jonesbach Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Hi All, anybody used these as a supplier for heir shooting needs etc? http://www.brownells.com/ wanted to know what they were like and what shipping was like..they dont state anything online only "shipping will be calculated in your final invoice..."!! found the same weaver extension as sportsman gun have for sale for £30 http://www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk/produc...Extension+Base/ for only $16 http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=24177/P..._EXTENSION_BASE but obviously would be no good to me if its going to cost a fortune to ship!lol! Any info greatfully received... Ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluke2 Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Its not just the shipping costs I used to get a fair bit of stuff from the states now a lot of them refuse to ship anything and if they do the postie collects the duty due on your item when he delivers it to you so be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Customs & Excise look at most parcels coming in to the UK. If the value (inc pp) is more than $30 (I think) then VAT etc etc is added. Plus, the good old Royal Mail, add their bit for sorting the charge on your behalf! If an item sent, is labelled 'gift' then no charge will be made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluke2 Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Customs & Excise look at most parcels coming in to the UK. If the value (inc pp) is more than $30 (I think) then VAT etc etc is added. Plus, the good old Royal Mail, add their bit for sorting the charge on your behalf!If an item sent, is labelled 'gift' then no charge will be made. tried the gift thing last year from the states on a book I couldnt find here (american 410 shotguns)the parcel clearly stated gift but the postie charged £3.42 at the door the total I paid inc post was about 32 dollars I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesbach Posted October 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 (edited) if thats all the postie charges then im onto a winner..! if brownells charges are reasonable then i may order a few things with them. as far as the VAT goes, i could also still be ok..here is my list. maxima extended weaver base..$13.99 .22 Hoppes bore snake...$16.99 lock don sling swivels...$9.99 TOTAL $40.97 plus p+p and other charges GBP £30.49inc vat " " " all above from UK... base £29.99 bore snake £19.99 sling swivels £10ish TOTAL £59.95..plus p+p.. hmm.... Edited October 21, 2010 by jonesbach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 You can now order from Brownells and Sinclair in the same parcel. Check their 'International Shipping' and I use the US Postal Service global or priority option. Sinclairs add $6 for handling and the system uses one of the flat rate parcels, so you can get an 'estimated p&p cost at the checkout page... (small packets $12.95 to $25) Items are marked if not shipable outside of the US And you expect to avoid UK vat ?? ... . Small orders can get pricey but "shop carefully" and it can be cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 you will end up paying VAT and import duty. You'll also pay extra for shipping. For what you're ordering, you'll probably pay $20 for shipping, so now you're up to $60. VAT on comparable value will be 10 quid. You'll then have to pay the separate UK based shipping as parcel force will charge you for the delivery, roughly 8 quid if I remember right. So you'll be $60 + 18 quid, which at current exchange works out to 56 quid total. Then you have to wait for the delivery man and be hacked off that you're paying HMRC. Might as well just support your local shop and keep them in business. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 and the gift option is not an option for two reasons. First, there is no 'gift' exception from HMRC. ALL parcels coming into the UK are subject to import and VAT as appropriate. Second, ordering from reputable businesses means that they will not mark commercial items as 'gift'. Thanks, Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 (edited) Customs & Excise look at most parcels coming in to the UK. If the value (inc pp) is more than $30 (I think) then VAT etc etc is added. Plus, the good old Royal Mail, add their bit for sorting the charge on your behalf!If an item sent, is labelled 'gift' then no charge will be made. The gift idea is wrong, even gifts are charged. There has never been an exemption for gifts but if you do it at Christmas and wrap it in gift paper the chances are good. I buy a lot of stuff from abroad mostly USA but more recently Hong Kong and China. Its all a bit random as to whether you get charged duty or not. Sometimes big things go through without being charged sometimes small items get charged. Vat + import duty = approx 30% The last four or five scopes I have bought from Hong Kong have all made it through without duty being charged. Hong Kong/ China seems better from that point of view. With American suppliers its more about whether they can be bothered or even if they know how to ship to you. Also they are a bit twitchy about exporting firearms related things because they are a bit paranoid. Shipped by sea is very slow but should cost no more than buying from UK. Edited October 22, 2010 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marley29 Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 I have also ordered several items from the states and ended up paying more than I expected! If however you purchase items from the far east, you don't seem to get charged any VAT or import charges. If you do go ahead with the order it'll be interesting to know if you save any money. ATB Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesbach Posted October 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 Seeker.. I dont intened to avoid VAT (you cant), i was just saying VAT on the items would only have been £5 and i was ok with that. casts by fly..if my local shop stocked what i was looking for i would have bought it from there already. sportsman gun centre isnt a local shop in my eyes, just robbing ********..! well overpriced and last option. Anyway..update.. Sent an email to Brownells and the reply was that postage would be under $25. bringing total to $65.97 before VAT and import duty..possibly still a potential saving but what other nasty hidden charge will i get along with my goods!??! Think i need a mate that lives in USA!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casts_by_fly Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 Jones, So you'll basically be where I calculated in my note. $65 plus about 20 quid, which works out to about 60 quid total. I don't know sportsman's so I don't know if they are a good shop or thieving tarts. However, now you see why the prices are as high as the are. They have to pay the same import duties and charge you VAT just the same as HMRC does. The only benefit they get is wholesale prices, the markup from which must pay overheads and turn a profit. I don't think the prices that you've quoted above are actually that overpriced. Thanks Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted October 22, 2010 Report Share Posted October 22, 2010 If however you purchase items from the far east, you don't seem to get charged any VAT or import charges. I believe, in the abscence of any other evidence, this is because there is now so much coming in from the far east that they simply can't process it all. People buy all sorts, not just shooting gear, all sorts on ebay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rem223 Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 I believe, in the abscence of any other evidence, this is because there is now so much coming in from the far east that they simply can't process it all. People buy all sorts, not just shooting gear, all sorts on ebay That's pretty much the case. I have in a previous life worked as a UK Customs Officer in a PPD (Parcel Post Depot) the Post-Persons bring sacks of parcels which you examine. Most go in the "no charge" sack, others go in the "charge" sack" and a few are selected for further examination. Given the shear number of parcels entering the UK each day it is impossible to examine and charge every parcel. Commercial parcels from reputable companies like Cabelas and Brownells are charged on the invoice value. What is often overlooked is that VAT is also payable on shipping charges. Sometimes it is worth importing stuff from the US and you get lucky and avoid a charge but the EU is pushing HMRC to grab every last penny from non EU imports. So most times you get charged. The Post Office then tags on their handling fee which I believe has two levels depending on the value of goods. So all things considered unless it is something you can't locate easily locally I wouldn't bother. However if you order the goods around November the volume of traffic does give you a better chance of avoiding being charged! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesbach Posted October 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 Jones, So you'll basically be where I calculated in my note. $65 plus about 20 quid, which works out to about 60 quid total. I don't know sportsman's so I don't know if they are a good shop or thieving tarts. However, now you see why the prices are as high as the are. They have to pay the same import duties and charge you VAT just the same as HMRC does. The only benefit they get is wholesale prices, the markup from which must pay overheads and turn a profit. I don't think the prices that you've quoted above are actually that overpriced. Thanks Rick yup...stinks doesnt it!lol! I dont know where sportsman get this 45mm piece of steel from but no other gun shop in my phone book can get one! looks like my last option will be my only option. as far as them being little thieves, eg's of this.... 50 winchester x subs £8.50, in sportsmans when a shop 20 miles down the M4 was selling them for £5. and 20 .223 Privi's in sportsmans were £19 and only £12 again 20 miles down the M4!! id be interested what others find their prices like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted October 23, 2010 Report Share Posted October 23, 2010 (edited) Years ago I was standing in a gunshop and the postman walked in and handed the owner a parcel. Not tax or anything. In it was a pistol that they had ordered from the States for a customer. No suggestion it was dodgy, I'm sure they entered it in their register before selling it on. It all goes to show how lax things were years ago though. Could you imagine that happening now? Obviously not with pistols anymore but we used to order Dilllon reloading presses from the States, two or three at a time. They would just arrive on your doorstep with no questions asked. Other people used to order customising parts for 1911 Colts the same way. much cheaper from the US. Edited October 23, 2010 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonesbach Posted November 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 bit of an update on shopping in the USA using Brownells..... Purchased the mount i needed for my .223 last friday and it was delivered monday..not bad service at all...! Cost wise..$13.99 for the mount Delivery..$8.50 translated to english...£15.41. The same mount in sportsman gun £29.99, delivery £5.99....£35.98 They were set to make £20. moral of story...re-inforced another thread on here the other day..dont shop in sportsman guncentre!lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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