posted on December 23, 2004 04:26:01 AM new
anyone know what the maximum amount value of merchandise you can send to the UK before they charge you customs charges?
posted on December 23, 2004 08:24:51 AM new
There are two different charges that UK buyers are liable for. CUstomes kicks in after 7.00 gbp, and then VAT kicks in after 17gbp. (1gbp = 1.90 USD) Make sure when you list value that you put USD beside the total so that there is no confusion.
Although it seems obvious.... don't include the shipping total in the total value. UK customs adds it in themselves (yes boys and girls - the UK taxes the postage that you pay here in the US) You would be surprised how many of my UK buyers have been burned by sellers that do that and end up paying tax on it twice..
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by fenix03 on Dec 23, 2004 08:33 AM ]
posted on December 24, 2004 10:33:09 AM new
Wow. Thanks for the info. I hadn't thought that the amount would be interpreted as Sterling. Of course, when you send to Canada or Australia you get the opposite effect, that is, a dollar there is less than a dollar here.
posted on December 24, 2004 10:38:59 AM new
I do have to say that as much as I like to complain about being overtaxed (and I do feel that way!) I do think about what people in Canada, Australia, and many Europeans pay, and feel a little better. I could not believe I was subject to the G&S tax in Canada of 7% for buying postage stamps, or using an internet cafe!
posted on December 25, 2004 02:52:58 AM new
Hey ebayvet, maybe so, but if my mother lived there, she wouldn't have to decide between medicine and food after having worked all her life and paying Social Security taxes here.
In case you're wondering, I send her money every month, and she does get to have both medicine AND food; imagine what would happen if I couldn't or wouldn't send it though.
Okay, I've broken one of my rules and discussed politics online. I apologize in advance -- blame the fact that my daughter got us up at 4:15 AM because she REALLY WANTED TO SEE WHAT SANTA HAD BROUGHT!
posted on December 25, 2004 05:38:29 AM new
Cash - don't get too happy about their medical system. Like anything else run by a government it is a slow moving mess. A friend of my mothers who lives in England injured her back a few months ago and can barely move with the pain. She will finally be getting in to get the MRI that will determine her course of treatment in January... four months after she called for the appointment.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on December 25, 2004 06:52:59 AM new
Fenix and others, please don't misunderstand. I am happy to live in America. However, there is a downside to our tax cuts, and they are felt by people like my mother. My wife and I happen to be lucky enough to have substantial incomes (mostly from her since I started working eBay ), and we pay less in taxes than we would in some other countries. I just wanted to make the point that there's no free lunch.
posted on December 25, 2004 07:58:54 AM new
cashinyourcloset - If your mother lived there, you would be paying for airfare to get her to the US and full cost for medical costs as you have to wait sometimes years to see a specialist in socialized medicine. It ain't all cracked up that some believe it is. Can we do better? Sure. Should we do better...you bet, especially for hard working people who deserve better. Higher taxes don't equate to better services for people though, it usually means corruption and government waste.
posted on December 25, 2004 08:33:03 AM new
my last UK customer paid less UK customs claiming she is a not for profit organisation and i think she does have an org set up for that.
As for UK citizens living on UK ss program,the last time i looked,the monthly payment is very small,like under 300 british pounds a month.
That comes to 540 now ,but back then it is 450 us dollars.
-sig file -------Life is one big happy 'All You Can Eat' buffet .
-- blame the fact that my daughter got us up at 4:15 AM because she REALLY WANTED TO SEE WHAT SANTA HAD BROUGHT!