View Full Version : Is equipment cheaper in the USA than the UK
Hi All
Off to the States in a few weeks is camera kit cheaper over there.
cheers
Dave R
www.daveritchie.com
I Travel to the US a lot and although electrical goods are cheaper , due to the price structure and the exchange rate , you have to remember that on new goods you will be liable for import duty and VAT at British customs .
You could try having the items sent by post and labelled ''GIFT'' but the customs are wise to that loophole and regually open packages to check the contents .
Plus you have to remember that if it fails you might have to return it to the vendor due to the warrenty conditions.
Clothes ,perfume and food stuff is VAT exemp , and i think S/H goods are as well .
Not as easy as you think , but check at HEATHROW / GATWICK on goods which are tax exemp ,there are various booklets at both check ins .
B ..
Patrick
10-04-08, 09:52 PM
I Travel to the US a lot and although electrical goods are cheaper , due to the price structure and the exchange rate , you have to remember that on new goods you will be liable for import duty and VAT at British customs .
You could try having the items sent by post and labelled ''GIFT'' but the customs are wise to that loophole and regually open packages to check the contents .
Plus you have to remember that if it fails you might have to return it to the vendor due to the warrenty conditions.
Clothes ,perfume and food stuff is VAT exemp , and i think S/H goods are as well .
Not as easy as you think , but check at HEATHROW / GATWICK on goods which are tax exemp ,there are various booklets at both check ins .
B ..
Lets not forget that warranties may not be supported in the UK for goods purchased in the USA.
Patricki
Camera kit usually carries an international warrenty, Ive in the past imported lenses from various locations in the world, Ive just taken delivery of 2 nikon lenses from hong kong, 48hours by fedex, they were specified as samples for testing, so I suppose its down to the sender. Not sure how you go on through customs etc! if you are carrying them through yourself.
I beleive the american dollar is good for cheap goods, but I dont no about the taxes once you get onto english soil!
devilgas
12-04-08, 08:01 AM
uk import duty rate notes can be found on this page - http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_001454&propertyType=document
with the actual duty rates here - http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageVAT_ShowContent&id=HMCE_PROD_009989&propertyType=document
Patrick
12-04-08, 09:29 AM
I beleive the american dollar is good for cheap goods, but I dont no about the taxes once you get onto english soil!
The £ has dropped in recent weeks so the exchange against the dollar is not as good as it was. Making goods purchased in the USA possibly less attractive.
Patrick
Hi Guys
Many thanks for the input - I'll price a couple of items UK then compare in USA.
cheers
Dave R
Hi All
Off to the States in a few weeks is camera kit cheaper over there.
cheers
Dave R
www.daveritchie.com (http://www.daveritchie.com)
It depends on what you are buying and where.
I did buy a Nintendo DS Lite in Las Vegas (Frys) for US$129 (about £70) when it would have cost £99 in the UK, so I saved £29 - or about 30%. But don't expect all shops, especially ones in touristy areas, to be such good deals.
Where are you going in the States? Some states have no purchase tax, though in general sales tax is much less than our VAT.
Ian
PS Prices are often quoted excluding sales tax - so beware.
Regarding paying tax in the uk, what is to stop you buying a good lens, new camera etc and just placing it in your camera bag as if you have been using it, like not in packaging and anything like that?
I have just returned from Canada and at customs on the way back the only questions I got was off the scanner guy who had to look in my bag about the quality of printing big pictures from a high pixel digital camera. He didn't know how old any bit of my kit is and he wouldn't have known either if I had bought a brand new bit of kit and just put it in the bag with the other lenses etc.