The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Fleecewife on June 17, 2016, 12:01:34 pm

Title: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 17, 2016, 12:01:34 pm
There's something on Etsy I really want to treat myself to, but it's coming from the US.  I did once import something from Canada, but I can't remember how the import duty worked.  Is that the same as VAT, or do I have to pay both ?  Any idea how much import duty will be? How do I pay it?   How long is delivery likely to take?  Is it all too much hassle or should I just go for it and get myself my birthday present ?  :thinking:  :knit:  Any advice please?
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Womble on June 17, 2016, 12:27:25 pm
Without getting into the figures, the simple answer is IF you get stung for import duty, it's likely to be quite substantial, and sometimes more than the item is actually worth (they add some quite substantial admin charges).

HOWEVER, most things bought in this way get through without import charges - they just arrive. One very common ruse is for the seller to declare the package as a gift, which doesn't attract duty. I'd expect most crafty things bought from Etsy and declared as a gift would be very unlikely to attract charges (I'm not saying that's right - just that it happens).
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 17, 2016, 12:39:54 pm
I've a friend has imported Trindles and other such things.  She reckons expect to pay a total of about 1.5 times the order price, by the time customs and VAT have been added.  I don't know any more detail, though, sorry.

ETA  - so what's the treat?
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: in the hills on June 17, 2016, 12:59:08 pm
We have bought items from Etsy from the US.

They were marked as gifts by the seller so no duty.it seems that inexpensive items are usually sold that way.
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 17, 2016, 01:12:28 pm
Thanks all.  I'll check with the seller if she sends it as a gift  :thumbsup:


Sally, it's a ............... :roflanim:
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on June 17, 2016, 03:36:36 pm
You generally pay VAT on the cost of the item including the cost of postage plus a handling fee of £8
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 17, 2016, 05:13:13 pm
You generally pay VAT on the cost of the item including the cost of postage plus a handling fee of £8

Blimey  :o :o :o
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 18, 2016, 12:22:42 am
Thanks Scarlet.Dragon - I'd been thinking about that today and realised that I couldn't ask someone to lie  :o, but thanks for reinforcing that.
The good news from your link is that anything under a value of £135 is customs duty free  :yippee:  so just VAT on cost and P&P.
I'm going to be thinking hard whether I want all the hassle or will do without the item  :thinking:.  It's nothing dodgy so wouldn't be seized for any reason.
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 18, 2016, 12:58:49 am
You've got to do one of two things now, FW: order it and tell us what it is when it arrives or don't order it and tell us what it is now.  :roflanim:
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Womble on June 18, 2016, 07:51:54 am
I think we should each put in a fiver to buy it as a gift for FW!  ;D
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 18, 2016, 10:48:14 am
I think we should each put in a fiver to buy it as a gift for FW!  ;D


That's a lovely idea Womble but don't you dare.  I definitely can't say what it is now  :roflanim:  :knit: :spin:
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 18, 2016, 10:51:54 am
You've got to do one of two things now, FW: order it and tell us what it is when it arrives or don't order it and tell us what it is now.  :roflanim:

 :roflanim:   :thinking:
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 19, 2016, 12:19:49 am
You've got to do one of two things now, FW: order it and tell us what it is when it arrives or don't order it and tell us what it is now.  :roflanim:

 :roflanim:   :thinking:


That's soooooo mean.

Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 19, 2016, 01:07:00 am
I know and I almost feel guilty  :innocent:, but when you do find out it won't be half as exciting as you imagine.  Anyway, I'm still swithering.  :knit:
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Buttermilk on June 19, 2016, 08:12:32 am
Its a toy boy.
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: devonlady on June 19, 2016, 09:35:44 am
An American toyboy? What would FW do with him except put him to work on the farm! ( that  sounds a good idea)
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Womble on June 19, 2016, 10:38:17 am
I think it's a jar of pickled bums (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/256417101/pickled-bums-quirky-unusual-novelty).

(https://img0.etsystatic.com/117/0/11958477/il_570xN.869850832_sjtq.jpg)


ETA I just noticed they're from the UK anyway, so you don't need to worry about import duty. Oh, and you all need one of these badges (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/268866178/spinning-because-knitting-wasnt-weird).
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 19, 2016, 12:05:32 pm
An American toyboy? What would FW do with him except put him to work on the farm! ( that  sounds a good idea)


Do I have to answer that  :o ?  ;D



 :roflanim: I love the bums - whatever are they?
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 21, 2016, 02:57:52 pm
I think she's seen all these adverts about being able to buy guns over the counter in Walmart... 

USA - the only place in the world someone on the FBI terrorist watch list cannot be prevented from buying a machine gun over the counter!  Also the only place I've ever visited where you have 'drive through Daiquiri bars' where they can't serve alcohol 'open' so they put the cup in a paper bag, sellotape the top and stick the straw through the gap beside the sellotape!

Am I close FW??? 

Come on, you have us all wondering about this now...


Not even on the same planet  ;D  I'm scared $###£3$$ of guns.  I can use one safely which somehow makes their free access even more terrifying, thinking of some puffed up druggy wielding one in the street.

No it's something much more domestic and crafty...... :spin:....... :knit:   I'm not going to make up my mind til after Woolfest, just in case there's something I like as much there  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 22, 2016, 12:32:38 am
 :thinking: ??? :thinking: ??? :thinking: ???
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 22, 2016, 12:04:57 pm
It's a 'push me pull you'!!!   :goat: :spin: :llama:


It's a shall I shan't I ? :thinking:
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Fleecewife on June 27, 2016, 11:44:58 am
I did  :sunshine:

- https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/261396429/fun-fetti-ceramic-yarn-bowl-choose-your?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=fun (https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/261396429/fun-fetti-ceramic-yarn-bowl-choose-your?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=fun) fetti yarn bowls&ref=sr_gallery_1
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Bionic on June 27, 2016, 12:18:05 pm
Love it
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Hellybee on June 27, 2016, 12:55:35 pm
Lovely x
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: devonlady on June 27, 2016, 04:22:22 pm
Oh, beautiful!
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 28, 2016, 12:49:29 am
Niiiiiiiiice.
Title: Re: Buying from US on etsy ?
Post by: Buttermilk on June 28, 2016, 06:27:10 am
Very nice.