Should i risk it?

[Dannyyy]

My budget is £700 for my next helicopter.
I have found a amazing Trex 600 deal.
Flying-Hobby.com

Its coming from Singapore, but what are the chance of me having to pay extra to import it when the UPS man turns up?

Thanks, Danny

[Mart61]

Into the lap of the gods...



Fingers crossed for ya tho!

[Dannyyy]

Coz i was think if i pay for fast dervilery then they wont have time to weight and check whats in the box, If you know what i mean

[JeromeF]

Coz i was think if i pay for fast dervilery then they wont have time to weight and check whats in the box, If you know what i mean

Of course they will check it!

I ordered around £200 of bits from them and didn't get charged anything... Just ask them to mark the package as 'Gift'.

[Dannyyy]

Got ya, thanks i'll do that!

[Mark_T]

I ordered around £200 of bits from them and didn't get charged anything... Just ask them to mark the package as 'Gift'.

Marking something as a 'gift' then declaring it as £200 value gets you nowhere as the gift limit is way lower than that. All that happened in your case is they missed it on the way through which does happen a lot if you just use a normal postal service.

Under-declaring the value is not legal in most countries and also leaves you exposed if the parcel gets lost as the insurance only covers the declared value so that isn't advisable either if anyone was thinking of that

Finally using a courier such as UPS guaranties that you will pay VAT and Duty as they automatically declare the goods on arrival in this country and charge you a handling fee for doing it so it is in their best interests to declare it.

[trillian]

If UPS actually were the ones delivering your chances of having to pay import duties would be 100% because they require a commercial invoice which they present to the customs people.

Most of the stores in HK etc. know how to label something so it wont get caught by the documentation alone but customs does spot-check things now and then so there's always a risk (for it to qualify as a gift the value must be under £35.00 so if they do check it and think it's prob worth more they can still tack a charge onto it).

Worst-case the charge will be VAT plus 2 or 3 percent duties and this is usually based on some kind of invoice or insurance value claimed.

(said already above I know as that post went in while typing mine)

[Dannyyy]

So Yes or no?

[Mark_T]

There isn't a 'yes or no' answer, it is a risk, you have to decide if you want to take it or not.

The risk is lower if you avoid courier type services but there is still a risk.

Personally I support the shops and online retailers in this country who can't avoid paying VAT/duty and will be around to help me with queries, spare parts etc. so I don't buy stuff like this from HK, but that choice is up to you.

[Mart61]

There's two chances really - you either will get stung or you won't.

Do ya feel Lucky? Well, do ya....

[Pipistrelli]

Take your chances, so you might end up paying the same as in UK, or you might get it cheaper!

He who dares, Rodney, he who dares!

[moonmanflyer]

Problem is, you have to let them put the correct value on the parcel otherwise the insurance would be invalid.
Myself personnaly, though i would order smaller items from abroad i wouldn't order something of this size, the bigger the parcel the more likely i expect you will get hit for customs tax and vat.

[rotorwrecker]

Hi.when i bought a used fender guitar neck £90 i got a shock with the import charge £60 as they valued it as a new fender neck and they also take whatever postage was paid into account and add it the the total and to appeal against it is a right farce .So i dont buy from the usa anymore.From china i had a huge r/c tiger tank £400 and three minimotos at the time £500 for all three and countless ep helis and i have never been hit with duty when buying from the east.

Dave.

[Sieze2]

I have bought 2 heli's from flying hobby (using UPS) and never got hit by customs.

[Dannyyy]

What helis? What postage? Who derliverdy it UPs?