Potentially silly question

[micba2418]

There's an item(Xmas gift) I want to buy from a seller in the USA and ship to the UK, now it says I can pay for import fees etc up front or defer them and pay when I get the item. It costs more to defer and less to pay now which seems odd to me then again I haven't brought much from the USA. Are the any hidden costs as I brought a pair of trainers once and had to pay extra to fed ex which was an unpleasant surprise, this is the only experience I have buying the us and would Appreciate any help. Thanks 

[tommystrezures]

Any import to the UK is subject to 20% VAT. It is also the buyers responsibility to pay any potential duty if the item is over £135. To get help you can look here.

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty (towards the bottom of page you can put in the description of item to see what tariff may be.

Personally I would pay upfront as it saves the extra fee added by the carrier. This is called DDP (Delivery Duty Paid under Incoterms) however you need to ensure your seller knows what they are doing. As the normal is usually DDU in incoterms (eg Duty Unpaid)

[micba2418]

Cheers for the reply pal, I will definitely pay upfront. The upfront charge is cheaper than the defer option which seems odd to me then again I don't have a clue about this stuff 

[tommystrezures]

The defer option may include a carriers fee for border force control its usually about £10 per carrier (give or take!)

[*vyolla*]

What's the value of the item?

If over £135 then eBay will charge and collect any import fees up front, over that amount and you pay this end because the item will be subject to Customs Duty.

I'm not aware that there's any eBay feature that allows you to select whether to pay upfront or defer. 

[micba2418]

Ah I get it know, thanks very your help pal it's much appreciated! 

[sml192]

Where are you seeing the option to defer import charges?

For eBay purchases, whether you pay up front or on import depends on the value of the item and how it is being sent.

If the item is being sent direct to you and the value is £135 or under then eBay are required to collect Supply VAT at checkout (there is no Duty to pay).  If the value is greater than £135 then Import VAT and Duty will be collected by the carrier upon importation. 

If it is being sent via eBay's Global Shipping Program then you will be charged upfront regardless of the value. 

[micba2418]

Hello and thanks for the reply it's about £50 including postage and packaging, I found the option on the checkout page if you select the postage part it had the option there to pay upfront or defer 

[micba2418]

Hello and thanks for responding, I saw the option on the checkout page I clicked on postage and it brought up an option to pay upfront or defer. I'm doing this via my phone if that makes any difference. The item is only about £50 including postage and packaging 

[*vyolla*]

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@micba2418 wrote:

Hello and thanks for responding, I saw the option on the checkout page I clicked on postage and it brought up an option to pay upfront or defer. I'm doing this via my phone if that makes any difference. The item is only about £50 including postage and packaging 

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That must be new, I'm surprised it's optional though.

It'll obviously be cheaper to pay upfront because you'll avoid the admin fee (Royal Mail charge £8).

[sml192]

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@micba2418 wrote:

Hello and thanks for responding, I saw the option on the checkout page I clicked on postage and it brought up an option to pay upfront or defer. I'm doing this via my phone if that makes any difference. The item is only about £50 including postage and packaging 

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Thanks for clarifying that.  It appears that the seller is using the new Ebay International Shipping program (EIS) which does indeed allow import charges to be deferred.  I wasn't aware that the UK had finally been added as a destination for the EIS, so that's good to know.

As it is being sent via the EIS all the customs paperwork will be dealt with by eBay, not the seller, so there shouldn't be any unexpected charges to worry about. 

[*help_no_brakes*]

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@micba2418 wrote:

Hello and thanks for responding, I saw the option on the checkout page I clicked on postage and it brought up an option to pay upfront or defer. I'm doing this via my phone if that makes any difference. The item is only about £50 including postage and packaging 

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Is this item listed as being sent via eBay International shipping?

Have a read of how it works for a buyer.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/shipping-delivery/changing-delivery-address-method/international-pu...

[*help_no_brakes*]

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@sml192 wrote:

Where are you seeing the option to defer import charges?

For eBay purchases, whether you pay up front or on import depends on the value of the item and how it is being sent.

If the item is being sent direct to you and the value is £135 or under then eBay are required to collect Supply VAT at checkout (there is no Duty to pay).  If the value is greater than £135 then Import VAT and Duty will be collected by the carrier upon importation. 

If it is being sent via eBay's Global Shipping Program then you will be charged upfront regardless of the value. 

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I suspect this item is being sent via eBay International Shipping.

GSP is no longer used in the US.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/shipping-delivery/changing-delivery-address-method/international-pu...

[the-nutwood-collection]

The Royal Mail admin fee is is surprisingly reasonable.  The admin fee for Fed Ex is £12.75.  There's another carrier (maybe DPD) that's even greater.

[sml192]

Yes, I realise that now.  I am aware that the GSP is no longer used in the US but, as I said in my post above, I wasn't aware that EIS can now be used for shipments to the UK. 

[*vyolla*]

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@the-nutwood-collection wrote:

The Royal Mail admin fee is is surprisingly reasonable.  The admin fee for Fed Ex is £12.75.  There's another carrier (maybe DPD) that's even greater.

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Yep, had one of those surprise bills before. It's DHL, I think.

[the-nutwood-collection]

Yes, DHL are devils for extra charges.  I was in a mad rush to send a parcel to Scotland and knew that other carriers don't charge a premium for that part of Scotland.  Unfortunately, DHL do.  OK I thought, I haven't time to change carrier - and then mistakenly clicked the insurance button (a masterclass in dark pattern).

That parcel cost a fortune.  OK, my bad, shouldn't do things in a rush - but I was hopping mad.