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Just wondering who in the UK has bought from 'classicshaving.com'
I'm considering buying my first str8 from them and a strop from Tony, but I'm wondering how many of you got hit with import duty and VAT? :w
Looking to spend around $130 on a str8, which would include honing by Lynn. I'll have to look at Tony's prices when he re-opens his shop front on 20/04/08 :bow
Haven't bought from classicshaving yet, although I've filled up my basket loadsa times then had 2nd/3rd/4th/5th thoughts as I battled with the RAD.
I have been hit with import duty, though. Can't recall if it was on Tony's strops or Howard's stones.
Yeah, I've done exactly the same thing. It's not just the import duty and VAT that stops me from placing the order, it's how much will the post office want for collecting these taxes for HM Customs and Excise? :shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by welshwarrior
If it's exessive, then there will be no financial insentive for buying from the US.
If I understand things correctly, import duty is 3.5% of the purchase price (Including postage and packaging). If however, the 3.5% comes to less than £7 it is waived and I would only have to pay VAT at 17.5%.
Sorry to be useless, but I honestly couldn't remember. If they'd have said £100 I prolly wouldn't have blinked as I tapped my PIN in cos I was so excited waiting for them to arrive!
I seem to recall around £16.... :shrug:
I've used them about 15 times. Every time they ship direct to me (about 10 times) I get stung for import taxes/duty due to the massive and eficiant customs declaration sticker.
However every time they send a razor via Lynn (4 or 5 times), it arrives far more discretely packaged and seems to come in under the radar. ;)
So buy paying for honing it usually works out cheaper, in my experience.
:w
Tut Tut! :nono:
That's a very useful piece of information. :tu
So by sending a razor to Lynn for honing it could actually work out that I get the honing for FREE! :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao I LOVE IT!
I think I might well pull the trigger in the morning.
Well, going by my experience yes. But please don't take that as gospel obviously!
:w
Couldn't wait 'til tomorrow.
Here's what I've ordered Thiers-Issard "Evide Sonnant Extra" Black, 5/8 with sharpening by Lynn. Woo Hoo!:D
Postal charges for delivering to customs and then to yourself is around £8 but on priority items it is around £13 - check the Royal Mail site it has all the details. Do you have any relatives friends in states? It can often be a healthier way to work. The most annoying part of the customs deal for me is the long wait as it sits on a desk - sometimes a couple of weeks - and the exorbitant extra charge by the PO for holding it up for so long. Price is still right stateside rather than euro though, no matter what.
Same experience here, although I have only purchased from them once. Lynn, identifies the the item purchased as Razor sharpening (A service), whereas classic shaving labels it as shaving supplies (Actual goods). I think this may be why I didn't get hit for any charges when it was delivered via Lynn. And as far as I can see, no one is actually tricking the system (ie. no lies have been told), it just works out this way.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steelforge
As for customs charges, there are several categories which determine the level of VAT and/or Duty to be paid on an item. My items from classic shaving (Which arrived seperately), seem to have incurred VAT at 17.5% and no Duty charges. But the post office do charge a flat rate of 7 pounds for collecting the VAT for customs and excise.
Looks like you should be OK though.
Makar,
Thanks for that. Works out that with honing it was about £64, so I only run the risk of a few £ more for the vat etc. Not too bad compared to UK prices.
Let us know how long it takes to come.
You should be fine. Look on the bright side, I have a Tim Zowada on the way from Classicshaving right now, I'm going to get reamed soooooo badly on that one! :gthQuote:
Originally Posted by Black Beard
Should send it to Lynn for quality inspection......ahem!!
I'll let you all know how long it takes to arrive and whether the sharpening routine works out :w
I'm going to have to be the bearer of bad news on two counts with my interntional shipping.
First, I do use the required customs forms and must declare exactly what is in the box which means duties and VAT, sorry.
Second, and most significant is when I reopen I will be forced to switch to International Priority Insured mail rather than First Class International as I used before. The previous shipping did save my customers money and I personally covered the value of lost goods in transit. I had no lost items in 3 years so we all won......until this year. As of today I have paid back $470 in losses for shipments that did not arrive just since January. I won't go into my profit level per sale but lets just say that for me, selling international this year has been a break even favor at this point. The only way I will continue is to let the Postal service pay for losses by changing my mailing methods. I have also been covering the 2.5% Paypal currency exchange fees on top of their usual 3% + $0.30 per transaction.
What this means is where a strop used to ship for $17, it will now sadly rise to $28 with insurance included. It will get there faster but if lost I don't go broke. Several strops together will run even higher.
I do apologize for the changes but just cannot afford to loose any more on international sales.
Sorry guys,
Tony
Cheers for the update Tony. IMO your strops are still well worth the money, even at the slightly increased shipping price. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Miller
Yes, thank you for that update Tony. It is greatly appreciated.
I don't think any apology is necessary though. I and other members would not wish to see you loosing money when items are lost in transit. After all, this is beyond your control and you are trying to run a business to put bread on the table.
A few $'s extra to import one is not going to be a deal breaker. It will still be money wisely spent.
You have a huge following on this forum and B & B, that speaks volumes.
I will certainly be contacting you shortly after you re-open to place an order. :bow
Oh what a lovely surprise, I arrive home from work to find a letter from Her Majestys Revenue and Customs. :rolleyes:
So, the painful details.
One TZ razor ordered from Classicshaving. £312.67 ($624.04)
Import Duty. £11.33 ($22.61)
VAT. £55.57 ($110.91)
Clearance Fee. £13.50 ($26.94) basically for writing me a letter
Which means the fees alone totalled £80.40 ($160.48)!! :eek: :cen
Thank you UK government. :cry:
I definitely should have sent it for honing! :roflmao
I feel your pain. Erodes all the benefits of a favourable ER.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steelforge
Okay, I say we go live in the woods, pay no taxes and fight the sheriff, who's with me?!
I've bought a few Razors from Classicshaving also ... sent them to lynn to avoid customs charges ...:w oops I mean honing ..
I've been stung a few times buying razors and other items from the states .
Paying for Lynn's superior honing service not only saved me money but also guaranteed all my razors were starting there service with a great edge ..
:tu