Re: Buying from Overseas On-line

Twiz take a look at the craft stuff on AliExpress, terrific selection and very cheap, I think you’d like it knowing how gifted you are with your hands.
I was looking at some mad hats and ordered two from them for a bit of fun, a cream trilby type and a military style cap, all for 12 euros post free, they take about three weeks to arrive.

Re: Buying from Overseas On-line

I've recently bought an iMac and a powerful server from Germany. Both have proved to be great buys, especially the server as it was under-priced by at least £1000; though the iMac was all in German (didn't think of that doh!)! Both bought off Ebay.

Re: Buying from Overseas On-line

Good for you Mark. I never considered buying anything from Germany online, always thought it was a very expensive country, but now I will definitely have a look.

Re: Buying from Overseas On-line

It cost 100 euros postage for the server as it is one humungous bit of kit - too much for one man to lift. Even with the cost added on it still proved to be far cheaper than any UK equivalent. Not saying German shops are cheaper than here - far from it - but in the computer world (especially the server world) there are times when companies have a glut of a certain type owing to some IT company upgrading. Could easily set up a business flogging the kit this particular German company are selling as the UK profit margin would be considerable.

Re: Buying from Overseas On-line

I ordered a pack of 10 high speed twist drills, very tiny only 1mm. from Aliexpress and they arrived this morning, I tried one out and it does the job I want it to do perfectly, I’m saying this because I have to do a lot of small drilling in my work and can’t be without small drills. Up till now I have been buying my drills from a jewellers tool suppliers in town and they cost me 15 euros a pack of 6, this pack of 10 cost me 88 cents post free! a bargain or what? Albeit I had to wait 3 weeks for them to arrive but it was worth the wait, I won’t be buying them in town anymore that’s for sure.

Re: Buying from Overseas On-line

In addition to Import Duty, VAT, and Royal Mail handling charge there is also the exchange rate which can move against you and make the basic cost of the item more expensive. There is confusion in the general public mind because:-
a) They don't realise that the USA is NOT in the Eurozone therefore Import Duty will apply above a certain price level.
b) They don't expect to be hit for VAT but it will apply wherever you buy from.
c) The Post Office handling charge for non EU goods (although a shock to some) is in fact fair because there's a heck of a lot of paperwork to be filled in for Customs & Excise if it is comming from outside the EU

Ordering stuff from any EU country is much easier than from RoW (Rest of World) no import duty, VAT roughly same as UK, and less or no handling charge. Plus in your case Grumblewagon a first class product (Being made in Germany )

Hi Jem, one pays VAT on goods wherever they come from, that 'special relationship' aint all it's cracked up to be

Re: Buying from Overseas On-line

I have brought Craft Dies from 'Spellbinders' in Phoenix, Arizona and have, so far, not had any problems either with Customs or the Post Office.