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Has any imported a guy from Asia?
- Thread starter toanjuice
- Start date
Ouzx
Members
- Feb 6, 2013
- 46
- 0
Gun usually imported just take longer to arrive than usual, and shipping can cost a bomb. I remember not long ago I went to order a gun and it would take up to 30 days to arrive, and shipping was in the midst of around £30. But if you don't mind it taking a while, and a little extra cash then it'll be fine 
Airsoft-Ed
Retired Moderator
- Nov 7, 2010
- 4,164
- 941
Redwolf have a retail store in the UK now, based in Tewkesbury, give it a google.
If they don't have the item you want in the UK store, but they do in the HK store, then they can ship it over for you. I'd advise contact by phone though, they've not been good to me with replying to emails.
Alternatively, you could let us know what you're looking at buying. Someone might know of a place that stocks it in the UK. There aren't a lot of things you need to resort to importing to get hold of anymore.
If they don't have the item you want in the UK store, but they do in the HK store, then they can ship it over for you. I'd advise contact by phone though, they've not been good to me with replying to emails.
Alternatively, you could let us know what you're looking at buying. Someone might know of a place that stocks it in the UK. There aren't a lot of things you need to resort to importing to get hold of anymore.
I would avoid Redwolf UK simply because when I asked them for a price on a VFC Scar L (this is about 3 weeks ago) they quoted £460. JD Airsoft sell the same item for £360 - which is marginally cheaper than if I imported from Redwolf Hong Kong (They want £260 for the gun + £40 postage then I'd be looking at £60 for the customs charges and a possible extra £13 just for Parcel Force to tell me I have to pay £60 customs charges).
From what others say you will almost certainly have to pay customs charges these days (6-7 years ago there was a half-decent chance an order would sneak through without incurring charges).
Ultimately it depends on what you're after as for some items down the line I'm still tempted to try importing but for a lot of things it's probably less hassle if you just take your time and find the best deal in the UK
From what others say you will almost certainly have to pay customs charges these days (6-7 years ago there was a half-decent chance an order would sneak through without incurring charges).
Ultimately it depends on what you're after as for some items down the line I'm still tempted to try importing but for a lot of things it's probably less hassle if you just take your time and find the best deal in the UK
toanjuice
Members
- Feb 11, 2013
- 61
- 0
- Thread starter
- #5
i managed to ring up earlier asking for a particular gun and they said certain guns they can not import in. i want to take a risk and order in from HK but im not sure if customs will manage to not look at the parcel
i think i agree with supa to be honest, ill just wait till i can find my gun in a uk store
thanx for the response guys
i think i agree with supa to be honest, ill just wait till i can find my gun in a uk store
thanx for the response guys
ScoobySnacks
Members
- Jul 20, 2012
- 264
- 0
To be fair, it's mostly girls, not guys, that are imported from Asia!
Philbucknall
Members
- Jan 10, 2013
- 48
- 4
I've been buying from HK for well over 12 years with very little trouble or dramas. Sometimes it's cheaper by a considerable margin sometimes it works out no cheaper. Overall I'd say I'm in the positive column though.
TheFull9
Supporters
- Dec 17, 2011
- 3,572
- 2,342
I'm not quite understanding the issue to be honest, VAT on imported items isn't 'trouble', it's just a tax you are legally required to pay.
You think UK stores are magically getting round that somehow? Heck no, they're paying for shipping and import tax/duty just the same as an individual and their prices reflect that; plus their own profit margin and warehousing expenses need covering.
I've not been importing stuff for anything like 12 years, but regularly for about 3 years now. I think I once paid £5 more than the UK price for a RIF, everything else has worked out cheaper. Sometimes by a good amount, sometimes by pennies. But for some reason there's this myth that buying from a UK retailer means you get to skip the cost of import VAT and duty, which simply isn't true. A lot of people seem to just feel (no idea why) that if they're only paying for an item in one lump vs. paying a HK store and then UK R&C that's somehow totally different. Despite the fact the end cost is basically similar 99% of the time.
There's a lot to be said for a UK warranty etc don't get me wrong on that folks, but that doesn't change any of the above.
You think UK stores are magically getting round that somehow? Heck no, they're paying for shipping and import tax/duty just the same as an individual and their prices reflect that; plus their own profit margin and warehousing expenses need covering.
I've not been importing stuff for anything like 12 years, but regularly for about 3 years now. I think I once paid £5 more than the UK price for a RIF, everything else has worked out cheaper. Sometimes by a good amount, sometimes by pennies. But for some reason there's this myth that buying from a UK retailer means you get to skip the cost of import VAT and duty, which simply isn't true. A lot of people seem to just feel (no idea why) that if they're only paying for an item in one lump vs. paying a HK store and then UK R&C that's somehow totally different. Despite the fact the end cost is basically similar 99% of the time.
There's a lot to be said for a UK warranty etc don't get me wrong on that folks, but that doesn't change any of the above.
Last edited by a moderator:
Philbucknall
Members
- Jan 10, 2013
- 48
- 4
When I said trouble, I actually meant weird requests from the borders agency. Most weird was photos of te items and dimensions for each gun!
I never EVEN suggested i meant tax or other legally payable duties! When it comes to tax and import duty I have no problem paying it and factor it into every import I make.
Only with the celcius CTW has a UK warranty been important to me. Every other RIF I own I can and have fixed or serviced myself so a warranty is not worth the extra money for me. If a warranty is important to you then buy in the UK
I never EVEN suggested i meant tax or other legally payable duties! When it comes to tax and import duty I have no problem paying it and factor it into every import I make.
Only with the celcius CTW has a UK warranty been important to me. Every other RIF I own I can and have fixed or serviced myself so a warranty is not worth the extra money for me. If a warranty is important to you then buy in the UK
Last edited by a moderator:
Ian_Gere
Retired Moderator
- Apr 1, 2012
- 6,417
- 2,050
I've imported a few things from HK and Shenzen, no full guns though. So far I haven't been hit for VAT or import duty. I do work it out roughly beforehand and consider whether it's still worth waiting a bit longer for the cheaper price, because, in my experience, it has always been cheaper. Sometimes it's not cheap enough to warrant a wait; sometimes, even with tax, it is, and if I don't have to pay any that's a bonus!
I used to think it would depend on what it looked like through an x-ray scanner, like anything gun-like would draw attention and get inspected, but I ordered a box of 5 steel L1A1 mags a while back and they arrived sans hassle...
I used to think it would depend on what it looked like through an x-ray scanner, like anything gun-like would draw attention and get inspected, but I ordered a box of 5 steel L1A1 mags a while back and they arrived sans hassle...
TheFull9
Supporters
- Dec 17, 2011
- 3,572
- 2,342
I know you didn't suggest that, I was addressing the OP. My error for not quoting them however, sorry for the confusion.When I said trouble, I actually meant weird requests from the borders agency. Most weird was photos of te items and dimensions for each gun!
I never EVEN suggested i meant tax or other legally payable duties! When it comes to tax and import duty I have no problem paying it and factor it into every import I make.
Only with the celcius CTW has a UK warranty been important to me. Every other RIF I own I can and have fixed or serviced myself so a warranty is not worth the extra money for me. If a warranty is important to you then buy in the UK
Philbucknall
Members
- Jan 10, 2013
- 48
- 4
No worries mate good old Internet doing what it does best again lol
good old Internet doing what it does best again lol
TheFull9
Supporters
- Dec 17, 2011
- 3,572
- 2,342
Import duty and the infamous 'admin fee' from the courier/parcel force. Can't remember the figure off the top of my for the duty (another percentage, but lower than VAT generally) and then about £12-16 (very roughly) for the privilege of the mail service dealing with UK customs on your behalf.
Check out WGCShop and UN Company. I won't say why, but when you go through the checkout process (doesn't mean you have to click 'confirm', just run through the steps) you'll understand.
Check out WGCShop and UN Company. I won't say why, but when you go through the checkout process (doesn't mean you have to click 'confirm', just run through the steps) you'll understand.
Pointman PUG
Members
- Nov 19, 2012
- 140
- 8
Stumbled upon this thread and pmsl...has anyone clocked the headline....I thought juice was looking for a ladyboy!!!....sorry warped sense of humor...take care folks xxx 
ScoobySnacks
Members
- Jul 20, 2012
- 264
- 0
PUG and toan, might I point you to post number 6 above? 
adam bussey
Members
- Sep 24, 2012
- 656
- 62
hang on i just read the title properly and it say about importing a GUY not a GUN!!!!!!!!!!!11
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