• We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas from all at Golf Monthly. Thank you for sharing your 2025 with us!

parcels from the us....

no i did find that even marked as gift they would be a charge, i just cant find out how much the charges are. I dont want to go buying something from there and it costing a fortune to get once its here!!
 
Marking it as a gift makes no difference. You will have to pay duty on some items and VAT on the cost of any goods plus shipping. If this is coming in from USPS, it will go to Parcelforce and take some time to clear. If coming in via UPS, FedEx etc, should be no or minimal delay.
 
Try the overstock.com website. I have bought from them and they will include all taxes and duty in the final stages of checkout.
 
Hang on, is this coming US to UK or UK to US?

If UK to US, then the limit for duty depends on whether it was originally made in the US or not, and if so, the limit is $1000, I think.

If US to UK, the US seller cannot pay duty and VAT in advance. It must be paid in this country by the recipient.
 
vat will be charged at 20% if the value of the goods are over £15, if the item is send EMS priority then you will also pay vat on the postage. parcelforce charge a clearance fee of £8 on standard parcels and £13.50 on EMS parcels.

any charges are payable before delivery, if the item is sent via Parcelforce.


going by your valuation i would expect a charge of about £30.
 
full_throttle said:
vat will be charged at 20% if the value of the goods are over £15, if the item is send EMS priority then you will also pay vat on the postage. parcelforce charge a clearance fee of £8 on standard parcels and £13.50 on EMS parcels.

any charges are payable before delivery, if the item is sent via Parcelforce.


going by your valuation i would expect a charge of about £30.
Click to expand...

Based on quite a few shipments of golf clubs over the years, I can count on one hand the number of times I didn't pay the full £13.50.

I really hate the Parcelforce delays on clearing - usually a week, rarely less. UPS/FedEx etc much much better and often just as cheap. Edwin Watts and Callaway Pre-Owned both very reasonable for shipping charges to the UK.
 
Here's the official link.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channels...HMCE_CL_000014&propertyType=document#P37_3361

But add the $13.50 Parcelforce handling fee if coming through them (USPS).

Major delay is in UK Customs followed by Parcelforce notification (via letter) that item has arrived. You can then pay fees via phone with credit/debit card and item gets shipped.

That £15 limit used to be something like £90!
 
Ethan said:
I really hate the Parcelforce delays on clearing - usually a week, rarely less.
Click to expand...

the delays stem from UKBA (United Kingdom Border Agency) who cannot handle the amount recieved on a daily basis.

Foxholer said:
But add the $13.50 Parcelforce handling fee if coming through them (USPS).

Major delay is in UK Customs followed by Parcelforce notification (via letter) that item has arrived. You can then pay fees via phone with credit/debit card and item gets shipped.

That £15 limit used to be something like £90!
Click to expand...

it's only £13.50 if it's an EMS (express) parcel.
when the letter arrives the parcel is awaiting delivery at the local depot (99% of the time)

deminius values used to be £18 business parcels £36 private parcels, it is now £15 and £40

it's my job, hopefully i know how it works..lol
 
Last edited:
there is an element of luck with it too i have had several items get through unnoticed and duty free although oflate there does seem to have been a crack down and the last 3 packages have been well taxed up!
 
Everything I have ever had through work from the Us via parcel force has been taxed the following way

Cost price
+6% duty
+vat (now 20%)
+£13 clearance charge

The worst is that a new policy was brought in around 3 years ago and now no parcels leave the depo until charges are paid as they don't want drivers carrying money. Your parcel could be in the country up to 10 days before you receive the letter, but you can pay the charges over the phone
 
full_throttle said:
the delays stem from UKBA (United Kingdom Border Agency) who cannot handle the amount recieved on a daily basis.



it's only £13.50 if it's an EMS (express) parcel.
when the letter arrives the parcel is awaiting delivery at the local depot (99% of the time)

deminius values used to be £18 business parcels £36 private parcels, it is now £15 and £40

it's my job, hopefully i know how it works..lol
Click to expand...

Not sure if I buy that explanation. UPS and FedEx handle quite a few packages, often of greater value, and there is no delay in their processing time at the point of arrival. The Parcelforce office in Coventry (which you may work at) is notorious even among other Parcelforce depots for being unreachable, unhelpful and not giving a toss. Their phone line rings and rings before and after office hours but is constantly engaged during office hours. They are also unable to identify currency symbols and appear to be stupid. Amongst other examples of incompetence, I received an item from Japan, clearly marked as such, and they misread the value (5000 Yen) as $5000 and charged me several hundred pounds VAT on a headcover. Then wanted me to pay it first and claim it back. I told them to send it back to the country of origin and the company sent me one by UPS instead which arrived faster than it took Coventry to answer the phone.

Almost all golf clubs will be sent EMS, hence will attract a £13.50 charge.
 
So after all this messing around, is it actually worth buying something from the States - seems a pain in the butt as they would say....
I think I'd rather pay a little more and get it from here, just to save hassle.... unless i couldn't get it from here..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Smart thermostat for combi boiler
2
Replies
39
Views
1K
Green Man
Green Man
Bunkermagnet
Dryer safety recall
Replies
2
Views
1K
Deleted member 21784
D
kp17
SC custom shop
Replies
13
Views
1K
kp17
kp17
Orikoru
YouTube Music vs Spotify?
Replies
10
Views
759
jim8flog
jim8flog
Crazyface
Virgin Mail Help
Replies
12
Views
1K
Golfmmad
Golfmmad
Top