Freight - shipping those extra gifts home

[Sharon/Mark]

Hi
I am travelling to the US just before xmas and I plan to buy most of my presents while I am out there, which leads me to my dilemma, I know my lugguage allowance with Virgin however if I wanted to bring some bigger, bulkier weighter items back into the UK what is the best way to do it

I have been hit previously when purchasing things on ebay with import taxes which significantly push the prices up if you ship anything back into the UK, does anyone know a way to legally avoid this

Or are you simply more sensible to pay the excess baggage on the flight and make a decision when you come back into the UK whether you have to declare it or not

Incidently does anyone know roughly what you can expect to pay on excess baggage per KG?

Thank you guys in advance

 

[Claire L]

Virgin charge per extra bag and it is currently about $115.

Claire

 

[Sharon/Mark]

Hi Claire thank you for the info, I assume therefore that is for baggage up to the 23KG's?

 

[Claire L]

Just found this on the VA website -

Bookings made since the 1st April 2006 are subject to new free baggage allowances. Economy passengers travelling on flights to/from the USA, Caribbean, Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica and Nigeria wishing to check in baggage weighing between 23kg and 32kg are subject to an excess charge of GBP20 / USD35 per piece. Additional pieces over your free allowance are charged at the normal rates.

Claire

 

[Claire L]

I think the excess baggae charge for a per piece is for upto 32kg.

Claire

 

[Sharon/Mark]

Thank you - since discovering this website 6 months before my Disney Wedding it has been a source of invaluable information and advice

Greatly appreciated

 

[Laurafoster]

Hi
I am travelling to the US just before xmas and I plan to buy most of my presents while I am out there, which leads me to my dilemma, I know my lugguage allowance with Virgin however if I wanted to bring some bigger, bulkier weighter items back into the UK what is the best way to do it

I have been hit previously when purchasing things on ebay with import taxes which significantly push the prices up if you ship anything back into the UK, does anyone know a way to legally avoid this

Or are you simply more sensible to pay the excess baggage on the flight and make a decision when you come back into the UK whether you have to declare it or not

Incidently does anyone know roughly what you can expect to pay on excess baggage per KG?

Thank you guys in advance

Just a thought but my friend did this last year and decided NOT to declare all her shopping, got a random bag search at customs and got stuck with a HUGE fine plus having to pay the duty on everything.

One way you can get round it, although not strictly legal!!! Last year when i went i brought clothes and toys etc - but as i knew i wouldnt be able to return things anyway i took all the labels etc off them - this works well with the clothes as i was also subject to a random bag search but did not get fined as they thought all the clothes etc were not new!

 

[Shooby doo]

One not so legal way to do it,as I'm assuming that you are talking about stuff that won't fit in a suitcase (?) ,you would have to mail it to yourself as a present/sample under the value of $50,obviously you can't then insure it for more but thems the risks! In future on E-bay ask the seller what Info they put on the custom's declaration,you'll be surprised at how many will "fudge" the price to under $50!
HTH SD

 

[wendy_uk]

What about UPS?

 

[Goofyish]

A 5 pound parcel with US Mail via airmail would be $33.74 and take 4-10 days.

UPS would be a lot more than that