UK Release Dates Discussion - All Brands Welcome!

FashionDoll

Well-known member
I placed my first order too. Does everybody need to pay customs too? Or is that randomly picked?
Yes I'm also about to order some things off someone here on Specktra from the US and have been wondering about customs and import VAT etc. I had a look on customs website but to be honest I'm still confused. Is it correct that if the value is under about £130 (can't remember the exact amount) it's just import VAT that needs to be paid? And only if the value exceeds £15? Does anyone know how much the import VAT is on beauty products? And is it still payable if the sender marks it as a gift? I'm sorry for all the questions I'm just really struggling trying to understand it all. I've been extremely unwell for the past 3 years and I'm on a very high dose of strong painkillers that give me alot of cognitive problems and make it difficult to understand things sometimes. So I'd really appreciate any help with this?
 

mushroomteagirl

Well-known member
Yes I'm also about to order some things off someone here on Specktra from the US and have been wondering about customs and import VAT etc. I had a look on customs website but to be honest I'm still confused. Is it correct that if the value is under about £130 (can't remember the exact amount) it's just import VAT that needs to be paid? And only if the value exceeds £15? Does anyone know how much the import VAT is on beauty products? And is it still payable if the sender marks it as a gift? I'm sorry for all the questions I'm just really struggling trying to understand it all. I've been extremely unwell for the past 3 years and I'm on a very high dose of strong painkillers that give me alot of cognitive problems and make it difficult to understand things sometimes. So I'd really appreciate any help with this?
I think VAT is a standard 20% no matter what it is
 

Anitacska

Well-known member
I think the limit for gifts is £36. It should say on the website. Also don't forget the Post Office charges a flat fee of £8 no matter how much tax is charged.

Thank you, I thought it was 20% but was hoping I was wrong. Do you still have to pay it if it's marked as a gift?
 

FashionDoll

Well-known member
I think the limit for gifts is £36. It should say on the website. Also don't forget the Post Office charges a flat fee of £8 no matter how much tax is charged.
Thank you! So if its marked as a gift and, for example, the total is £60, does this mean I pay VAT of 20% on the full £60 or just on £24? And the fee charged by the post office, is this an additional £8 on top of the VAT? I really didn't think it was that expensive to have things sent over here. Do sellers (like those on Specktra) ever mark things as being of a lesser value than they actually are to help people avoid these charges?
 

Anitacska

Well-known member
You can ask them to put a lower value, and see what they say. And yes, you pay tax on the full £60 if it's over the limit and yes, the £8 is on top of the tax.

I really didn't think it was that expensive to have things sent over here. Do sellers (like those on Specktra) ever mark things as being of a lesser value than they actually are to help people avoid these charges?
 

rockin

Well-known member
I got stung buying some DVDs recently. They were originally $60 but in the sale, and came to just under £15 (plus postage, of course). When they arrived, they had stated the full $60 dollar value on the package instead of the amount I actually paid, so I had to pay the tax on that, plus the £8 Post Office charge on top. I had deliberately ensured the order didn't come over £15, too :( As far as I'm aware, they add the cost of postage on to the value before charging the tax, just thought I'd warn you.

If the sender states a lower valuet, but your package gets randomly selected for checking and it's decided the contents are worth more than declared, you can still get charged. I'm told you can also get fined if a lower value is falsely declared.

I'm very reluctant to buy from the US now unless the goods are way cheaper than here in the UK. If necessary, split a larger order to avoid charges


Does anyone watch Enkore (Koren Zander) on Youtube? His brush soap is now available at Cocktail Cosmetics http://www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk/prod/enkore-make-up-pro-brush-soap
 

mushroomteagirl

Well-known member
Does anyone watch Enkore (Koren Zander) on Youtube? His brush soap is now available at Cocktail Cosmetics http://www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk/prod/enkore-make-up-pro-brush-soap
Interesting I've thought about buying that before from his website. I used to use baby shampoo then I got too lazy to go grab it from downstairs and have been using the Dove with shea butter that I use as just general soap as it was just handy in with bathroom and it's actually worked a treat! leaves my brushes nice and soft and cleans quickly. Doesn't seem to leave behind any residue or anything either.
 

FashionDoll

Well-known member
You can ask them to put a lower value, and see what they say. And yes, you pay tax on the full £60 if it's over the limit and yes, the £8 is on top of the tax.
I got stung buying some DVDs recently.  They were originally $60 but in the sale, and came to just under £15 (plus postage, of course).  When they arrived, they had stated the full $60 dollar value on the package instead of the amount I actually paid, so I had to pay the tax on that, plus the £8 Post Office charge on top.  I had deliberately ensured the order didn't come over £15, too :(    As far as I'm aware, they add the cost of postage on to the value before charging the tax, just thought I'd warn you. If the sender states a lower valuet, but your package gets randomly selected for checking and it's decided the contents are worth more than declared, you can still get charged.  I'm told you can also get fined if a lower value is falsely declared.  I'm very reluctant to buy from the US now unless the goods are way cheaper than here in the UK.  If necessary, split a larger order to avoid charges Does anyone watch Enkore (Koren Zander) on Youtube?  His brush soap is now available at Cocktail Cosmetics  http://www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk/prod/enkore-make-up-pro-brush-soap
Thank you both so much for your help, I really appreciate it. I'm going to ask the seller about splitting the order as if it's in 2 packages and marked as a gift I think both should be under £36, it just depends on the shipping cost but I'm pretty sure it's going to be the best option. I really am shocked at how expensive it is! Rockin, I'm so sorry for what happened with you dvds, that's really a joke, I would of been so mad!
 

mushroomteagirl

Well-known member
Rockin, I'm so sorry for what happened with you dvds, that's really a joke, I would of been so mad!
It's definitely got a lot worse, loads of packages I got from the US used to slip through customs with no checks/charges and now it's every time unless it's below the limits mentioned. Royal Mail definitely don't help slapping on another £8 admin fee

I placed an order for a set of the 8 new US spring color tattoos a week or so ago and now i'm just regretting it as the eBay seller had already put a premium on them to start with
 

rockin

Well-known member
Debenhams have just tweeted about the Urban Decay Vault. I wasn't sure whether any of you had decided you were going to try to get it



*CALLING URBAN DECAY FANS* #TheUDVault launches exclusively online @DebenhamsBeauty TOMORROW! Only 40 sets to be had..
 

Anitacska

Well-known member
There's no way I'm going to score one if there's only 40... Oh well.

Debenhams have just tweeted about the Urban Decay Vault. I wasn't sure whether any of you had decided you were going to try to get it



*CALLING URBAN DECAY FANS* #TheUDVault launches exclusively online @DebenhamsBeauty TOMORROW! Only 40 sets to be had..
As for customs, if the seller puts their eBay ID or if it's a company, even if it's marked as gift, you might get charged tax because it will clearly look like it's from a seller. I've been stung like that before. And I agree, it's definitely getting worse.
 

mushroomteagirl

Well-known member
Debenhams have just tweeted about the Urban Decay Vault. I wasn't sure whether any of you had decided you were going to try to get it



*CALLING URBAN DECAY FANS* #TheUDVault launches exclusively online @DebenhamsBeauty TOMORROW! Only 40 sets to be had..
I am going to try, i'll regret it if I don't when I have to buy them all individually. I'm on a buying hiatus after this though apart from one or two lippies from all about orange, the brush from tropical taboo and the new Bourjois cream blushes. My bank account needs to recover.
 

duku

Well-known member
I'm not into the vault thing but I wish they would hurry up and put the new MAC collections up!
 

surfroxy

Well-known member
I keep refreshing the page every hour just to see if they have made an early appearance. I have no idea how Debenhams are for updating the site. Wondering if we have to wait for some IT guy to start work tomorrow for them to be up. I can't wait that long!!
 

nikou

Well-known member
:( tomorrow I have a field trip till 9:30 to 1 then I have a practical in the lab at uni till 5.I'm going to miss everything unless HoF puts everything up in the morning. :( :(
 

gracie90

Well-known member
I think I'm going to go to MAC first thing tomorrow morning. I only want the Bare My Soul e/s quad from TR, but I still want a bunch of ED stuff. I wish all these collections were a bit more spread out, my total is going to be painful!
 

nikou

Well-known member
It's definitely got a lot worse, loads of packages I got from the US used to slip through customs with no checks/charges and now it's every time unless it's below the limits mentioned. Royal Mail definitely don't help slapping on another £8 admin fee I placed an order for a set of the 8 new US spring color tattoos a week or so ago and now i'm just regretting it as the eBay seller had already put a premium on them to start with
What seller did you buy from. I've been looking at these today and definitively want a couple
 
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