Buying retrogames from Japan/USA

Cavallino

Cavallino

Cavallino

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Joined
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Hampshire
If I we're to buy such games from ebay amounting to say around say £20, will I still be stung for customs and excise tax? Is there a value threshold or something?
 
£18 is the threshold. You can get the sender to declare it as a gift on the customs dec which raises that amount to £40.
 
ic1male said:
£18 is the threshold. You can get the sender to declare it as a gift on the customs dec which raises that amount to £40.
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Thanks ic1male.
Ok and if there are multiple items valued at £18 or under, would I still get away with it, or is it cumilative?
 
Each consignment has a limit. If you get sent two games at £10 each in one package, that's £20 and over the limit (unless it's gifted). If you get them sent separately, you'd be OK.
 
ic1male said:
Each consignment has a limit. If you get sent two games at £10 each in one package, that's £20 and over the limit (unless it's gifted). If you get them sent separately, you'd be OK.
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Aha so just to confirm, two separate packages at say £18 (non-gift), would NOT incur any charges?
 
Nice one! Cheers.

Presumably if an item is say £15 but postage is £10, this still would be free of tax (since its the value of the item, not item+postage) ?
 
Hmm didn't think they could tax you on second hand good regardless of where they were from.

I ordered about 12 snes games from japan and didn't pay any duty, maybe I was lucky.

I would just risk it anyway if they catch you you only will pay the same in duty anyway.
 
dazzerd said:
Hmm didn't think they could tax you on second hand good regardless of where they were from.

I ordered about 12 snes games from japan and didn't pay any duty, maybe I was lucky.

I would just risk it anyway if they catch you you only will pay the same in duty anyway.
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Sorry what do you mean "the same in duty" mate?
 
I've never had to pay any customs fees on any games i've had posted from the US - I have had some that came to a lot more than the limit - chrono trigger on SNES for one, but never had any charges.
 
It's a long while back that i got it now. I do remember that it was a bit of a silly amount considering it isn't boxed, the manual is just a photo copy but it does have the map. It is the USA/CAN NTSC version though in english which seems to be a lot rarer than the JAP version - and easier to play for non Japanese speaker, lol.

I think I got in a bidding war and didn't want to lose and ended up paying somewhere over 50 but less than 70. I played about 10 hours or so, then my save game disappered so I assume the battery died and i've never got round to replacing it. That's probably the most expensive old console game i've ever bought, they're all in the loft at the moment though and i'm not even sure what else i've got.
 
Cavallino said:
Can I ask what amount the chrono trigger SNES game was?
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I paid £9 for a excellent condition boxed jap cart direct from japan; shame I forgot the damn website becuase it has some awesome gear on there.

I here the us version is worth about £150.00 though.
 
i think its all luck really, i had a £1700 custom guitar imported from russia but got it delivered to work so didnt pay any duty, in fact ive never paid duty on anything i got delivered to work yet the one time i got a load of figures from america delivered to my home adress i had to pay duties so i dont know if it was a coincedence but i will always get things deliverd to work from outside the EU
 
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