Pen kits from America

[stewart]

Hi
I've been reading the latest woodturner magazine and there is a full page ad for Craft Supplies USA - have any of you used them? Does the postage make them expensive?

 

[lugo35]

my bro inlaw gets his from over there but not from them. they are 1/2 the
price even with the postage.
send me a PM to remind me and i'll get the name of company

 

[pete honeyman]

I ordered keyring kits from Craft Supplies USA back in September and they never arrived - I emailed in Nov and they very quickly offered to send me another lot - unfortunately I haven't received those yet either...

Pete

 

[shedhead]

I have ordered many times from US, about 4 different companys. The price of the kits are much cheaper than in UK, but very soon i got hit with Import Tax. It can work out not so good a deal when this is added on to purchase price. It was the same with other countries, the tax made it not worth while

 

[stevebuk]

hi
i agree with dermot, i know several people who buy from the USA, the import duty IF you get stopped is massive and makes the kits expensive, and bearing in mind if they go missing, your on your own.

 

[greggy]

hiya srewart, i get most of my kits from the usa. i get them when iap does a group buy, that way the guy puts on the package (gift) i have never been stung with import tax. and they are cheaper too.any bussiness that exports to the uk must put the total value on the package, a friend puts only £25.00 value on for me.

 

[stewart]

Thanks, Greggy - I'll have to have a look into that as I'm also a member of IAP.

 

[duncanh]

hiya srewart, i get most of my kits from the usa. i get them when iap does a group buy, that way the guy puts on the package (gift) i have never been stung with import tax. and they are cheaper too.any bussiness that exports to the uk must put the total value on the package, a friend puts only £25.00 value on for me.

It's been pointed out to me in the past so I thought I'd better warn you - misdescribing and undervaluing imports are both illegal.
This page on the customs website mentions it.

Not that I'm saying don't do it, but you should be aware of possible consequences.

Duncan

 

[boysie39]

Geeggy,i hope this fourm is banned to the Revenu Comms. over there.
I can just see one now comeing out of the toilet trousers around his ankles shouting *I've got one* :lol: :lol: :lol: and another poor bloke in the US in chains saying *what did I do * :lol: :lol: :lol: hope you like porridge or do the still serve that :wink: :wink: :wink:

REgards Eugene

 

[wizer]

To be fair this is a well known ruse and if the guy is willing to put that on the package then I guess they really are friends. From experience, this method does not work every time and is not fool proof. Customs often double check and will just charge you the customs fee. I'd say it's unlikely that anyone is going to get in trouble with the law. Unless the avoided customs values are 100's if not 1000's of pounds.

 

[greggy]

my maximum spend in the united states was £100, not exactly mega criminal eh. my postie always says ( another birthday pressie colin ) but he wont grass as i supply him with a pen now and again. but as the dollar is not very good against the pound at present, i think its not worth it at the moment. not like it was earlier 2$ to 1£ :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[pete honeyman]

I still haven't received the second package from Craft supplies USA, so I emailed them again - turns out they've been sending them to Perth Australia instead of Perth Scotland. D'oh!

Pete