What is likely to get confiscated in UK

A

Arclightuk

Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Messages
208
This will be my last post for a few days I promise :rolleyes:

I am in the UK and really interested in getting some knives from our friends across the pond (the USA :D ) prices are great shipping rate is fine...

BUT...I have searched and cannot find any info regarding:

Duty on imports
VAT on imports
and general extra costs that I am likely to incur?

Also what will they confiscate, will the items below be ok and what costs am i likely to incur?

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7577&strVarSel=&strCompare=

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=205&strVarSel=&strCompare=

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2793&strVarSel=&strCompare=

Total inc shipping is approx: $330 (£175)

Thanks so much for all the help again :thumbup:

Gav
 
Hi, I buy most of my knives mail order from the States. Like you said, prices are great, they run about double here.
The knives you are interested in are fine. You could well have a problem importing autos, balisongs and push daggers. All are illegal here ( although if you own them already and keep them at home, it's cool )
The price will be shown on the front of the package and, I don't know exactly where the duty threshold begins, I often pay it at $60 and above.
Some slip through so you might get lucky. At $375, you will pay duty.
Some retailers are very cool and mark the package 'hand tool' or 'desk set' and say it's worth $20 regardless of its actual value.
I never ask anyone to do this as it's not strictly kosher and would, I feel, be bad manners. Regard it as as nice bonus if it happens.
Hope this helps.:thumbup:
 
Hey Jockohomo

Thanks for the info, so really on $375 duty may be quite high? is there any other costs ie: release costs or VAT, plus how do they tell you about these extra charges and how do you pay them?

Cheers
Gav
 
Welcome to Bladeforums!

moving-van.jpg
 
They'll send you a postcard and you pay over the phone with a credit card.
You'll soon get used to the pain.:D
 
Arclightuk said:
Hey Jockohomo

Thanks for the info, so really on $375 duty may be quite high? is there any other costs ie: release costs or VAT, plus how do they tell you about these extra charges and how do you pay them?

Cheers
Gav
Click to expand...

I've ordered a *lot* of things from around the world. Below £18 stated value, there is no tax/duty. You can push this up to £36 if the parcel is properly marked as a gift.

Above this, you are liable for both import duty and tax. If I recall correctly, they first add the shipping cost to the stated value, this is then used as the 'cost' price. Then, they add 'import duty' onto the 'cost'. This varies depending on the type of goods, from around 3.5% up to 6.5% of the 'cost' I think.

Next, they add VAT (17.5%) on top of that total! Robbing gits!

Finally, to add insult to injury, the couriers will add a 'handling fee' for collecting the payment from you. Mostly, they will ask for payment when the goods are delivered to you. If it's very large, they might write to you first, but it never happened to me, even with over £1000 (cost price) purchases. My orderes were mostly shipped through the Post Office (I always asked for that) and the posty took the payment on delivery.

The Post Office charge a few quid, others can be higher. They can charge what they want, basically.

Rick.
 
Hi

just an update after several phone calls i learnt the following:

Convert cost including postage from $ to £

UK duty on knives etc is: 8.5%
then you add VAT @ 17.5%

Folders etc and normal hunting knives are fine

BUT I still think worth it as the 3 items above in UK on a good site are: £262
in US $330 = £171 + VAT and Duty = £217 approx

So worth it I think

Cheers
Gav
 
foxyrick said:
I've ordered a *lot* of things from around the world. Below £18 stated value, there is no tax/duty. You can push this up to £36 if the parcel is properly marked as a gift.

Above this, you are liable for both import duty and tax. If I recall correctly, they first add the shipping cost to the stated value, this is then used as the 'cost' price. Then, they add 'import duty' onto the 'cost'. This varies depending on the type of goods, from around 3.5% up to 6.5% of the 'cost' I think.

Next, they add VAT (17.5%) on top of that total! Robbing gits!

Finally, to add insult to injury, the couriers will add a 'handling fee' for collecting the payment from you. Mostly, they will ask for payment when the goods are delivered to you. If it's very large, they might write to you first, but it never happened to me, even with over £1000 (cost price) purchases. My orderes were mostly shipped through the Post Office (I always asked for that) and the posty took the payment on delivery.

The Post Office charge a few quid, others can be higher. They can charge what they want, basically.

Rick.
Click to expand...

Ha Ha thanks Rick wish I had read this before posting!! :rolleyes: Thanks for the info. So do you agree its better to import than UK prices
 
Arclightuk said:
Hi

just an update after several phone calls i learnt the following:

Convert cost including postage from $ to £

UK duty on knives etc is: 8.5%
then you add VAT @ 17.5%

Folders etc and normal hunting knives are fine

BUT I still think worth it as the 3 items above in UK on a good site are: £262
in US $330 = £171 + VAT and Duty = £217 approx

So worth it I think

Cheers
Gav
Click to expand...


8.5%???

Ouch, I didn't know that. My few overseas knives have sneaked through so far (thanks to obliging senders). I've had plenty of electonics parts that have been charged, and used to have loads of DVD's.

Rick.
 
The thing is...is it worth buying from US, now I am questioning that myself, as after all taxes etc its saves me about £50 quite a bit of money but no fortune and also with all the hassle....I just do not know, any opinions
 
Hi folks

I had a very unpleasant experience a couple of years ago when a couple of favourite locking folders I was carrying in my backpack were confiscated at the London Eye after I had willingly reported that I had them and turned them in to the security folks, expecting that I would get them back once off the wheel. Instead they were confiscated with the explanation that carrying a knife that locked was illegal and that if I insisted I would be "cautioned" (which I finally figure out meant arrested!)

Is this true and still the case? OR should I be double steamed???
 
wizzzzzzard said:
Hi folks

I had a very unpleasant experience a couple of years ago when a couple of favourite locking folders I was carrying in my backpack were confiscated at the London Eye after I had willingly reported that I had them and turned them in to the security folks, expecting that I would get them back once off the wheel. Instead they were confiscated with the explanation that carrying a knife that locked was illegal and that if I insisted I would be "cautioned" (which I finally figure out meant arrested!)

Is this true and still the case? OR should I be double steamed???
Click to expand...

It is illegal to carry a locking folder in the UK, a fixed blade, or a pen knife (slip joint) with a blade over 3" (IIRC) unless you have a "good purpose". Obviously, EDC utility is not a good purpose, but a butcher or chef bringing his tools to work would be as would (generally) carrying a fixed blade if you were engaged in hunting or bushcraft. Obviously, the knife has to be reasonable for the purpose as well.

http://www.met.police.uk/youth/weapons.htm

You could have faced a possible thousnad quid fine and imprisonment. Good thing you decided not to contest the issue.
 
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