Etsy from US - customs charge

[BiscuitDrama]

Anyone know what’s normal?

I briefly sold on Etsy and the done thing when selling to US seemed to be to mark it as a gift so there was no customs charge. That’s dodgy I realise.

Anyway, I’ve now bought something from the US, no mention of customs charge being payable by me.
Have now got a card from royal mailing saying I owe customs charge of £15, inc £8 handling change. The item was earrings of £41 inc £12.20 postage.
Just wondering if the seller should have flagged it in advance or made sure it wasn’t applicable?

No, you are responsible for any customs charges.

No, you are the one who has to pay the customs charge.

Expecting the seller to lie about it being a gift because that's what you used to do is ridiculous.

When you buy/import from abroad the onus is on you to find out if any charges from customs will occur.

www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

No, it's not the seller that's charging you, it's legally due import duty. You cannot ask them to commit fraud to avoid it.

That’s dodgy I realise.

It's fraudulent.

Yes I know. I shouldn’t have done it just because everyone else was.

Just wondered what the norm was as it wasn’t mentioned on the listing and I don’t know how it works from US to UK.

Fair enough.

Just reviving this thread because I bought £18 earrings and have had to pay £11 postage, £11 custom fee and £8 “handling fee” to Royal Mail. Was not expecting that! It has more than doubled the price of the item. I will unfortunately avoid US sellers on eBay and Etsy from now on.

I have been stung like this on Etsy when buying from US. I now only buy from UK on Etsy.

Come to think of it every time I have bought from US I have been stung for charges. I’ve resolved not to anymore. I wonder when charges will be imposed on European goods ( have just bought some Amber jewellery from Poland).

Next year, unless an agreement is reached otherwise

Just wondered what the norm was as it wasn’t mentioned on the listing and I don’t know how it works from US to UK.

I'm in the US and I've received customs bills for gifts from the UK.

Yeah, it's a pain in the arse. I don't buy stuff from the US any more.

Thanks @GeorgeTheFirst, I suspected as much which is why I bought some Polish Amber now.