Buying on t'internet from Channel Islands

[paramedic paul]

This is not having a pop at any Jersey based internet shop!!!!!!!

I ordered a pair of Force Fins (I know, I know ) from Apnoea on line at the advertised cost of £90 plus £9.48 p+p. Great, I thinks, a saving of around £30ish.

Great service from Apnoea, they phoned me the day after I ordered advising me the colour I ordered was out of stock and offered me the option of waiting for new stock or changing the colour, which I opted for. I was told they would be posted the next day.

Several days later I arrived home from work to find a card in the post box. Oh bugger, i thought, i'll have to fetch them from the post office as the parcel was too big.

WRONG the card stated that I had £23.25 import tax to pay

I know that I was unlucky in this instance and have ordered loads of stuff before and never had to pay but it did leave a sour taste!

This post is just to serve as a warning / reminder to anyone out there thinking of bagging a bargain. It might not be so much of a bargain in the end. I saved about £7.27 in the end!!!!!!

Ah well

[Steve Summers]

If you'd brought yellow ones like your rakishly handsome and svelte DO you wouldn't have had to pay

Safe diving,
Steve

P.S. it's a good job your rich

[paramedic paul]

If you'd brought yellow ones like your rakishly handsome and svelte DO you wouldn't have had to pay

Safe diving,
Steve

P.S. it's a good job your rich

I didn't fancy the Duck look

[Steve Summers]

I didn't fancy the Duck look

No luck there duck

Safe diving,
Steve

[Titanic]

I was similarly clobbered on a BCD.
Ended up more expensive than ordering from mainland web sites.

As you say, not their fault and service was fine, but very annoying.

[recurve]

I get the feeling that customs and excise have got much tighter in the last four or five years, probably as a direct result of so much internet shopping from the far flung corners of the globe.

It seems to make a big difference which postal service is being used.

Best results I have never EVER had (cos that would be naughty) have been on private sales where the vendor has a 'creative ability' when it comes to customs declarations. In fact some smaller businesses also allegedly play the game.

[endoman]

I sent some tents to a friend in the USA, I paid for them, sent them as a gift. They've now been at DHL facility for 5 days over there. I can only assume customs are having a look. Awaiting reply from DHL.

[Arfie]

I believe it's if the value is under £18 you don't pay duty, above and you do. They even warn you about it on the 7dayshop website and if you make multiple purcheses, they package them in under £18 packs where possible.

I've recently had some parts from China and they were labelled "commercial samples" and no duty was applied.

Arfie

[Graham Smith]

I've recently had some parts from China and they were labelled "commercial samples" and no duty was applied.

Arfie

"Returned Under Warranty" can also help divert all but the most "jobsworth" Customs Officer (In reality you are supposed to pay the duty and then claim a refund).

[recurve]

A $500 GPS sent as $50 worth of 'used electronics' could theoretically contribute to a useful saving.