Anyone imported a phone from America? (eBay)

Rush · 28-12-2013, 12:25

I'm wanting to buy a phone on EBay from America, the seller says the shipping costs does not cover custom, import charges, vat ect..

The phone is costing £450.00, does anyone know how much it will roughly cost in customs?

qasdfdsaq · 28-12-2013, 12:27

http://www.dutycalculator.com/

I've imported cheap and expensive things several times.

It's up to the seller how much of the item's true value they mark on the package. They can sometimes lie or, ahem... be "economical with the truth" to save you money.

corf · 28-12-2013, 12:39

While you may already have this covered, some of the networks in the USA are very different technologies to Europe and phones designed for use on Verizon or Sprint often do not run the GSM frequencies required in Europe.

neo_wales · 28-12-2013, 14:10

Phones are duty exempt so its £450 @ £20 postage with no insurance plus 20% VAT = £570 plus a fee from the carrier or post office to collect the extra so your £450 phone is nearer £600.

http://www.dutycalculator.com/

BT@home · 28-12-2013, 14:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

http://www.dutycalculator.com/

I've imported cheap and expensive things several times.

It's up to the seller how much of the item's true value they mark on the package. They can sometimes lie or, ahem... be "economical with the truth" to save you money.

What they write on the box has no bearing on what you may get charged. Even if they write gift you can still get stung for the full cost.

qasdfdsaq · 28-12-2013, 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT@home

What they write on the box has no bearing on what you may get charged. Even if they write gift you can still get stung for the full cost.

The only way they know the cost is if the sender has written it on the box, or they open and spot check the contents which is very rare.

iangrad · 28-12-2013, 18:30

Why risk importing a phone ? they are as cheap as chips in the UK and work right out of the box --- so many issues with wrong charger , keyboard , spellchecker & network settings etc etc .

Pointless exercise ?

qasdfdsaq · 28-12-2013, 18:50

Charger - almost all USB anyway.

Keyboard, spellchecker, network settings - all customizable on Android. I don't use standard built-in ones for any of those.

finbaar · 28-12-2013, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Charger - almost all USB anyway.

Keyboard, spellchecker, network settings - all customizable on Android. I don't use standard built-in ones for any of those.

Which phone are you looking at?

qasdfdsaq · 28-12-2013, 23:13

I'm not looking at any phone in particular, the OP didn't state any particular make or model of phone.

What I said applies to all Android handsets.

neo_wales · 29-12-2013, 04:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

The only way they know the cost is if the sender has written it on the box, or they open and spot check the contents which is very rare.

Its happening more and more these days so not worth the risk on an expensive item.

henrywilliams58 · 01-01-2014, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by neo_wales

Its happening more and more these days so not worth the risk on an expensive item.

BIB Agree.

I bought a Note II clone phone from China and they put MP3 player on the box costing $20.

If it is delivered via DHL etc you are likely to have it intercepted by the delivery firm's own controllers. They charge a fee for customs clearance.

So better to have it sent via post with tracking.

jonner101 · 02-01-2014, 16:40

I've heard too many horror stories of people buying phones from abroad and in this case are you really going to save that much money?

28-12-2013, 12:25	#1
Rush Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 420	Anyone imported a phone from America? (eBay) I'm wanting to buy a phone on EBay from America, the seller says the shipping costs does not cover custom, import charges, vat ect.. The phone is costing £450.00, does anyone know how much it will roughly cost in customs?

28-12-2013, 12:27	#2
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	http://www.dutycalculator.com/ I've imported cheap and expensive things several times. It's up to the seller how much of the item's true value they mark on the package. They can sometimes lie or, ahem... be "economical with the truth" to save you money.

28-12-2013, 12:39	#3
corf Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,458	While you may already have this covered, some of the networks in the USA are very different technologies to Europe and phones designed for use on Verizon or Sprint often do not run the GSM frequencies required in Europe.

28-12-2013, 14:10	#4
neo_wales Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Wales/Gran Canaria Posts: 8,298	Phones are duty exempt so its £450 @ £20 postage with no insurance plus 20% VAT = £570 plus a fee from the carrier or post office to collect the extra so your £450 phone is nearer £600. http://www.dutycalculator.com/

28-12-2013, 14:51	#5
BT@home Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,911	Quote: Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq http://www.dutycalculator.com/ I've imported cheap and expensive things several times. It's up to the seller how much of the item's true value they mark on the package. They can sometimes lie or, ahem... be "economical with the truth" to save you money. What they write on the box has no bearing on what you may get charged. Even if they write gift you can still get stung for the full cost.

28-12-2013, 15:31	#6
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Quote: Originally Posted by BT@home What they write on the box has no bearing on what you may get charged. Even if they write gift you can still get stung for the full cost. The only way they know the cost is if the sender has written it on the box, or they open and spot check the contents which is very rare.

28-12-2013, 18:30	#7
iangrad Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 772	Why risk importing a phone ? they are as cheap as chips in the UK and work right out of the box --- so many issues with wrong charger , keyboard , spellchecker & network settings etc etc . Pointless exercise ?

28-12-2013, 18:50	#8
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	Charger - almost all USB anyway. Keyboard, spellchecker, network settings - all customizable on Android. I don't use standard built-in ones for any of those.

28-12-2013, 20:33	#9
finbaar Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 3,921	Quote: Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq Charger - almost all USB anyway. Keyboard, spellchecker, network settings - all customizable on Android. I don't use standard built-in ones for any of those. Which phone are you looking at?

28-12-2013, 23:13	#10
qasdfdsaq Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,286	I'm not looking at any phone in particular, the OP didn't state any particular make or model of phone. What I said applies to all Android handsets.

29-12-2013, 04:43	#11
neo_wales Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Wales/Gran Canaria Posts: 8,298	Quote: Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq The only way they know the cost is if the sender has written it on the box, or they open and spot check the contents which is very rare. Its happening more and more these days so not worth the risk on an expensive item.

01-01-2014, 23:01	#12
henrywilliams58 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: London Posts: 4,710	Quote: Originally Posted by neo_wales Its happening more and more these days so not worth the risk on an expensive item. BIB Agree. I bought a Note II clone phone from China and they put MP3 player on the box costing $20. If it is delivered via DHL etc you are likely to have it intercepted by the delivery firm's own controllers. They charge a fee for customs clearance. So better to have it sent via post with tracking.

02-01-2014, 16:40	#13
jonner101 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,153	I've heard too many horror stories of people buying phones from abroad and in this case are you really going to save that much money?

DS Forums

Anyone imported a phone from America? (eBay)