Buying from overseas...

[MerryMarigold]

What I want to buy (Mexican sink) is only available from US. I am just wondering:
a) Does Paypal cover this in case of any issues
b) Will I have to pay an import charge on it? How much would that be?

Thanks!!

Yes you still get the ebay/paypal protection, same as if you buy from UK.

Yes, you will have to pay tax. I think it's 20% (VAT rate), plus a handling charge which is usually about £10. Ebay may ask you to pay this upfront when you purchase though. I find this and their postage costs are usually overinflated.

PS Postage for such a large item from the US will be very expensive. Postage is not cheap from the USA at the best of times, even for small things.

The postage £11 which seemed quite reasonable for a heavy object!

If it's sent through UPS, FedEx etc then you will probably get a card sent to you asking you to pay an import tax (online) before they deliver the item to you.

Thanks. It is FedEx. Is the tax 20 per cent

It depends on the type of goods, and is based on the customs value of the item, not what you paid for it. The only way to find out the tax rate beforehand is to find out the customs value by contacting the seller and then call the HMRC helpline (0300 200 3700).

You can check online on a duty calculator website, you have to sign up but they will give you more accurate information as to how much the total cost would be as you have to input the specific goods as there are different fees on children's clothes to home furnishings to skincare. I order stuff from abroad on eBay all the time, (USA, China, Japan and Morocco in the last 6 months) nothing has ever gone missing and it usually arrives long before the estimated delivery date. Sometimes the seller will not declare the full value or mark it as a gift and then you get the nice surprise that whatever you thought you would have to pay in customs isn't the case at all. I was expecting to pay about £50 in customs for one item recently and ended up only paying £17.

£11 are you sure? If you click to actually buy the item I'm pretty sure it will present you with an updated figure which incorporates shipping to the uk and customs duty / taxes.

As I mentioned earlier when you buy from eBay they charge you upfront for the duty and they pay it on your behalf, rather than you recovering a bill when the package arrives in the U.K.

I've never had eBay pay the duty, I've always got a note through the door or a request for cash/card payment on delivery. I think it depends if you are buying from a large established seller or an individual selling their own stuff

I've bought two items from the states and eBay have made me pay postage and taxes upfront, but as you said it could be a scheme in place with business sellers.

But if I click on buy it now to find out total cost, I will be committed to buying it.

Hmmm...I am rethinking. It's going to make the cost pretty high.