buy in the uk or usa?

hi i,m gonna buy a norton 4k-8k combo and flattening stone, i priced it at rutlands in the uk and the cost is £79 plus £5.95 p&p for both items.
i also priced at the perfect edge and the cost is $87 which is £43.79p i didnt see what p&p is to the uk, i know this seems like a no brainer but does anyone know if there would be duty to pay to customs and if it would still be cost effective to buy from the states,
maybe i could also get a yellow belgian 6"x2 with the saving.
thanks

Don't do it Tony. Even with that differential you are likely to be shafted by:

- VAT (17.5%)
- brokerage charges from Parcelforce for stumping up the VAT in advance and retrieving it from you.

With postage to add from USA, then VAT, then brokerage you're looking at £75 I reckon (I also bought my Norton combo from the US so this is from experience) -- and don't forget you have to turn up to the bloody depot in person to pay for and collect it, and it's only open office hours or for 3.78 minutes on a Saturday morning.

I have however also heard stories of people whose packages have got through without being found by the VAT man. But I've only experienced this once on a small package from the US. Everything else I've been stung for.

If you buy it from Rutlands you might end up paying a few quid more, but you'll get it quicker, without fuss, delivered to your door. Oh, and it's easier to return if for any reason you're not happy with it.

Imagine how frustrating it would be to have your new Norton held up on the last leg to you by the post office. It would be a bit like playing pretty well all game and then shipping goals in the dying minutes! ";"

Well I am from the UK, Scotland, and Im now in the usa and majurey is correct. I had reason to contact St.Gobain, who are Norton and send pictures of a 4/8k stone which had problems. The rushed me new stones and well I had to pay the duty which was approx 30 pounds, however I bought my stones from here.

http://www.classichandtools.com/acat...terstones.html

I found them easy to order and at the moment shipping is free so thats always a bonus, I ordered a 220/1000 and a 4/8k both combination stones purely because of the price and I didnt have alot of storage for them.

See what you think , you maybe surprised.

Regards,simon:tu

Tony
I said to you in that PM that Cklassic hand tools do them cheap!!!!
If you buy in the UK then do so, gamble on the VAT man if you want to have the dollars as pounds.

PuFF

Imagine how frustrating it would be to have your new Norton held up on the last leg to you by the post office. It would be a bit like playing pretty well all game and then shipping goals in the dying minutes!
ouchhh!!!! thanks majurey.

Its bad enough missing the postie when you know what it is and you missed the PO by 2 minutes.

hehe simon

right cheers everyone, i ordered one from classic hand tools for £54 so hopefully i can start honing soon.

btw if i wanted stick about the football i would stay on the footie forums!!!:nono: :D

It's the avatar, Tony. Like a red rag to a bull for some of us! :p

I bought the Norton Combination from Classic Hand tools a few weeks ago at their big tent at the Westonbirt Arboretum festival of the tree. Cost me around £47 with discount. Well pleased.

I've managed to blunt two old ebay specials with it so far!

Don't forget to lap it flat as soon as it arrives as they are not usually flat, even though they look it.

Gareth.

I prefer Shaptons but can't get them in the UK so I nearly always end up paying the £13.50 or £8 handling fee, duty and VAT! Sometimes you end up paying more for shipping and taxes than the item is worth.

Here you go :

shaptons @ Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_hi...hapton&x=0&y=0

I have not yet got to the honing stage (hell not even to the shaving one yet :cry: )

Ummmm, but Matt, that's still buying from the US. I think Murph was after UK suppliers?

Yes, UK suppliers to save shipping and tax. I do get them at a reasonable price from Japan, compared to the US prices.

Ah ok... have to admit I but most of my stuff from across the pond..

But as its amazon you may get caught with VAT, but the postage is usually reasonable.

Have you got a link to the ones from Japan ? I had been reading up on the GlassStone Shaptons which sound pretty good further down the line.

Cheers

Matt