Buying toys from the US of A

[vladcjelli]

With Christmas around the corner, and more pressing both my kids birthdays in the next couple of months, thoughts have turned to toys for both of them.

They've had Fisher Price Imaginext stuff before now (a submarine, space shuttle and an aircraft carrier) and we'd like to get them some more bits and bobs to go with it.

Unfortunately, the range we get in the UK seems to be a watered down, incomplete set of toys.

The one we're after is the Robot police headquarters.

Available sometimes in the link above at 80 quid.

Now, it's not that I don't want to treat them, but I know this toy is available in the USA for $35! Linky

Is there a simple way to buy stuff from America? Seem to think that there aren't many firms that ship internationally.

If anyone has any useful advice (or is willing to buy it and ship it over ) I'd appreciate it.

[PanzerCommander]

From experience buying car parts; if the toy store will ship internationally you won't have a problem. Some won't accept UK credit cards though so you'll have to use paypal and buy online.

You obviously can't wait for a container courier so it would have to go by air, USPS (US Postal Service) and parcel force on this end provide the cheapest option but you might have to wait three weeks after ordering. Using DHL, FED-EX or UPS means quick times but added cost.

Once it arrives in the UK you will pay VAT on top of the price of the item plus shipping and if it is over a certain value you'll pay import duty on the item plus shipping, but the VAT will be on top of item, shipping and import duty.

[S8QUATTRO]

I think there was a service online where you can order and have it delivered to a US mailbox, the firm then consolidates orders and ships to the UK. I will see if I can remember what it called.

[Nickyboy]

I looked into using that service but the charges were horrific, even more than if you ordered it direct and shipped to the UK

[joebongo]

S8QUATTRO said:

I think there was a service online where you can order and have it delivered to a US mailbox, the firm then consolidates orders and ships to the UK. I will see if I can remember what it called.

Shiptome was the one I used to get proper cowboy jeans from the US.

[whirligig]

My sister's used this site to get stuff from the US sent to Oz - might be worth looking into.

http://www.hopshopgo.com/hopshopgo/start-shopping....

[Riknos]

I had a bike rear fairing shipped from the US (at about ~£18) and then the custom charges were about £10 on top - It will have been bigger than the toys, but maybe not as heavy? so as a very loose guideline I think you'll still be quids in!