UK Customs and test equipment

[Charlie+]

Just ordered new on Ebay a cheap DSOscilloscope ~£300, source is China
via Hong Kong - delivery expected approx 14 days post via DHL or similar
- just wondered what can be expected as far as customs charges into UK
or whether they bother with stuff like this, I have had meters etc and
not had any charges but those were much cheaper than this is - others
must have been down this route! Thanks ...

 

[Kripton]

Just ordered new on Ebay a cheap DSOscilloscope ~£300, source is China
via Hong Kong - delivery expected approx 14 days post via DHL or similar
- just wondered what can be expected as far as customs charges into UK
or whether they bother with stuff like this, I have had meters etc and
not had any charges but those were much cheaper than this is - others
must have been down this route! Thanks ...

in europe, when you buy something less than €45, you are free of vat charges
if it is more, you will have some 20% vat charges on it
if it travels thought private carriers (dhl, ups, fedex) you are
certain to get vat all the time if you are close to the €45
if it is public service (usps, china post, ) you sometimes have luck...
but for £300 you are pretty sure to have a 20% bill with your packet ...
it must be almost the same rules for UK

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[N_Cook]

in europe, when you buy something less than ?45, you are free of vat charges
if it is more, you will have some 20% vat charges on it
if it travels thought private carriers (dhl, ups, fedex) you are
certain to get vat all the time if you are close to the ?45
if it is public service (usps, china post, ) you sometimes have luck...
but for £300 you are pretty sure to have a 20% bill with your packet ...
it must be almost the same rules for UK

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Kripton

the ESR Repository @ http://kripton2035.free.fr/esr-repository.html
the Geiger Repository @ http://kripton2035.free.fr/geiger-repositor.html

plus an admin charge, plus VAT on that

 

[Charlie+]

in europe, when you buy something less than €45, you are free of vat charges
if it is more, you will have some 20% vat charges on it
if it travels thought private carriers (dhl, ups, fedex) you are
certain to get vat all the time if you are close to the €45
if it is public service (usps, china post, ) you sometimes have luck...
but for £300 you are pretty sure to have a 20% bill with your packet ...
it must be almost the same rules for UK

Thanks for the info folks!

 

[Charlie+]

It's actually a lottery as to whether you get charged anything. I've had
stuff of that value where it has sailed straight through. I've also been
charged an admin fee on occasion, and also import duty and VAT on others.
Sometimes, the Chinese mark the export document up as "Engineering Sample -
value $10", and then it tends to get through. I bought a hot air desoldering
station that came like this, and it was just delivered with no additional
charges. A friend also bought one, and he got hammered for duty and VAT, so
until it arrives, you just can't tell. As it happens, another friend bought
a Chinese DSO like yours for about the same value, and his was delivered
without additional charge. And in case you're wondering if what you have
bought is very good, he has been delighted with the performance and
usability of his. He is a professional self-employed design engineer.

Arfa

Thanks Arfa, yes a meter I baught sailed through at about £110 so - suck
it and see but be prepared - seems to be a good philosophy!! I try to
go with UK suppliers but this sort of stuff just isnt available here at
a reasonable price even if you added the VAT cost. C+