Buying Tamiya Parts From Hong Kong

[tundragumski]

Hi,

I've noticed a lot of Tamiya parts on ebay from the far east; and offering very good savings.

Is this a trap? Anyone used these sellers?

And what's the deal with import tax/duty etc? Is it going to cost more in the end than buying from the UK?

cheers

[hedge]

Hi,

I've noticed a lot of Tamiya parts on ebay from the far east; and offering very good savings.

Is this a trap? Anyone used these sellers?

And what's the deal with import tax/duty etc? Is it going to cost more in the end than buying from the UK?

cheers

HK sellers are good. As always with ebay check feedback and I recomend the shops vs personal sellers.

Reasons to buy generally its down to cost, availablity and uniqueness.

As far as import duty goes its a lottery sometimes you get hit sometimes not. Its not very expesnsive though.

[tundragumski]

thanks for the reply.

So would it be worth buying something for £9 that you can buy from a UK seller for £15? Or would the tax wipe out this saving?

I'm not in a hurry so don't mind waiting the extra week or so.

[Swarm]

HK sellers are good. As always with ebay check feedback and I recomend the shops vs personal sellers.

Reasons to buy generally its down to cost, availablity and uniqueness.

As far as import duty goes its a lottery sometimes you get hit sometimes not. Its not very expesnsive though.

I agree HK sellers are great never had a problem with them usually some sort of postage tracking as well always prompt on posting and communication as long as you dont over complicate emails.

Better than my own countries postage service try and track an item here and it tells you it is not in the system nine times out of ten.

Always read the feedback see if other people have had any problems on posting /damaged goods being delievered to them.

Stuart.

[TWINSET]

thanks for the reply.

So would it be worth buying something for £9 that you can buy from a UK seller for £15? Or would the tax wipe out this saving?

I'm not in a hurry so don't mind waiting the extra week or so.

Depends; once the total costs of the goods (incl. shipping) exceeds £18 you're due for 17.5% VAT, 3-5% duty (applicable to the total value, goods + shipping) plus an £8-£13 customs clearance fee payable to the carrier involved.

Search the forums for excise, duty or customs for more info.

There's no guaranteed/legal way to avoid these charges, it's sheer luck whether you have to pay.

[Kokuzu]

I agree HK sellers are great never had a problem with them usually some sort of postage tracking as well always prompt on posting and communication as long as you dont over complicate emails.

Better than my own countries postage service try and track an item here and it tells you it is not in the system nine times out of ten.

Always read the feedback see if other people have had any problems on posting /damaged goods being delievered to them.

Stuart.

Go HK whenever you can:-)

I once had an issue with product missing - the seller re-transferred the total amount and trusted me to pay after arrival.

I did so after the package took 2 month to swim over the Ocean....

Great service, but it can never hurt to check feedback. I only go with 4 digit sellers (more than 1000 Sales)....

[tundragumski]

Depends; once the total costs of the goods (incl. shipping) exceeds £18 you're due for 17.5% VAT, 3-5% duty (applicable to the total value, goods + shipping) plus an £8-£13 customs clearance fee payable to the carrier involved.

Search the forums for excise, duty or customs for more info.

There's no guaranteed/legal way to avoid these charges, it's sheer luck whether you have to pay.

So if it costs less than £18 in total I pay absolutely nothing extra in every case?

[spaint2k]

So if it costs less than £18 in total I pay absolutely nothing extra in every case?

Correct.

[tam-trucks]

customs is a lucky dip,they dont check everything that comes thru,its random selection

[crash alot]

stick to steall models and rcmart there your best companys and its better to buy direct from there shop they always mark down as gift i have only been charged on package that was from rcmart and that was a $1200 order and i got charged £23.50 £13.50 to royal mail handaling fees rest to customs as said long as u stick to them shops ul be okay manly stealla models

[igbandy]

I have today received some axle diff gear sets for my CR-01 from Stella Models over in HK. Took 7 days to get here, total cost for 3 sets including the postal charge was 44 dollars which equates to roughly 30 quid.

Here in the UK the going rate for a diff set is a shade under 15 quid. I normally buy most of my stuff in the UK but the last time I tried to get replacement parts for my CR-01 no stockists had stock, one of them rang me back saying it would take 6 weeks!. So I guessed the UK distributor didnt have stock either. I really didnt want to waste my time, so I went straight to Stella Models this time.