Re: New York Lesley`s trip

[Guest guest]

>

> DH nearly faints every time I mention the shopping, in case he has to

> charter an aircraft to get us all back home again but we're also going

> to be staying on Long Island and in the Catskill Mountains where the

> credit cards will have a chance to cool down!!

>

> Lesley

Sounds a brill trip Lesley!

The trick is to take one suitcase inside another on the outward trip -

i.e. 1 case of clothes for you and DH together. We did that for our

trip to NY....but surprisingly came back with the suitcase still inside

the other, as I didn`t buy much!

Or just take 1 case and buy another out there!

Barbara

Barbara

[Guest guest]

Sounds a brill trip Lesley!

> The trick is to take one suitcase inside another on the outward trip

-

> i.e. 1 case of clothes for you and DH together. We did that for our

> trip to NY....but surprisingly came back with the suitcase still

inside

> the other, as I didn`t buy much!

> Or just take 1 case and buy another out there!

> Barbara

>

> Barbara

On my recent trip to NY I took a suitcase inside another suitcase, and

STILL had to buy a third suitcase to take all the shopping home!

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

Ruthie wrote:

> On my recent trip to NY I took a suitcase inside another suitcase,

and

> STILL had to buy a third suitcase to take all the shopping home!

Crumbs - it must cost you a fortune in duty and VAT when you arrived

back in the UK.

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

Ruthie wrote:

> On my recent trip to NY I took a suitcase inside another suitcase,

and

> STILL had to buy a third suitcase to take all the shopping home!

Crumbs - it must cost you a fortune in duty and VAT when you arrived

back in the UK.

--

Sue

[Guest guest]

I was just thinking the same, Sue. I used to get really anal about this

type of thing and would stick religiously to my ?140 limit (or whatever it

is). Now I hate shopping in the US so much that it isn't an issue at all.

But isn't this talk all academic anyway - with an exchange rate of

$1.30-something, the prices can't be very attractive. I'm certainly

looking forward to spending my (relatively) big bucks in the UK though next

month. Must research the duty free allowance into the US - I think it is

$600 per person, so $3600 for the family - I think we'll be safe, LOL.

Thinking about buying stuff overseas has reminded me that dh bought a

couple of boxes of chocolate when he was in Brussels last week, and I still

have one unopened!!!

Joyce

Re: Re: New York Lesley`s trip

Ruthie wrote:

> On my recent trip to NY I took a suitcase inside another suitcase,

and

> STILL had to buy a third suitcase to take all the shopping home!

Crumbs - it must cost you a fortune in duty and VAT when you arrived

back in the UK.

[Guest guest]

I was just thinking the same, Sue. I used to get really anal about this

type of thing and would stick religiously to my ?140 limit (or whatever it

is). Now I hate shopping in the US so much that it isn't an issue at all.

But isn't this talk all academic anyway - with an exchange rate of

$1.30-something, the prices can't be very attractive. I'm certainly

looking forward to spending my (relatively) big bucks in the UK though next

month. Must research the duty free allowance into the US - I think it is

$600 per person, so $3600 for the family - I think we'll be safe, LOL.

Thinking about buying stuff overseas has reminded me that dh bought a

couple of boxes of chocolate when he was in Brussels last week, and I still

have one unopened!!!

Joyce

Re: Re: New York Lesley`s trip

Ruthie wrote:

> On my recent trip to NY I took a suitcase inside another suitcase,

and

> STILL had to buy a third suitcase to take all the shopping home!

Crumbs - it must cost you a fortune in duty and VAT when you arrived

back in the UK.

[Guest guest]

I was just thinking the same, Sue. I used to get really anal about this

type of thing and would stick religiously to my ?140 limit (or whatever it

is). Now I hate shopping in the US so much that it isn't an issue at all.

But isn't this talk all academic anyway - with an exchange rate of

$1.30-something, the prices can't be very attractive. I'm certainly

looking forward to spending my (relatively) big bucks in the UK though next

month. Must research the duty free allowance into the US - I think it is

$600 per person, so $3600 for the family - I think we'll be safe, LOL.

Thinking about buying stuff overseas has reminded me that dh bought a

couple of boxes of chocolate when he was in Brussels last week, and I still

have one unopened!!!

Joyce

Re: Re: New York Lesley`s trip

Ruthie wrote:

> On my recent trip to NY I took a suitcase inside another suitcase,

and

> STILL had to buy a third suitcase to take all the shopping home!

Crumbs - it must cost you a fortune in duty and VAT when you arrived

back in the UK.

[Guest guest]

> > On my recent trip to NY I took a suitcase inside another suitcase,

> and

> > STILL had to buy a third suitcase to take all the shopping home!

>

> Crumbs - it must cost you a fortune in duty and VAT when you arrived

> back in the UK.

>

> --

> Sue

Not a penny. Weren't overweight.

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

> > On my recent trip to NY I took a suitcase inside another suitcase,

> and

> > STILL had to buy a third suitcase to take all the shopping home!

>

> Crumbs - it must cost you a fortune in duty and VAT when you arrived

> back in the UK.

>

> --

> Sue

Not a penny. Weren't overweight.

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

> > On my recent trip to NY I took a suitcase inside another suitcase,

> and

> > STILL had to buy a third suitcase to take all the shopping home!

>

> Crumbs - it must cost you a fortune in duty and VAT when you arrived

> back in the UK.

>

> --

> Sue

Not a penny. Weren't overweight.

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

But isn't this talk all academic anyway - with an exchange rate of

> $1.30-something, the prices can't be very attractive. I'm certainly

> looking forward to spending my (relatively) big bucks in the UK

though next

> month. Must research the duty free allowance into the US - I think

it is

> $600 per person, so $3600 for the family - I think we'll be safe,

LOL.

I found most things were dollar for pound. ie I paid $100 for an item

which would cost me £100 in the UK. ie a beautiful two or three piece

suit would cost me about $90. And it was nothing I could have found

in the UK.

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

But isn't this talk all academic anyway - with an exchange rate of

> $1.30-something, the prices can't be very attractive. I'm certainly

> looking forward to spending my (relatively) big bucks in the UK

though next

> month. Must research the duty free allowance into the US - I think

it is

> $600 per person, so $3600 for the family - I think we'll be safe,

LOL.

I found most things were dollar for pound. ie I paid $100 for an item

which would cost me £100 in the UK. ie a beautiful two or three piece

suit would cost me about $90. And it was nothing I could have found

in the UK.

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

But isn't this talk all academic anyway - with an exchange rate of

> $1.30-something, the prices can't be very attractive. I'm certainly

> looking forward to spending my (relatively) big bucks in the UK

though next

> month. Must research the duty free allowance into the US - I think

it is

> $600 per person, so $3600 for the family - I think we'll be safe,

LOL.

I found most things were dollar for pound. ie I paid $100 for an item

which would cost me £100 in the UK. ie a beautiful two or three piece

suit would cost me about $90. And it was nothing I could have found

in the UK.

Ruthie

[Guest guest]

If your shopping amounted to less than ?145 then you wouldn't have owed

anything. It's nothing to do with weight - that's just a concern of the

airline, not HM Customs and Excise. Here are the duty-free allowances from

their website:

The customs allowances

For travellers arriving from outside the EU

(including the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar)

200 cigarettes; or

100 cigarillos; or

50 cigars; or

250 gms of tobacco.

2 litres of still table wine.

1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume; or

2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs.

60cc/ml of perfume.

250cc/ml of toilet water.

?145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs.

Joyce

-----

Not a penny. Weren't overweight.

Ruthie

*** NCT enquiry line - 0 ***

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[Guest guest]

If your shopping amounted to less than ?145 then you wouldn't have owed

anything. It's nothing to do with weight - that's just a concern of the

airline, not HM Customs and Excise. Here are the duty-free allowances from

their website:

The customs allowances

For travellers arriving from outside the EU

(including the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar)

200 cigarettes; or

100 cigarillos; or

50 cigars; or

250 gms of tobacco.

2 litres of still table wine.

1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume; or

2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs.

60cc/ml of perfume.

250cc/ml of toilet water.

?145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs.

Joyce

-----

Not a penny. Weren't overweight.

Ruthie

*** NCT enquiry line - 0 ***

Live chat http://www.yahoogroups.com/chat/nct-coffee

Have you found out about all the other groups for the NCT online?

[Guest guest]

If your shopping amounted to less than ?145 then you wouldn't have owed

anything. It's nothing to do with weight - that's just a concern of the

airline, not HM Customs and Excise. Here are the duty-free allowances from

their website:

The customs allowances

For travellers arriving from outside the EU

(including the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar)

200 cigarettes; or

100 cigarillos; or

50 cigars; or

250 gms of tobacco.

2 litres of still table wine.

1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume; or

2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs.

60cc/ml of perfume.

250cc/ml of toilet water.

?145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs.

Joyce

-----

Not a penny. Weren't overweight.

Ruthie

*** NCT enquiry line - 0 ***

Live chat http://www.yahoogroups.com/chat/nct-coffee

Have you found out about all the other groups for the NCT online?

[Guest guest]

If you are buying something that you can't get in the UK, that's

different. But your $90 suit would have cost over GBP90, once you

take into account NY sales tax, UK duty, UK VAT and the exchange

rate. That's only if your total purchase amounted to over GBP145, of

course. If you can stay below that, then it looks like you found

something unique that was a bargain to boot!

We used to get quite a few children's clothes (Baby Gap, OshKosh,

Gymboree etc) from the US which were quite a good deal because they

only have about 3% duty and are zero-rate VAT. Then usually we could

avoid the duty as you can get 3 or 4 outfits and still go through the

green channel.

Joyce

>

> I found most things were dollar for pound. ie I paid $100 for an

item

> which would cost me £100 in the UK. ie a beautiful two or three

piece

> suit would cost me about $90. And it was nothing I could have

found

> in the UK.

>

> Ruthie

[Guest guest]

Joyce wrote:

> Must research the duty free allowance into the US - I think it is

> $600 per person, so $3600 for the family - I think we'll be safe,

LOL.

One advantage of taking Steffi everywhere is anything bought for her

falls under her own allowance! We have always picked up lots of

clothes for her in the US but I've found some things e.g. Gap basics,

aren't much cheaper anyway.

Computer equip is good as it doesn't attract duty, only VAT at 17.5%

and works out cheaper as long as, in some cases, you don't go for big

names e.g. Sony, who seem to have a worldwide pricing policy. Seems

to me the only way to win with them is if one country is bundling

something special into the package

Hadn't realised the USD/GBP exchange rate was so bad these days.

--

Sue

Melbourne, Australia

[Guest guest]

Hi all

> What's the situation on buying stuff from the US by mail order (says she,

> having accidentally won an ebay auction whilst under the alfluence last

> night)?

Depends on what it is... I think current Customs rules allow you to import up

to £18 worth of goods tax free. After that, you pay tax (duty and VAT).

DON'T use UPS or FEDEX to get your goods. I've found that they charge a lot

of money for the paperwork. What paperwork I ask, as when sending US Post

Office, there is very little in the way of paperwork. US Post Office offer

a variety of services - - the fastest cost effectively is their 10 day

service.

Payment is usually quite easy, most US stores take Visa. For an auction it's

a bit harder - PayPal (www.paypal.com) now do International accounts.

If you want speedy delivery... then try and get the company/individual to

send the goods by DHL World Mail. This will (if you are lucky) route your

package via Holland. When I've had packages this way, there has been no

custom payments!

Good Luck. It's usually quite easy to get things Mail Order from the US, but

do be prepared for the Hidden Charges on it gets to UK Customs.

Nick

[Guest guest]

Hi all

> What's the situation on buying stuff from the US by mail order (says she,

> having accidentally won an ebay auction whilst under the alfluence last

> night)?

Depends on what it is... I think current Customs rules allow you to import up

to £18 worth of goods tax free. After that, you pay tax (duty and VAT).

DON'T use UPS or FEDEX to get your goods. I've found that they charge a lot

of money for the paperwork. What paperwork I ask, as when sending US Post

Office, there is very little in the way of paperwork. US Post Office offer

a variety of services - - the fastest cost effectively is their 10 day

service.

Payment is usually quite easy, most US stores take Visa. For an auction it's

a bit harder - PayPal (www.paypal.com) now do International accounts.

If you want speedy delivery... then try and get the company/individual to

send the goods by DHL World Mail. This will (if you are lucky) route your

package via Holland. When I've had packages this way, there has been no

custom payments!

Good Luck. It's usually quite easy to get things Mail Order from the US, but

do be prepared for the Hidden Charges on it gets to UK Customs.

Nick

[Guest guest]

Hi all

> What's the situation on buying stuff from the US by mail order (says she,

> having accidentally won an ebay auction whilst under the alfluence last

> night)?

Depends on what it is... I think current Customs rules allow you to import up

to £18 worth of goods tax free. After that, you pay tax (duty and VAT).

DON'T use UPS or FEDEX to get your goods. I've found that they charge a lot

of money for the paperwork. What paperwork I ask, as when sending US Post

Office, there is very little in the way of paperwork. US Post Office offer

a variety of services - - the fastest cost effectively is their 10 day

service.

Payment is usually quite easy, most US stores take Visa. For an auction it's

a bit harder - PayPal (www.paypal.com) now do International accounts.

If you want speedy delivery... then try and get the company/individual to

send the goods by DHL World Mail. This will (if you are lucky) route your

package via Holland. When I've had packages this way, there has been no

custom payments!

Good Luck. It's usually quite easy to get things Mail Order from the US, but

do be prepared for the Hidden Charges on it gets to UK Customs.

Nick

[Guest guest]

> If your shopping amounted to less than ?145 then you wouldn't have owed

> anything. It's nothing to do with weight - that's just a concern of the

> airline, not HM Customs and Excise. Here are the duty-free allowances from

> their website:

What's the situation on buying stuff from the US by mail order (says she,

having accidentally won an ebay auction whilst under the alfluence last night)?

Lynda

SAHM to (8), (5), Fraser (3), Callum (15/5/00)

Newsletter editor, Mid-Northumberland Branch

Area Rep, Region 7

www.familygarland.co.uk

[Guest guest]

> If your shopping amounted to less than ?145 then you wouldn't have owed

> anything. It's nothing to do with weight - that's just a concern of the

> airline, not HM Customs and Excise. Here are the duty-free allowances from

> their website:

What's the situation on buying stuff from the US by mail order (says she,

having accidentally won an ebay auction whilst under the alfluence last night)?

Lynda

SAHM to (8), (5), Fraser (3), Callum (15/5/00)

Newsletter editor, Mid-Northumberland Branch

Area Rep, Region 7

www.familygarland.co.uk

[Guest guest]

> If your shopping amounted to less than ?145 then you wouldn't have owed

> anything. It's nothing to do with weight - that's just a concern of the

> airline, not HM Customs and Excise. Here are the duty-free allowances from

> their website:

What's the situation on buying stuff from the US by mail order (says she,

having accidentally won an ebay auction whilst under the alfluence last night)?

Lynda

SAHM to (8), (5), Fraser (3), Callum (15/5/00)

Newsletter editor, Mid-Northumberland Branch

Area Rep, Region 7

www.familygarland.co.uk

[Guest guest]

If you ask the sender to mark the customs declaration 'gift' and to send any

invoice separately you will not have to pay duty or VAT

Sadly my suppliers won't do this and I regularly have to find £50 first thing in

the morning to give the postman in exchange for a parcel!

http://www.foxstitch.co.uk/

Lynda Garland wrote:

> What's the situation on buying stuff from the US by mail order (says she,

> having accidentally won an ebay auction whilst under the alfluence last

night)?

>

>