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Pushchairs

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Original poster

Questions about importing an ABC buggy from NZ

31 replies

peggyblackett · 30/11/2011 21:01

I'm seriously considering getting an ABC from NZ, but I'm worried about how much extra tax I will have to pay for importing a buggy.

Has anyone bought one directly from the Adventure Buggy Company, and if so how much import tax did you have to pay?

And more importantly, were you pleased with the buggy :)? I know that it'll drive like a tank - but I need a solid buggy as we live in a rural location (I will continue to use my Maclaren for in town).

OP posts:
missmaypole · 30/11/2011 21:05

We got sent one from NZ, approx four years ago. I can't remember paying any extra tax.

Had a double with toddler seat on top and was very good. After two years we sold it second hand on e bay for almost as much as it cost originally.

Original poster
peggyblackett · 30/11/2011 22:10

Thanks MissMaypole. I've sent Phil G an e-mail to see if he can clarify the tax position. Would be good if its covered in the courier charge.

Glad you found it good, and that they have a good re-sale value on eBay. One of my worries was that we'd spend the money, and then 18 months down the line be stuck with a buggy that's worth nowt on the secondhand market.

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leeloo1 · 30/11/2011 22:25

You used to buy the buggy direct and the Green people covered the tax. Now you buy it from gobubbago (or similar sounding website) and sadly the tax is no longer covered.

I think the tax was around £130 iirc, for a single with 2 additional seats. It is a good sturdy buggy, but it is also heavy.

Original poster
peggyblackett · 30/11/2011 22:28

Ouch at £130 :(

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suzie38 · 30/11/2011 22:54

I've paid customs 50/50 with 4 pushchairs imported from the USA...Also 50/50 importing clothes from the USA as well...For my Orbit Baby G2 i paid £94 import taxes.

Original poster
peggyblackett · 30/11/2011 23:00

Is that 50/50 chance of having to pay/ not having to pay? Sorry, being fick.

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suzie38 · 30/11/2011 23:05

Yes...2 i got charged for...One i paid upfront through Amazon.com but got my money back and one was no charge at all.

TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar · 01/12/2011 13:13

I have been charged import tax on all my pushchairs except one from Europe. Which one are you wanting? I love mine (single with toddler seat) but it's too big for our house to store so will be selling it. I absolutely love it - we had great fun over the summer with it. My toddler loved chatting to me and the baby was comfy. It used to live in the hall but another pushchair is there at present and we haven't used the ABC since.

leeloo1 · 01/12/2011 13:36

Mmmm. That is true they are very big - not too bad upright (the footprint is the same as my phil and teds) but they fold differently and are huge and cumbersome when folded - I couldn't find a way of clipping it closed either. Oh and the raincover isn't as good as the phil and ted's either as they zip/popper (can't remember) onto each hood separately rather than go over the whole thing.

Its funny, when I used it I liked it ok, but once I'd put it away (as I didn't need it over xmas last year! eek I've only just realised I haven't used it in a year!) I just couldn't face getting it out again.

shufflebum · 01/12/2011 21:10

twinkle I might be interested in your abc, ds is only 2.5 but weighs 17kg and is tall for his age, if I'm only 5ft 2 have I a hope in hell of a) pushing it and b) being able to see over the top?!

shufflebum · 01/12/2011 21:11

Ps sorry for hijack

TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar · 01/12/2011 21:19

I am 5ft 6ins. Without the hood on the toddler seat (static one) it's easy to see where you are going to be honest. With the hood on the seat it is harder, but the rear panel is see through. If you look here it's next to some regular single pushchairs and it's really not much taller because the main pushchair is quite low. I find it easy to see around my toddler. I find it easy to push - I think my two combined are circa 30kgs.

shufflebum · 01/12/2011 21:33

So in that case is the main seat quite small? Ds2 at 11 weeks is following in his brothers footsteps and is huge so i worry about headroom in a year or so. Ds1 can't sit under the hood in an e3 or our nipper hence why I thought this toddler seat might be a good idea .

TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar · 01/12/2011 21:42

Not particularly. There was a thread re this the other week. My DS is 16 months and on the 90 oddth centile. He's fine in it. DD can get in and she's 1m tall but she is a bit big.

TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar · 01/12/2011 21:42

Sorry - DD is 3

shufflebum · 01/12/2011 21:44

Ok thanks will have a think about how to twist dh 's arm how much were you wanting for it?

Original poster
peggyblackett · 01/12/2011 21:45

twinkle - I also may be interested in buying it if you're selling :) Would depend on where you are in the UK I guess (and whether I can shout louder than shufflebum Wink - joking, you asked first).

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Original poster
peggyblackett · 01/12/2011 21:45

ooh x posts

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thisisyesterday · 01/12/2011 21:49

I got an old ABC buggy off the friday ad, and wanted to import a seat to go on the top.
I e-mailed ABC and had a LOVELY reply from Phil Green himself! He said that they will ship them free (literally ship, so takes a few weeks) AND they put "gift" on the customs slip so you don't have to pay charges.

I thought that was really lovely. He sent me the whole product list, inc prices in £ too, which was v. helpful.

Mine is for sale right now on the for sale board on here (hope it's ok to say that???)

shufflebum · 01/12/2011 21:52

That means there are 2 up for grabs so no need for any fighting!

TwinkleWunkleChristmasStar · 01/12/2011 21:56

Lol, its probably better to talk off forum, but I am in Yorkshire if that helps. Theres tons of photos of mine on Best Buggy. I have the stability kit, raincovers, toddler hood, used cosy toes, insect net etc.

dreamfeeder · 01/12/2011 22:00

I just bought an ABC double with reclining toddler seat on top from ebay for £585!!!! And its quite old, used til their dd who was 20 months when they had twins was well over 4, so good resale. Hard bidding on it, we only won using a bid sniper, and there was another one going for it as 4 bids in last 7 seconds. So either check eBay too or don't worry, you'll sell it on!!!

Original poster
peggyblackett · 02/12/2011 07:36

Twinkle, I'll PM you this afternoon when back from work.

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dobby2001 · 02/12/2011 12:09

And yet I only got £52 for my ABC single with toddler seat a few weeks ago Sad too bloody honest in describing wear and tear I woz!

thisisyesterday · 02/12/2011 12:32

really dobby?? that sucks :(

i am going to chuck mine on ebay later as not much interest on the for sale boards on here unfortunately. but was going to set a BIN or make an offer price on it, so hopeuflly that will work :-S