Ordering electronics from overseas

redrabbit

Guys, do oyu think you could order stuff like electronics, mp3 players and stuffl ike that from America, or Spain or somewhere, and get it cheaper.

Maybe through no vat or something liek that?

Mordecai

I order electronic components from Hong Kong all the time--that's about as cheap as can be. Although, if you want ready made electronics, I'd check for American stores that ship internationally (keep in mind shipping rates will be rather high). Might even check out eBay, a lot of people sell brand new electronics there for a fraction of the price and ship internationally for just a little bit more.

MarkR

If ordering from outside the EU, you may have to pay import duty on items - this might be the same rate as VAT, I'm not sure.

If order from the EU, it's cool, they don't charge any duty.

EDIT:

Mordecai: Take a look at people's location before assuming that everyone is in the U S of A.

Mark

Mordecai

Originally posted by MarkR
Mordecai: Take a look at people's location before assuming that everyone is in the U S of A.

I.. didn't? We don't have VAT here, nor a city named "Reading, UK" (to my knowledge).

vaaaska

The cheapest you can do in the states is to either do some very hard shopping in Times Square or out on the Jersey shores where they have a mess of these discount warehouse sellers (some of whom do mail order stuff)...

Actually, I heard that Arizona has some ultra cheap discount warehouses as well but I don't know...

I bought my first digital camera in NYC back in 99' and I paid $350 for a camera that was going for about $700 every where else...

Perhaps they get their stuff out of the back of trucks, but if it's in a store and they got a business license then the warranties are going to be good...

Roger_Ramjet

MarkR, you are wrong I'm afraid: you will be charged VAT in the UK even if you buy from within the EU. It is a common mistake that catches a lot of people out: the 'cheap' goods you bought on the internet are not so cheap after the VAT man has hit you. See the following links for the full answer:

Shopping on the internet:
http://www.hmce.gov.uk/public/shopping/shopping.htm

A guide for international post users:
http://www.hmce.gov.uk/forms/notices/143.htm

What it amounts to is that the Tax Man always wins.

As to the cheapest place to buy stuff: Asia is always cheapest, it's where they make the stuff these days.

bubblenut

Some import taxes can be avoided if the products are shipped through certain tax havens. The company I work for ships cds, dvds and games (from Hong Kong) valued between 18GBP and 22GBP through Guernsey and products over 22GBP through the Isle of Man (although these will still incur an import duty, albeit reduced). I'm sure there are companies which make similar arrangements for electrical products as well.