]

Thats just more opportunity to sell stuff if you are prepared to lay out
on a bulk lot and sell small quantities as only one clearance fee