Customs + Parcelforce.

[Fragil1ty]

Hey guys, was wondering if someone who has more knowledge on this subject could help me out.

Basically, what's happened is the following, I've gone ahead and bought a HHKB Pro 2 from a place called Smartimports, they've a very good site and help you when they can and what not. I bought the more expensive shipping (EMS I believe it's called?) and everything seemed to be going well, but then I thought about the customs and how much it's going to cost etc and I started to get slightly concerned.

Now the guys over at smartimports told me that they marked it as a USB keyboard worth 4500Y which equates to around £25.82, so obviously if that managed to get through customs, I'd be paying little to no custom charges and probably just the handling fee.

So everything was going semi-well I suppose until I noticed this in the tracking information:

15-07-2014 00:53 International Hub Revised charges to be paid

With doing research, I've found out it could be one of two things;

a.) They've looked inside the package, re-evaluated the package and now I'm going to be charged a lot more than previously anticipated.

or

b.) They've charged me a lot but then before leaving customs, they've realised an error and I'm to be charged less.

I'm just slightly anxious at the moment because I don't want to be paying some huge customs bill when I've already paid so much for the keyboard/shipping etc.

Does anyone have any more knowledge than me on this subject? I'd be extremely grateful.

 

[Fragil1ty]

You'll need to pay custom fees as its over £18quid, if they weren't paid. If they've realized you've got a much more expensive keyboard in there then unlucky and cough up.

KaHn

Do you know anything about the revised charges? that's the thing that has me baffled.

 

[Fragil1ty]

I wouldn't worry about the revised charges message in the tracking. I think every time I've ordered something which has gone through Customs I have had that and it never indicated an issue by the time it's got to me.

There has been nothing indicated on the paperwork showing an actual change so I suspect it is actually changing the charging to Customs + Parcelforce fee instead of just Customs alone.

Oh okay, that makes sense, well a lot more sense anyhow.

This is why things appear such a bargain when buying abroad... you are liable for 20% VAT plus Duty / Admin charges when applicable.

You may still not be charged anything, but always allow for the charges, you are after all really meant to pay them when the system works as it should


When buying goods to resell as a business I actually despair when I don't get charged as I should as it creates a massive headache in sorting it out. (I want to be charged!!), those Chinese sellers are useless at marking parcels correctly

Yeah, I paid like 180 quid for the keyboard + shipping and he marked it down for me, as he's an American who operates through Japan or whatever, but I'm just curious is all.

 

[Fragil1ty]

@Flukester Oh I agree absolutely ... always work on the principal that you will be charged (including the admin fee) when deciding to import something as it is a "bargain" and then it's just a nice bonus if you aren't.


It's slightly different if you can only get something by ordering internationally but in that case you still need to make the same judgement to decide whether it is affordable.

What is this admin fee exactly? I don't think I've heard that term much.

Do you know what Parcelforces handling fee is? Last time I used their services, it was 8 GBP, is that still the same?

 

[Fragil1ty]

You are paying for them providing the service of clearing the package through Customs and paying any charges in advance for you. This is classed as the admin/handling fee in this case and is charged by all Courier/Postal services on packages which generate Customs fees when they enter the UK.

Last time I had a Parcelforce fee I think it was £12 but I could be wrong as it was a few months ago.

Oh okay man, thanks a lot.

 

[Fragil1ty]

I just got a £28 bill for $175 item ($15 shipping), £8 was handling charge.

I am not sure why you are surprised at the charges, if you are caught. I always buy things abroad on the proviso that I will get caught and take that into account when compared to UK prices. I would also never ask them to adjust the value of the custom form to suit!

Never said I was surprised at the changes, I didn't know what revised charges to be paid meant and I also didn't ask them to adjust prices so that it can get through customs cheaper.

I asked him if he an inkling of how much the custom charges were going to be as I've never dealt with such a high value product before, I normally keep my international transactions <150gbp.

Was just concerned encase I was going to be hit with some massive 50GPB+ bill, if that's the case fine, then obviously I'm going to pay it, just thought that someone here may or may not have more insight on the subject than myself.

But thanks for your input.