Shipping hammocks to the UK?

[Noobstar73]

I have a couple friends I wanted to send hammocks to and I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this. I guess my concern is both cost and customs rules pertaining to declaration.

Thanks in advance,
Aaron

[Smckinney0031]

It might even be better to send them all to one person and send them the money to ship within the UK

[IRONFISH45]

It might even be better to send them all to one person and send them the money to ship within the UK

The last time I shipped each person who receives a gift is given a deduction so the total VAT for the package is lower if more than one person is receiving a gift in one shipment.

[Smckinney0031]

Great idea. I have recieved packages but not shipped to!

[IRONFISH45]

Almost forgot, make sure the hammocks are AMERICAN MADE. All sorts of Government Interference sometimes happens between countries and tariffs, trade agreements etc.

[Noobstar73]

I appreciate all the info, basically it's a Dutch netless and a wb traveler for my fishing buddies in London. I have read about the VAT but want completely understanding how it worked. This helps. Thanks all

[hutzelbein]

Here is my experience with shipping to Germany from overseas - I believe, British customs procedures and rules are fairly similar as long as they are still an EU-member. Generally, personal stuff and gifts are usually not subject to import duty and VAT. Parcels shipped to me (sometimes by myself) that looked non-commercial never ended up at customs, even with the actual value on the customs declaration. But if a parcel looks faintly like a commercial shipment (that includes eBay purchases), it will likely be held by customs. In that case, the receiver would probably need to prove or at least credibly explain that the content is a gift. I also think that British customs has a basic fee that is due independently of the value. Maybe one of the British forum members will chime in.

[Halfed]

In a couple of months UK will be out of EU, I don't know but maybe you can pay less or nothing placing orders from US after Brexit.

[IRONFISH45]

Gifts under a certain amount that are NOT part of a commercial business under a certain amount are not charged VAT. I do not rember for sure what the VAT etc. was, I just remember thinking it was a lot higher than the Canadian GST. Paying tax on the shipping did not seem fair, but that is just my thinking.

The U.S.P.S. will tell you exactly how the shipping of goods to the UK works and the costs to you.

As already noted things change so it is best to go to the source.

There are fees for GIFTS over a certain amount. Different duries for different types of gift. If I send my guy a Thunderbird Hammock, there would be customs fees. If I sent him a DIY Table Cloth hammock @ a value of $25.00 USD as a gift, shipped International Priority Mail, I would most likely be under the Customs radar.

The information is easily available on the internet. The ever changing exchange rate makes exact calculations difficult.

Again, make a phone call or look on line for the FACTS. Things change especially when dealing with government fees.

[Marius Titulescu]

You can try working with W2C. They usually have pretty good rates.