Buying clothes from America......what about taxes etc- how does it work??? And what are j crew sizes like?

[alwaysrunninginheels]

I have just fallen upon the j crew website and am in love!!!!! There is sooooo much I could order. But I have never bought from abroad and no nothing about the line where the website says " taxes etc not included"! So how do you pay the tax and what does it come in at???? Are designer jeans much cheaper if I buy them that way and what about if the size isn't right or you just don't like them???? Just any information anyone knows about this would be really helpful! Thanks!

Tax depends if they get caught on the way in or not. If they do get caught you pay import duty (20% I think) plus Vat at 20%, so it's a fair whack. Plus shipping from the states will be quite expensive, so make sure you check out the international shipping costs on the website.

www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/internet.htm

tell me about it!

I want EVERYTHING - but specifically: this dress and this jumper in every colour as well as loads of basic tees.

Shipping is £9 which isn't horrendous considering some UK sites can be a fiver sometimes. But import duty is what I'd be concerned about.

Net-a-porter stock some J.Crew but not a huge selection and prices are higher too.

info here on international orders - looks like they total up all the customs and duties for you and you pay for them with your order.

M&S have those jumpers
I bought clothes from Gymboree and didnt pay a penny in tax

The jumper is way more see through than it looks. The pink colour has to have something under it as it is very, very fine. But it is very useful. Things come up quite boxy I think and aren't quite as fitted as they look on the website. The sizing is on the large side but varies from item to item.

Do you know anyone who could post it to you as "gift" details here

Gifts sent from outside the EU
If you're sending or receiving a gift from outside the EU:
Excise Duty is payable on any alcohol or tobacco products.
Customs Duty is payable if the value of the gift exceeds £135, but will be waived if the amount of duty is £9 or under.
Import VAT is payable if the value of the gift exceeds £40.

You can also have multiple £40 for family members

Packages with gifts for more than one person
If one package contains several gifts for different people, perhaps family members, then each gift can benefit from the Import VAT £40 gift allowance as long as it's individually:
wrapped
addressed
listed on the customs declaration

J Crew add the taxes on at the point of purchase so you just get the parcel turn up via DHL and no additional charges to pay. You can see the total once you get to the checkout page.

Companies like shopbop allow you to pay the charges up front too or you can take a chance and not pay.

Revolve - you just get a note from Royal Mail saying there's a fee2pay and you go online and pay it - the next day you receive your items.

Can you tell I've done this before

Oh and companies like shopbop - the shipping is free and normally takes 3 days. I'm sat here in j brands I got from there which I paid £130 for including taxes - they're £220 on all UK retailers so its worth doing.

MrsCB - love shopbop, been looking at a Madewell satchel from there.

OP - done a trial run for research purposes, if I ordered the dress and 1 sweater linked to above (total £221), shipping is £10, tax is £41 and duties £21 to give you an idea.

So comparatively, ordering from NAP (although more limited selection) works out much cheaper.

NoGoodGirl - thank you for feedback on sweaters, would prefer to be a bit thicker so will reconsider

I like JCrew, although agree with NoGoodGirl about the fit. Some things are a bit thin, other things are innovative or special in their fabrics. I like their perfect fit t-shirts because they are nice and long, and lovely colours, although the paler colours need a vest underneath. I got a lovely lace merino jumper on sale in the autumn, but I also sent back a Jenna's cardigan because it was too thin for me and I was looking for something thicker.

MrsCB, I like Revolve too. Haven't looked at shopbop in a while - thanks for reminding me of it.

the sizing at j.crew is all over the place - some items you need to size down two sizes! Look at the NAP website, where they are very good at letting you know that kind of thing. Also, if you buy sale items at j.crew they are not returnable/refundable. Bit of a nightmare combination. Oh - and where you can return things bought from the US (from shopbop, full price j.crew, etc) - they don't refund the duty/taxes etc.

Jcrew big abd quality very average. Dyes fade labels fall off

Ladies you are such a mine of information. Its fab!! I need to have a good look at revolve and shopbob......j brands for £130....i'm there.
I am surprising my DH next month with a trip to NY on his 40th so i think i am going to head to Jcrew and see the stuff first hand....em if my love of clothes can wait that long!!! BUT If i buy it there and put it in suitcase or wear it home am i meant to pay tax on that????????????? Can you tell i haven't escaped the uk regularly since having my DC???

I don't think you will pay tax on it (or maybe only if it's under a certain amount), my mum goes to the states quite a lot and brings stuff back and has never mentioned it. My advice would be to cut the tags off and don't have any receipts with you - else how will they know what you bought out there and what you took originally?

Good luck, enjoy work trip and report back!

*your trip