Buying fabric from America

[pookamoo]

Has anyone had any experience of buying fabric from America, eg via ebay? I would like to order some lovely printed baby cord I have seen on ebay, but just wondering if I am likely to get stung for a huge amount of import tax. Any ideas?

I will also post this in the Ebay topic in case anyone there can advise.

I have done in the past and I've never been charged more than the postage that was specified in the first place. I have never bought more than 2 or 3 meters at a time though... I'm not sure if larger quantities would incur taxes...

If I buy from America on ebay or etsy they mark the parcel as a gift and I dont pay any extra on the postage ( same the other way if I sell any of my handmade items to US or non EU contries)
The only time I pay import taxes (and I get HAMMERED by UPS) is when I buy from an American wholesaler.

DH once bought me a jacket that was half the price in the US compared to the shops here. It was a very nice present except that in order to receive it I had to pay almost the same amount all over again in taxes and import costs and admin fees... making it not so much of a bargain after all!

I'd feel dishonest declaring it as a gift though. Maybe I will message the seller and see what they say.

Iirc, you have to spend more than £18 to get charged tax; that said, it's actually quite hit and miss even when you do spend more than that. Sometimes you get charged, sometimes not, in my experience!

I recently got charged an extra £13 on a parcel from USA, it was £5 customs charge plus £8 Royal Mail handling fee - this was on about £26 worth of fabric, so would be wary of doing it again unless saving lots by buying from US.

I always ask them if they will mark the customs form at $25 - $30 as that is the max at current exchange rate which will come in under the radar. Most will do this regardless of nominal retail price. If they won't do this I normally ask them to ship in multiple packages; with it split up right you pay less in extra postage than import fees, mostly due to the extortionate £8 handling fee, which costs the same/more than a standard flat rate envelope from the states, which will take 6/7 yards of fabric.

Oh, and if you use a gift voucher of any sort, even one you have bought for yourself, then it is technically a gift and the retailer can mark it as such with no issues and get the higher threshold rate for mport duty. Not sure if ebay does vouchers or if you can make an arrangement with the seller.

Quiltweight - what a mine of information, I will definately be trying that next time I order from USA

I always buy from fabricworm.com, she's v fast and I have never been charged customs ordering from her. Have been charged every time I used fabric.com but they often have good discounts.

I've just had a look at fabricworm.com and am now skint! Gorgeous fabrics...why can't we make and sell stuff like that over here?

I've bought quite a bit from the States, my usual shops are Hancocks of Paducah and The Fabric Shack. You can get quilting fabric for about 5$ a yard from the fabric shack. Both these places will ship fabric in an international envelope which costs about £11. This had usually avoided tax for me. You can get about 7 yards of fabric into one of these. I know some places will divide orders so that they can ship in these envelopes, it's easier for them as much as for us.

you can get childrens fabric in the uk and better still its manufactured in the uk. prestigious textiles have always done a range of kids fabrics. their mills are in yorkshire so it's all british. have you tried googleing childrens fabric or childrens curtains? Also clarke and clarke another british companyd do lots of lovely cotton prints. If you find one you like you just recall the name then google it for an online seller or phone up a local fabric shop and see if they can supply. Usually minimum 1m or 2m but you won't pay delivery.

I don't think British children's fabric is that great actually- usually conforms to the pink/blue polarisation, and twee

I really like Japanese and skandinavian children's fabrics, but exchange rates and standards of living make them very expensive to purchase.

I like fabric bee (sewing bee???) For US stuff (though actually a lot of their fabric is Japanese!)