Buying Computer Parts from Abroad

Greenlizard0 · 10 Dec 2006 at 18:20

I am off to the USA over christmas and was wondering whether I could buy computer parts over there to use/install with components bought here in the UK.

I won't be buying a PSU or Case.

Tom|Nbk · 10 Dec 2006 at 18:28

i can't see there being a compatibility if thats what you mean, warrenty may be a different case though

Greenlizard0 · 10 Dec 2006 at 18:36

Tom|Nbk said:
i can't see there being a compatibility if thats what you mean, warrenty may be a different case though

Pardon? I don't understand what you mean.

Also another question - where do I find out how much custom's I'd have to pay (if at all? :confused:

)

Greenlizard0 · 11 Dec 2006 at 12:15

Bump. Does anybody else know?

ArmyofHarmony · 11 Dec 2006 at 13:00

i bought my first cd writer in USA in 1999, and we got it home without customs issues

thats all i know

pcAnywhere · 11 Dec 2006 at 13:23

There is no customs duty on PC parts that you import from the US (i.e. you buy in the UK from a US source). Quite how that ties into you buying the parts and personnaly importing them I'm not sure but I think you are completely OK upto the "other items" limit (around ~£130 at the moment I think).

Have a quick look on the HM Customs and Revenue website for more info

Greenlizard0 · 12 Dec 2006 at 14:10

I know this is a second bump, but I'm reading the Customs website and I'm totally getting confused.

What I wanna know is if I buy something in the States, and ask them to ship it to the UK, will I get stung at the post office etc? I might be looking to buy a lovely 22" Viewsonic you see, and well, that just ain't going into the suitcase

jbloggs · 12 Dec 2006 at 15:14

greenlizard0 wrote:

will I get stung at the post office etc?

I don't think so.

I have bought a lot of books in the US and got them delivered by post, I have never been asked to pay any duty etc on them. On the packaging there is a Customs declaration by the sender and thats it.

The process of you shipping a monitor from the US to your home address, is no different (that I can see), from me buying books and getting them shipped here to the UK.

charltonfan1 · 12 Dec 2006 at 15:34

You will have to pay VAT and import taxes on the item and fees from the company whos shipping it to you. The amount you pay depends on what you are receiving. There are different levels of import taxes listed on the HM Customs website

Tony Williams · 12 Dec 2006 at 16:35

You should be fine.

pcAnywhere · 12 Dec 2006 at 16:41

From HMRC

Customs duty - if the amount of duty is £7 and over and
Import VAT - if the value of the goods is £18 and over

Customs duty varies by product - see Common Internet Goods pdf on their web-site

If you are wanting a monitor (not a TV) there is no import duty but you will be liable for VAT (@ 17.5%) as the purchase cost is over £18.

benktlottie · 12 Dec 2006 at 17:10

Dont declare the items when you walk through...or stash some in your suitcase, and some in hand luggage. Dont take the boxes unless you need to (ie. put the processor in an anti static bag and put it in your bag. Graphics card wrapped up in a couple of tshirts in its anti static bag etc)

You will get stung for VAT and import duty if you get caught though...£1000 of parts may cost you £200-£300+ in additional duties (depending on the items).

Just think Wayne Rooneys bird when she went 'shopping' in the States and had to pay thousands ! LOL

K.C. Leblanc · 12 Dec 2006 at 17:50

Bear in mind that mains voltage is 110v in the US.

If you're buying a PSU or a monitor make sure it supports 240v before you buy it.

Greenlizard0 · 12 Dec 2006 at 21:03

pcAnywhere said:
From HMRC

Customs duty - if the amount of duty is £7 and over and
Import VAT - if the value of the goods is £18 and over

Customs duty varies by product - see Common Internet Goods pdf on their web-site

If you are wanting a monitor (not a TV) there is no import duty but you will be liable for VAT (@ 17.5%) as the purchase cost is over £18.

That PDF is interesting. Monitors are at 14%, yet for some reason CD's with data on them (not music CD's) are at 0%. I wish I was out there in time to buy Vista

Corasik · 12 Dec 2006 at 22:27

Duty was added to large widescreen monitors sometime within the last year or two, many widescreen monitors have dvi/hdmi, and even component inputs, blurring the differences between monitors and TVs.

So customs decided to add 14% duty on them. So you'll have to declare it and pay both the 14% duty, and 17.5% vat when you bring it back.

You'll also likely find if it goes wrong you may be required to send it back to the USA to get it repaired or replaced. What if you get a couple of dead pixels and want it changed. You could be in for a lot of hassle.

pcAnywhere · 13 Dec 2006 at 09:54

Yeah - whilst monitors that can only display a computer signal are free of duty, ones able to display video have 14%. This is irrespective (so it would seem) on size / format.

This pdf is a classic example of how protectionism and local pressure / focus groups leads to a complex and daft tax system.

stoofa · 13 Dec 2006 at 10:30

No matter the strength of the pound it really isn't usually worth all of the hassle of buying computer components over in the US.

Your very first problem is finding somewhere willing to ship to the UK.
If you think it is just a matter of picking a US online store and ordering it isn't - the majority will not ship outside of the US.

Next you've got delivery costs - not cheap.
You are also relying on the package getting to you undamaged - if a package can get damaged when it is staying domestic just think of the trouble it can get into when it is being shipped from abroad.

Next you've got VAT - C&E on behalf of the government will want that VAT to the point of your goods being totally held up until you pay what you owe.
Remember that in theory just because a package gets through customs without being opened VAT is still owed on it - you've basically committed tax evasion.
So don't forget to add 17.5% on to the total cost - if you don't get charged it then great, but you have to be prepared to be charged for everything.
Your're 17.5% VAT also wont go on until after your import duty tax.
As has been said because of the inputs etc on monitors, the majority of the better/more expensive ones are taxed at 14% because they can be classed as TV's.
So take the price of the panel, add on 14% and now add on 17.5% of that total - is it still a great deal?
Other components are charged at different duty rates - so do this on all items.

Whatever anyone tells you, marking an item as "gift" does not suddenly make it VAT and/or tax exempt.
This is an urban myth floating around the net, usually from the same people who tell you that "students don't pay tax" and other such myths.

Finally you've got your warranty issues.
A vast majority of hardware manufacturers do not sell their items with a worldwide warranty rather a territory one.
This is mainly due to different territories requiring different terms & conditions in a warranty.
As you might expect the US warranty is very different to the UK/Europe one.
Mainly because in the US you have to spell everything out or face going to court etc.
Also it stops people doing what you're doing and "grey market" importing.
Dell do let you transfer a warranty from the country of purchase to say the UK - they are one of the very few that do.
So, should something go wrong with your purchase expect to have to ship it back to either the retailer in the US or the companies US warranty return.

All in all unless it is an amazing deal on an item that is not likely to go wrong I personally wouldn't go through all of the hassle.