Fabric from the States . . .

[neeps1207]

Hi there, I'm wanting to order some fabric from a US website to be shipped to UK, but I'm unsure of what I should be expected to pay in terms of import tax when it arrives. Can anyone help me? I don't want to be landed with a bill when I go to the post office! Thank you

[GemmaTeller]

think it depends on the value of the item(s) being shipped.

Check the royal mail website, it may be under £15, I'm not sure.

I've bought from fabric.com in the US and had to pay £8 royal mail handling charge plus a percentage.

(I also stopped using them as they messed up every order after they sold out and moved)

[reggiebean]

neeps FWIW, if it ends up being too costly, I'm going to the states in July, so I'd be happy to smuggle bring it back with me if needed!

(Depending on how much fabric it is!!)

[neeps1207]

Thank you reggiebean! It's approx 30 yards though, so don't want it clogging up your vital luggage allowance. My brother lives in the States and is coming home in Summer, so may see if he can smuggle it in for me (again!).

It's fabric.com I want to order through, so I'm slightly concerned by your comments Gemma. Can you remember what the percentage was? I usually use Hawthorne Threads, and get it delivered to the Middle East where I live, but fabric.com have some great fabrics that I can't find anywhere else, plus they don't deliver to where I live (even though it is no hassle for any other US company), so I'm having to get it shipped to UK where I can pick it up during my holidays. What you need to do to get your fabric fix!!

[GemmaTeller]

Have a look at their facebook page and the 'recent posts by others', they might have cleaned up their act since I last ordered (about six months ago).

Looking back on my orders I pay roughly 1/4 to 1/3 again in customs charges to Fed EX.

When you get your tracking number, once the parcel is in the UK you can ring fed ex and ask them how much the charges are before its delivered.

My issues with fabric.com were: wrong fabric sent, damaged fabric sent and most spectacularly when I checked how much they had of a certain fabric and went on to order and pay for 40 yards, they actually sent me 6 yards of it - that was the last time I used them.

[GemmaTeller]

I agree fabric.com have some great fabrics and good deals but I can't run my business with their ineptitude.