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Post by frogdude on May 25, 2012 10:38:16 GMT
Hi guys
Have any of our UK members ordered swords from the states? The reason being, that there's 3 models I've got my eye on - 2 of which arent available here and 1 which is just so much cheaper (even with the shipping cost it's about 2 thirds of the price)
I've done some research, and i'm not concerned about seizure by customs (laws seem more concerned with Japanese blades and these aren't), but I'm as confused as hell about the import tax/duty payable. I've spent ages trawling the customs and excise website, but it's just so confusing and I can't make head nor tail of it.
Anybody got any idea of a percentage? My order comes to about $330 (or £206), with about a third of that being the shipping cost.
Thank you!
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Talon
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Posts: 2,554
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Post by Talon on May 25, 2012 10:50:20 GMT
i've had a few swords pass my way via the states,for $300 you'll be looking round the £40 to £50 mark to clear it,if it's a euro then it will fly through without a hitch providing it's sent usps,if it's sent by fed ex they hold it and ask for the type of the sword the dimensions and also wether it's an antique,fed ex in my experience is a pain usps is much better if you get one from another forum member ask them to put a lower value on the sword,i recently collected a longsword on behalf of another member and it only cost £30 to clear it i also collected one with a value of over $1000 and it cost over £150 in tax,but for a $300 sword im guessing around £40 to £50,it still sucks though
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Post by frogdude on May 25, 2012 14:27:09 GMT
Cheers Talon. I can live with that sort of cost, it still works out a good deal cheaper than buying the equivalent here. Having checked KoA's website they use USPS, so it should all work out OK.
Thanks for the info, greatly appreciated.
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Talon
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Posts: 2,554
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Post by Talon on May 25, 2012 15:06:08 GMT
you wont have any problems with koa i use them myself,though if you're contemplating any of the ht line check out the knight shop they're still running 40% off atm,im seriously contemplating getting the longsword and at that price it's undercutting koa
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Post by frogdude on May 25, 2012 16:28:33 GMT
It's 3 Windlass pieces i'm looking at - the Qama, the Genesis Machete, and the Greek Hoplite. The only one i've found for sale here is the Hoplite at around £160 + delivery. The closest Qama i can find is from Germany (£55 delivered), and the Genesis doesn't seem to be available anywhere but the States. I think my best bet is to get all 3 from KoA.
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Post by Silver_Fan on May 29, 2012 3:26:43 GMT
This may seem a silly question, but say if i orderd a euro sword from Kult of Athena at what stage do you pay the import tax/duty payable, is it when the sword reaches uk customs? Also, would it be cutoms who would contact you to get this payment.
Cheers
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Talon
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Post by Talon on May 29, 2012 5:08:34 GMT
hello mate,the sword will go to your local sorting office (parcelforce usually) they post a slip of paper through your door with the charges,go to the sorting office pay the ransom and pick up the sword
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2012 7:33:00 GMT
Ransom :lol: Thanks for this post, I was wondering the same thing myself
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Post by Insane on May 29, 2012 7:41:31 GMT
I know a shop in Holland that sells them also, that way you don't have to pay taxes. I'll see if i can find some links for you.
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Post by Insane on May 29, 2012 7:56:54 GMT
www.historic-replicashop.com/ind ... yword=qama www.historic-replicashop.com/ind ... cts_id=172 I can't seem to find the Genesis machete, but i know i've seen it somewhere on a dutch site for something like 70 euro or something. The prices here in europe are always higher then at KOA but with shipping and taxes it depends on how high the $ is to see wich is cheaper. Shipping from Holland to the UK for the 2 or 3 swords bundled together should be around 30 euro or something. This store is a good one, i've bougth from them twice before. I could send them an email for some info and shipping quotes.
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Post by frogdude on May 29, 2012 9:22:39 GMT
Thanks Insane. I'll have a look...
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Post by Silver_Fan on May 31, 2012 7:03:53 GMT
Thanks for the info talon
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Post by frogdude on Feb 28, 2013 20:13:48 GMT
A quick update Picked up the Qama from Supreme Replicas, which seems to be Windlass' European sales branch, very happy with it i am too. I couldn't find anywhere on this side of the pond who stocks the Genesis Machete though, so i've been waiting on KoA.... Recently spotted they had it back in, so got all excited and promised myself "next payday...". Payday rolls around, and they're out of stock again. D'oh! Spent some time googling, found a few (all Stateside), but was being quoted $90 shipping for this $70 sword.... Until i stumbled across a Canadian site www.imaginaire.com, who have one in stock, and quoted $10Canadian for shipping! I've placed the order, and waiting for them to confirm before paying via Paypal (so i'll have some protection if it goes tits-up). They've said between $105 and $110canadian dollars total, which with current conversion rates works out about £10gbp less than Kult. So if it all goes to plan i'll be well pleased. Just wondered if anybody else here had used Imaginaire before? A lot of their stuff is comic book and cosplay stuff, but they have a big range of Hanwei and Windlass swords as well. So may be worth checking out, especially for our Canadian members. I'll report back on my experience with them!
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Post by IckleNinja on May 16, 2013 15:52:29 GMT
Having been looking into the subject of exactly this, I found www.dutycalculator.com/ which seems to give a decent estimate of import costs for loads of different countries, both as source and destination. Hope it helps someone else too
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