Buying online from the USA?

[anonymous-user]

Hi all, the wife wants some shoes that are only available in the US for birthday. . . last year I used a 'drop shipping firm' who did the job but when I got the final bill(s) they ended up really expensive as I was charged for unwrapping, re-wrapping, posting, then got a bill from UPS for posting, taxes and import duties. . . . does anyone know how to shop without all the additions ( don't mind some but hate being taken for a ride ) Thanks in advance

[Tyre Smoke]

Will they ship to the UK? I'm guessing not as you are asking about alternatives.

Perhaps drop them an email, explaining the situation and accepting you will pay the import duties this end? If they use FedEx, which has just bought out TNT, it should be straightforward enough. You will be contacted before delivery to pay any import charges. Simple!

[Truckosaurus]

You'll always be on the hook for the duty and VAT as that's life, but if you can get it sent via the US Post Office (ie. normal post) then it stands a better chance of slipping through the net with no charges as Postman Pat is a slacker (although maybe not with a big shoe box sized parcel).

[Tyre Smoke]

Oh, I don't know! Postman Pat missed a huge box of stuff from Flying Lizard Motorsport a couple of years ago.

A shoebox should be a, err shoe in.

[anonymous-user]

Cheers everyone, the wife recons she tried asking them to post to UK and won't budge saying their goods are for domestic market only. . . . strange to me but us mere mortals aren't that privy to how the world of women work!!

[hutchst]

Why on earth would she want them if any Tina, Di or Henrietta could just buy them here?

[geeman237]

mgsontour said:

Hi all, the wife wants some shoes that are only available in the US for birthday. . . last year I used a 'drop shipping firm' who did the job but when I got the final bill(s) they ended up really expensive as I was charged for unwrapping, re-wrapping, posting, then got a bill from UPS for posting, taxes and import duties. . . . does anyone know how to shop without all the additions ( don't mind some but hate being taken for a ride ) Thanks in advance

PM me, I live in the US, happy to look into helping you out.

[CraigJ]

I use Stackry when US suppliers won’t ship to the uk. It gives you a US postal address and once it arrives you fill out the info and pick how you wan it shipping to the uk.

Vat/duty is paid at this end once delivered normally.

[h0b0]

What’s the brand? I think Amazon will deliver and they own 6PM and Zappos.

[Gareth79]

mgsontour said:

Cheers everyone, the wife recons she tried asking them to post to UK and won't budge saying their goods are for domestic market only. . . . strange to me but us mere mortals aren't that privy to how the world of women work!!

Often retailers for all sorts of things have strict instructions to not export certain brands - even if they don't have a European distributor they might be negotiating one, and will be able to say that their US retailers do not and cannot export the brand.

Which company did you use for reshipping last time? Shipito and Stackry are reasonable.

Edited by Gareth79 on Sunday 7th July 13:36

[Roo]

Speak to someone like Ron Fenton at STS Imports as he has a container of cars and bits shipped over every month.
He's not going to charge much for a sho box sized parcel in it.

[red_slr]

Both ebay and amazon now have international shipping options on a lot of items in the US.

Ebay include the tax and duty at the time of purchase. Not sure with amazon as the last few things I ordered were under the £20 limit. The last order was for some nickel paste I could not get here arrived in 3 days.

I acquired the wife some ltd edition adidas trainers via the US this way through ebay. They were BNIB.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks again lads