Shipping to the UK?

[janeyb]

Has anyone ever shipped back to the uk? If so, who did they use?

Each time we go out the US we always see so much that we'd like to buy (including furniture), but never have any info on shipping. This time I'd like to go prepared!!!

Any help would be great.

 

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
We enquired once and it was going to be very expensive.That combined with import duties and VAT made it not worth considering.

Mick

 

[Amyrlin]

If you send something over that is priced ad under £18 ther is no import duty or tax.

 

[paulh]

there is a post office at the crossroads,try online for the us postal service for rates ect.you will only pay import duty if its pulled at customs
Paulh

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Janey,

I didn't add to this before as I have not got anything tangible to add really. But our friend sends us packages of nice things every once in a while from Oklahoma, and I am always horrified by the cost of the postage from US to UK (or the other way round I suppose!)

I guess the thing is that items are travelling many miles by various different postal services so I probably shouldn;t expect it to be cheap

But I would imagine that furniture would be pretty pricey to send, so unless it was something you just had to have I'm not sure it would be that great value.

Possible customs fees should also be factored in, as mentioned above.

Paul good idea to check online!

Sorry janey

Karen

 

[kristieuk]

I was surprised how expensive the US Postal Service postage rates are - I had a friend send me a magazine (just a normal sized wedding magazine), and the basic airmail postage charge was $9. I'm sure it would be cheaper for larger things if you went to Fedex or UPS or someone, but it's still going to be expensive I would think.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Actually, for funiture and items of that size, shipping is actually less, as you rent space in a container and sea ship it. You still have import duties to pay however.

 

[disneyholic family]

Actually, for funiture and items of that size, shipping is actually less, as you rent space in a container and sea ship it. You still have import duties to pay however.

as someone who unfortunately has had to do this many many many many many many times (all over the globe), i can attest to the fact that this too is very expensive......

unless there is some sort of furniture in the US that you simply cannot get in the UK (what could that possibly be???), i find it hard to believe that it would be significantly cheaper to buy it in the US and ship it yourself, adding in all the shipping headaches, insurance, worrying about it arriving in one piece, clearing it through customs and on and on and on and on...

it's a nightmare that's just not worth the effort if it's not something you have to do....

 

[PaulaSB12]

I did it last year with a cat activity centre I couldn't get one like it in this country so had it sent over from Florida. Somehow didn't think they would let it on the plane, its 6ft 3 tall!!!!!! Its expensive and not something I would do again (unless disgustingly rich) but the cats love it.

 

[jns]

I priced for a bike to be send over @ $180 - $200
and then 21% duty here in Ireland on top of that , so did not bother

BTW you can take bikes with you on planes for about €50 each way

 

[Amyrlin]

I have just checked up on the rates as I have just booked and only have a 20 kg luggage allownace

Cost for shipping some items is not too bad, $9 for up to 4lbs in weight for US postal service that takes only a few days. Envolopes can be bought cheaply at places such as Wal-Mart and also at the post office, but make sure the value is not above £18 per package otherwise there will be duty ad vat payable.

 

[disneyholic family]

I have just checked up on the rates as I have just booked and only have a 20 kg luggage allownace

Cost for shipping some items is not too bad, $9 for up to 4lbs in weight for US postal service that takes only a few days. Envolopes can be bought cheaply at places such as Wal-Mart and also at the post office, but make sure the value is not above £18 per package otherwise there will be duty ad vat payable.

4 pounds is practically nothing........how much does your airline charge for extra baggage?....it should be easy to figure out which would be cheaper....several of these less than 4 pound envelopes or one suitcase....

also if you have to keep the value under £18 , you're adding $9 on top of that amount for every envelope...that's an extraodinarily high percentage of the value to pay for shipping costs....