Buying from USA - Good experience

[birdieman]

Although this subject has been touched on before on this forum I thought I'd let you know how I got on with a recent purchase.

Looking for a set of Callaway x-18 pro series irons(4-pw) so had a hunt around on the internet as you do. By far the best prices are all coming from the USA simply because of the exchange rate currently being close to $2 to £1 making things extremely cheap in America for us earning pounds.

I was aware that customs and excise hit you with import duty for anything over the value of $52 or so which can reduce the bargain effect somewhat.

Anyway got a nearly new set (they are pristine and I swear I am struggling to tell them from new) for less than £200 from 'Callaway Golf pre-owned and outlet' carefully packaged and individually wrapped and I ended up being charged only £55 import duty so have a perfect set of Cally x-18 pro series for almost exactly £250 all in. I do not believe I can get an equivalent deal in the UK without taking a chance on fake clubs from Ebay.

Clubs came FedEx in exactly 7 days from US which I think is pretty good turnaround time. I was expecting to pay about £90 import duty so £55 was a pleasant surprise.

All in all an extremely good shopping experience and one I'd consider again and recommend to others.

Sorry to UK retailers, I'd like to buy British but I can't turn my nose up at that good a deal, it also helps pay £15/month for broadband.

Happy New Year!!

 

[Parmo]

Any perticular reason it had to be Callaway x-18 pro series?
Also how where you made aware of the duty cost, was it the seller or HMC?

 

[birdieman]

Parmo.
I have owned many sets of irons and am now better at knowing what works best.
I have had x-16 pro series in the past and found them very easy to hit so have gone for the updated version of that, my problem with the bigger head cally's is for little greenside chips etc where I've preferred the look of narrow blade style clubs. However my general iron play needs improving and I get on better with a cavity back iron if the truth be told though I love the look of blades. The Cally's also get me hitting a bit longer which has it's uses. I want to improve from 5 h'cap this year and will take what help I can!
I have had forged heads a few times as well and to be frank I have not really felt much benefit from forged irons, as long as I can move the ball a bit with a fade or draw I don't need to be hitting banana shaped shots with forged irons, so the pro-series at least suit me better for some shaping than the normal x-18's. The reviews on these clubs are very high too.
I only knew a little of the duty issues as I complained to HM Customs a couple of years ago when I tried to convince them that a jacket I ordered from US was a gift (tax free) but they wouldn't have it. They were helpful at least. If you email them they'll tell you what the import tax situation is.

 

[viscount17]

parmo, search on 'hm customs import'. google will display two HM Revenue & Customs headers, try the one starting 'customs duty'. (the actual link is too long and complex for this)