UK members - delivery costs from USA

[deejayen]

I'm just beginning to experiment with hammocks, and need to buy some gear with which to get started.

Other than Hennessy and DD I've not come across many vendors with a UK prescence. So, I've checked out the delivery costs from a few USA-based businesses, and they're more expensive than I expected, with the cheapest option for something like a small tarp or suspension coming in at $60 or $70.

With the poor exchange rate, then duty, VAT and (often) UK courier's handling charge it's making everything seem really expensive!

The other thing is that many vendors only deal with one particular item. For example, they'll sell hammocks but not tarps. If you need to mix and match a system from different vendors then you could be paying upwards of $200 for delivery.

I'm curious about what you do - do you just 'ignore' the cost, and buy what you want\need?

[3 Feet High and Rising]

Hi deejayen

In same boat, I been looking at new hammock did like the look of Onewind. In end I gone for something different at half the price not going to be as well make.
I did find a website I'll DM you as don't want class as spam! Owner is a wild camper not some big tec.
I'm getting a G3Free zipped bug net.

Add:
As for a tarp look at Army surplus or ebay get a British Basha can get a good one for about 30 quid.

[dkurfiss]

An option I see many of our members across the ocean use is to DIY everything they can and only purchase what they can not.

[ofuros]

Mail forwarding companies may be worth a look...you get a US mailing address & they can consolidate packages from various vendors into the one package.

[joe_guilbeau]

Robens @ Campingworld (UK)
Hammock/Underquilt/Butnet "Trace-Series" https://www.campingworld.co.uk/Searc...+trace+hammock

Tarp 4x4meter https://www.campingworld.co.uk/en/Ro...m/m-25785.aspx

If you go with the Robens gear (I have their Green Castle and their 4x4 meter tarp, both 5,000 hydrostatic head).

Amok in Norway
https://amokequipment.com/pages/our-story


Exped in Denmark
https://www.exped.com/en/products/hammocks


Ultralight in England
https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/#/49a66025-7ab2-4be1-afa3-ac959385fc61/fullscreen/autofilters=true&filter[categories][]=Equipment&page=3&query=hammok&query_name=fuzzy&rp p=20

Haven XL Hammock
https://www.magasinet.no/varemerker/haven

There has to be some high end shops over the pond.

Some vendors will ship for free if you spend "X-amount" of money, so there is that.

[deejayen]

Thanks very much for all the suggestions.

I'll look into the mail forwarding option. I did check them out a few years ago, but that was for large, heavy items, and for whatever reasons it wasn't a valid option. However, hammock gear is obviously compact and light, so it might be a good option. What are the typical internal USA delivery charges for hammocks and tarps?

[joe_guilbeau]

Product Quantity Price
Two Person Tarp 1 $295.00
Color :
Two Person Tarp Options - Coyote Brown

1 Subtotal: $195.00
Side Panel Pullouts :
Side Panel Pullouts

1 Subtotal: $20.00
.344 Internal Pole Mods:
Internal Pole Mod - Double

1 Subtotal: $80.00
End Pole Mod (included):
52" pole mod

1 Subtotal: $0.00
Easy Grab Cord End 12 $8.40
1" Spider Daisy Chain Webbing (by Foot) 40 $60.00
Continuous Ridgeline 1 $31.95
Type and Color:
Continuous Ridgeline Colors - Yellow Zing-It!™

1 Subtotal: $19.00
Tarp Connector:
Tato Tarp Connectors

1 Subtotal: $12.95
Subtotal: $395.35
Shipping: $13.75 via Priority Mail®
1,681 miles (2705 Km)

[Bob-W]

In the UK there's also Henge Hammocks - https://www.hengehammocks.com/, I've had a couple of deliveries from them.

Getting material to make your own is also tricky since brexit since many EU companies won't ship to the UK due to new VAT rules. Below £135 the seller charges VAT then passes it on to HMRC (the UK tax authority), above that amount it's shipped to the UK and you have to pay the VAT (and a release fee) to the handler. These rules would apply to purchases from the USA regardless of brexit as they are EU wide and the UK agreed to them prior to brexit. Ripstopbytheroll do ship to the UK, from memory the duty and shipping wasn't too bad, something like £12 on £80 worth of goods. Just checked extremtextil https://www.extremtextil.de/en/ now have a minimum order of 160 Euros (roughly £135) whereas they wouldn't ship to the UK last year.

[deejayen]

Thanks again!

Somebody else has just suggested Henge Hammocks. They sell the tarp I was looking at, along with a lot of the other kit, so I suspect I'll probably end up buying a system from their stock!

[Jimswms]

i'm about due a UK pub trip. Maybe, in the next month or so. If I go, I'll post in this thread. I'd be happy to add your new gear to my carry on and ship it when I arrive in the land of Real Ale.