New to hobby - Dropping in deep.

[Rogerborg]

In essence they're saying that if your package is seized by UK Customs then that's your problem.

They can say it all they like, but I doubt that any payment processor would agree.

They had an issue years ago with a lot of guns being seized and destroyed and that really isn't their fault.

Not if they've put UKARA numbers on them and correctly described them (Chinesium sellers are particularly bad for this latter one).

But in either case, it's not the customer's fault either, and a retailer can afford to eat the wholesale cost more than I can afford to eat the full retail.

All that said, I fully understand their decision not to ship to the UK at the moment, it's clearly not worth the risk.

 

[Lozart]

They can say it all they like, but I doubt that any payment processor would agree.

Not if they've put UKARA numbers on them and correctly described them (Chinesium sellers are particularly bad for this latter one).

But in either case, it's not the customer's fault either, and a retailer can afford to eat the wholesale cost more than I can afford to eat the full retail.

All that said, I fully understand their decision not to ship to the UK at the moment, it's clearly not worth the risk.

If something gets seized by customs, it's up to you to prove that you've paid the duty and it isn't a prohibited item. 

As for the importing part - it's on the importer (ie you):

Your responsibilities


Before receiving your goods, you may have to pay VAT, Customs Duty or Excise Duty if they were sent to:

• Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) from outside the UK
  
• Northern Ireland from countries outside the UK and the European Union (EU)
  

You must also check that the sender:

• pays Excise Duty on any alcohol or tobacco sent from the EU to Northern Ireland
  
• declares goods correctly if they’re sent from outside the UK (or from outside the EU for Northern Ireland)
  

It's the risk you take whenever you import anything. 

 

[Rogerborg]

If something gets seized by customs, it's up to you to prove that you've paid the duty and it isn't a prohibited item.

As far as Customs is concerned, yes.

All I'd be concerned with is what my payment processor would do when I file a "goods not received, money back" claim.

I've not had to do that yet with an import, but the normal principle is that until those goods are in my hands, intact and as described, they're not mine, they're the seller's property.

I'll re-iterate the point that goods can be seized or destroyed because a seller has mis-labelled them, which is out of our control.

 

[Lozart]

As far as Customs is concerned, yes.

All I'd be concerned with is what my payment processor would do when I file a "goods not received, money back" claim.

I've not had to do that yet with an import, but the normal principle is that until those goods are in my hands, intact and as described, they're not mine, they're the seller's property.

I'll re-iterate the point that goods can be seized or destroyed because a seller has mis-labelled them, which is out of our control.

Gotcha, yes. Although as you say if border farce seize it I don't know what the likes of PayPal or Visa would say.

@Rogerborg so I had a look and PayPal say 

Your claim will not qualify for a refund under PayPal's Buyer Protection program for an Item Not Received claim if:

• You collect the item in person, or arrange for it to be collected on your behalf, including if you use PayPal in a seller's store location, or
  

• The seller has provided proof of shipment or proof of delivery.
  

If the seller presents evidence that they delivered the goods to your address, PayPal may find in favor of the seller for an Item Not Received claim even if you claim you did not receive the goods.

So if the item is seized but the seller has proof of shipment you might be boned.

 

[emilianoksa]

Buying from Europe was fine when we were still in the EU and didn't have to pay VAT, import duty and customs fees.

I am not sure there is much point in it now. The savings are much reduced.

 

[Tommikka]

Buying from Europe was fine when we were still in the EU and didn't have to pay VAT, import duty and customs fees.

I am not sure there is much point in it now. The savings are much reduced.

Note that when within the EU we were paying the VAT of the other country - the UK were among a handful of the countries with the lowest VAT, a lot of airsoft gear came from Poland so we were paying their higher rate of 23%
 

If you were to buy from Poland today under the other non Brexit changes and it fell within the threshold then you would now pay the lower UK 20% to a Polish company registered with HMRC, and no further import fees would be required 

( they would incur the extra admin costs which is why most will just refuse to handle that )

Outside of the threshold it does mean all the import costs apply - which means it would be better to support UK retailers who can import via their supply chain

If retailers don’t list something in stock then ask