Buyer beware!!

Vince2 · Post by **Vince2** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:47 pm

Just been to the post office to collect a new snorkel for my H2 from the States. Card left on Saturday saying 'Duty to pay' Thought crap, I've got to pay VAT. I had payed £24 + £6 shipping, so expected to pay about £4.80 VAT. Horrified to find that the Post Office put £8.00 'Handling charge' on it too so total to pay £12.80!!!!!!

Apparantly if it's over £18, they have to charge VAT AND post office then screw you with this £8.00 handling fee. All I can suggest is ask the place you buy off to put value as £17.99 or lower.

kas750 · Post by **kas750** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 5:51 pm

Tell us something we don't know

...been reamed myself a few times..i try to avoid buying states whenever possible...the good days of buying parts from the states cheap are long behind us now!!!

Vince2 · Post by **Vince2** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:01 pm

Apparantly the limit is £18 from a trader for new stuff and £40 from private sellers

Olde Coney · Post by **Olde Coney** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:21 pm

kas750 wrote:Tell us something we don't know ...been reamed myself a few times..i try to avoid buying states whenever possible...the good days of buying parts from the states cheap are long behind us now!!!

same here, shafted on many occasions...... it would have been cheaper to buy one of those shite 1960s GPO Bantams

They've got ya by the bollox, if you want your parts you WILL pay

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 6:43 pm

Is there no way of getting out of the Post Offices handling charge ??

I can live with the VAT, we all have to pay taxes (even though I don't like em) or we have fook all facilities, but paying an extra 8 quid to an outfit that operates a virtual moratorium really pisses me off.

sweet angel · Post by **sweet angel** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:41 pm

The £8 fee is a customs clearance fee. It is charged on all imports into the uk where there is duty and/or vat applied. Every freight Company that deals with delivering imports in the uk has to charge this as this goes towards the cost of the customs office and officers dealing with your parcel.

It's a lot more expensive when you import pallets of goods like I do at work and I bet containers cost even more to clear

Charlie · Post by **Charlie** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:48 pm

That clears that up then - thanks S.A.

SAM · Post by **SAM** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 8:08 pm

Yes been caught a few times. Its a rip off but thats it!

robh1f · Post by **robh1f** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:22 pm

I've been caught twice and 2nd time was sellers fault he should have sent part to address in US but "forgot" so paid on his part as he sent it to me for US shipping rate. ALWAYS ask seller if they will put $25 or lower before you buy....most will

some won't

I only deal now with those who will

irhobotolo · Post by **irhobotolo** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 8:36 pm

Ask the seller to label it as "old motorcycle part" or even better "gift". Some will do it and others wont. I had a ""gift"" of a full triple exhaust system in a wooden packing crate from California and paid no tax and it wasnt even my birthday.

I have also been raped for tax more than once by parcel force.

robh1f · Post by **robh1f** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:31 pm

WOW a full exhaust system!!! Nice work

mal71 · Post by **mal71** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:57 pm

I have just had a ignition system sent over for my Drag Bike. Duty , VAT and handling put another £142.00 on top of the initial cost and shipping.

At least Dick Turpin wore a FU*^ING MASK. These bastards are as brazen as they come

Hal · Post by **Hal** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 12:32 pm

mark sav wrote:that must be one fancy ignition system malc! whats wrong with points like i have on all my bikes

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Hal · Post by **Hal** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:42 am

Oh yeah Savman!.........

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robh1f · Post by **robh1f** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 10:58 pm

Nice work Hal !!!