Question for UK disney fans: shopping online

[Mrs. Darcy]

My friend lives on a military base in England (she just moved there) and she said the online shopping for the disney store adds more tax than the US tax because it's being shipped overseas. But I thought I read that the disney online store has a branch in the UK and so nothing has to be shipped overseas. Am I wrong about this??

 

[2Tiggies]

As far as I know you are correct. Merchandise for the UK and Europe Disney Stores is not imported from the US.

It does cost more to buy like for like in the UK and Europe and this has to do with exchange rates. Generally speaking the cost of living in the Eurozone/UK is higher than in the US.

I wonder if she is referring to sales tax or import duties? We have the VAT system and not a sales tax system as in the US. I know that tax rates vary from one county and state to the next, but in the UK our VAT rate on the items you would buy from a store like the Disney one is the standard 17.5%.

 

[Disneymad]

This may be a really obviously and silly question, but is she trying to buy from disneystore.com or disneystore.co.uk?

Because if she's trying to buy from .com then it's being shipped from the States - the inventories between the 2 Disney Stores are not identical and there are items you can only get from US DS and items you can only get from UK DS. If from .co.uk then it shouldn't be a problem unless there's some weird thing going on where a US military base is considered to be on US soil or something?

That's the only 2 things I can think of that could involve overseas shipping

 

[2Tiggies]

This may be a really obviously and silly question, but is she trying to buy from disneystore.com or disneystore.co.uk?

Because if she's trying to buy from .com then it's being shipped from the States - the inventories between the 2 Disney Stores are not identical and there are items you can only get from US DS and items you can only get from UK DS. If from .co.uk then it shouldn't be a problem unless there's some weird thing going on where a US military base is considered to be on US soil or something?

That's the only 2 things I can think of that could involve overseas shipping

I didn't even think of that. Overseas shipping incurs customs duties and you don't have to spend much to rack up a wicked charge I speak from experience ..... lesson learnt!

 

[Twilight Terror]

Just double check she is on the right site. The websites were updated a few months ago, and now automatically tracker your ISP and therefore direct you to the appropriate site - US ISPs go to the US site; UK ISPs go to the UK site. There are a few quirks and sometimes you will be directed to the wrong site.

If that is the case, then simply scroll to the bottom of the page and there is an option to change to the Disney Store USA/ Disney Store UK site. Since the US Disney Stores have been brought back into the company, the sites are very similar and it's easy to get confused by the two!

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Overseas shipping incurs customs duties and you don't have to spend much to rack up a wicked charge I speak from experience ..... lesson learnt!

A small piece of info I've picked up from somewhere...if buying from overseas to avoid customs charges, you can only spend £18 inc. postage.

 

[2Tiggies]

A small piece of info I've picked up from somewhere...if buying from overseas to avoid customs charges, you can only spend £18 inc. postage.

That's EXACTLY what I was referring to.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

Oh I didn't know that she may have been connecting to the US store and not the UK store. I going to tell her to check the website she uses right now! Thanks for the information!

 

[2Tiggies]

Oh I didn't know that she may have been connecting to the US store and not the UK store. I going to tell her to check the website she uses right now! Thanks for the information!

She probably would have noticed if she was connecting to the US that the prices are in US$. Still not sure what happened Let us know.

 

[dixonsontour]

I buy alot off US ebay and low value from a private seller you are fine and avoid customs charges.

Higher value is hit and miss. If the seller puts it in a priority mail envelope I always get charged customs fees.

If it comes from a company eg gymboree then yes customs fees always get charged.

Sounds like she is on the us disney store. I think they do ship to Uk but obviously will incur customs charges.

Disney UK has different stock but may have something similar. Alternatively if a kind friend buys it for her and ships to uk marked gift then there will no customs charges.

 

[todai]

My friend lives on a military base in England (she just moved there) and she said the online shopping for the disney store adds more tax than the US tax because it's being shipped overseas. But I thought I read that the disney online store has a branch in the UK and so nothing has to be shipped overseas. Am I wrong about this??

I bought DD some items last xmas off US website, not available through Disney uk store. Ended up paying an extortionate rate of extra tax (VAT) for retail costs AND shipping...the Royal Mail also kindly added a £15 service fee.

Not worth the price, unless you have a friend in the US willing to ship the item as a gift under the $50 range, including shipping. Unfortunately the UK site offers a small minority of items (many older versions) versus the HUGE selection from the US.

Good luck!

 

[Laurafoster]

Oh I didn't know that she may have been connecting to the US store and not the UK store. I going to tell her to check the website she uses right now! Thanks for the information!

She may well intentionally have gone to the US Store. It offers far more than the UK one does! I've ordered from it several times and used kind friends in the states to ship it to me!

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

Ok she didn't realize she was on the US site even though it was in dollars duh!

 

[2Tiggies]

Ok she didn't realize she was on the US site even though it was in dollars duh!

That clears it up then. BTW, it was great having you visit us on the UK forum. Please come back again!

 

[JonFozz]

I think she may be able to claim back the VAT paid as well as a US visitor?

I know that some on-line stores have special postage deals for BFPO (British Forces Post) may be US sites have the same your forces overseas?

As we say in Yorkshire if you don't ask you don't get!