importing a marker?
- Thread starter Lucky
- Start date
Yup a couple of times, the pitfalls arn't that many provided you are buying from a decent supplier with a good reputation.
I couldn't possible advocate dodging the taxman on an open forum!!!
Best advice I can give you for saving money is to buy second hand, or hunt out the good deals from Local suppliers!!
Support the UK trade as they will be able to support you if there are any problems!!! Someone 5000 miles away really won't care!!
Laterz
Ian
I couldn't possible advocate dodging the taxman on an open forum!!!
Best advice I can give you for saving money is to buy second hand, or hunt out the good deals from Local suppliers!!
Support the UK trade as they will be able to support you if there are any problems!!! Someone 5000 miles away really won't care!!
Laterz
Ian
Ian, i completely agree with supporting the uk industry and i even pay through the nose to support my local shop, but the simple fact is that there is not a large enough shop competition base in the uk or enough people playing to warrant the prices to be truly competitive with international prices.
I have a friend in the US and danny can pick up top level markers at mid-range prices, the only problem will be customs and the fact that you legally "have"? to pay Import tax and vat.
I'm ok with paying an extra £5 on a box of paint etc but should we have to pay an extra £500 on a marker?
I'm interested in your views gentlemen
I have a friend in the US and danny can pick up top level markers at mid-range prices, the only problem will be customs and the fact that you legally "have"? to pay Import tax and vat.
I'm ok with paying an extra £5 on a box of paint etc but should we have to pay an extra £500 on a marker?
I'm interested in your views gentlemen
OK, here we go.
If you buy a marker from the states you are buying from one of the big retailers. Think Tesco's size, these guys get massive bulk buy discounts.
However you have to remember that bringing a marker into the UK will cost about $40 for a decent carrier.
Then add the Vat @ 17.5%
Import duty at about 5%
Brokerage fees at about £10
and you have the cost.
You can save a bit, for example if you bought a PMI piranha evo from the states it would cost $249.99. Convert this to pounds and add the shipping you get a marker for £165!
But by the time you add the Taxes, which you have to pay!!!
The marker will cost you £220. Mr Piper is selling these at £249.99, even taken into consideration his bulk buying discount that is not going to be a massive profit margin by anyones standards.
Not paying the taxes is known as smuggling!!! It is illegal!!!
Although there are ways to reduce what you pay these are at best playing the grey!
I quite agree we get stung in the UK, hence the phrase "Rip off Britain" which various political parties have sworn to end for years!!
Its not just paintball we get stung on, its petrol, cigarettes, clothes, electronics, cars. You name it, we pay more on it!!!
I agree it stinks but what can you do??? As an international logistics analyst I can only be 100% straight and legal on this subject. Feel free to take a guess at what my personal views are!!!!
Laterz
Ian
If you buy a marker from the states you are buying from one of the big retailers. Think Tesco's size, these guys get massive bulk buy discounts.
However you have to remember that bringing a marker into the UK will cost about $40 for a decent carrier.
Then add the Vat @ 17.5%
Import duty at about 5%
Brokerage fees at about £10
and you have the cost.
You can save a bit, for example if you bought a PMI piranha evo from the states it would cost $249.99. Convert this to pounds and add the shipping you get a marker for £165!
But by the time you add the Taxes, which you have to pay!!!
The marker will cost you £220. Mr Piper is selling these at £249.99, even taken into consideration his bulk buying discount that is not going to be a massive profit margin by anyones standards.
Not paying the taxes is known as smuggling!!! It is illegal!!!
Although there are ways to reduce what you pay these are at best playing the grey!
I quite agree we get stung in the UK, hence the phrase "Rip off Britain" which various political parties have sworn to end for years!!
Its not just paintball we get stung on, its petrol, cigarettes, clothes, electronics, cars. You name it, we pay more on it!!!
I agree it stinks but what can you do??? As an international logistics analyst I can only be 100% straight and legal on this subject. Feel free to take a guess at what my personal views are!!!!
Laterz
Ian
have a look on ebay international seller i got a factory e blade last month for £600 including delivery and tax with uk warrenty so the deals are out there
ive imported 4 markers this yearr as of march three from canada and one from the usa,and have saved some money too as well as havin some bling markers with and or hard to get colours(had an empire timmy in march and now have a gold to black dm4 which is hard to get hold of)
but going back to importin you can save money with the £ being so strong against the $ and also doing some homework and asking shops questions via email like
is shipping include how much
could you lower the price on the import invoice so i dont pay as much import and vat etc
some will some wont some meet you have way its your call
but so far ive had great service and help from sean beiko and www.canadian paintball.com orders delivered within 7days from start to finish where i am still waitin for a reply to an email from a uk based company i sent them 4MONTHS AGO
so i emailed sean and 7 days later the goods i required where in my hands
laters
neill
but going back to importin you can save money with the £ being so strong against the $ and also doing some homework and asking shops questions via email like
is shipping include how much
could you lower the price on the import invoice so i dont pay as much import and vat etc
some will some wont some meet you have way its your call
but so far ive had great service and help from sean beiko and www.canadian paintball.com orders delivered within 7days from start to finish where i am still waitin for a reply to an email from a uk based company i sent them 4MONTHS AGO
so i emailed sean and 7 days later the goods i required where in my hands
laters
neill
Ok i brought an old impy a year or so ago from the states. Brought via ebay and i had nothing but troubles. The total cost cam to what second hand markers were selling at in the uk and tp be honest id never do it again. The transaction took so long as emails were taking ages to be received due to the time difference. Even with trying to dodge the taxes ull more than likely get stung. If they see a big lump of metal in a box that could look somewhat liek a gun there gonna open it up, and ur gonna get charged for it and it will prolly get held at customs as was my impy. I have met people with nothing but good things to say about buying from abroad and im sure form big companys its a good idea, but i wouldnt recomend second hand buying from the states.