Import duty, shipping costs, etc. from USA

[badpenny]

I wasn't quick enough to stop pissing about with that computer, so no ice cream for me!

[pennymachines]

One of these days, I will challenge the fee in terms of the amount against the actual value of goods... Problem is, we are doomed if we challenge, as the goods are probably illegal if slot related anyway....

It's not illegal to buy slot machines in the UK and, if you're importing from the States, the seller isn't infringing any British regulations either. If the tax is wrongly calculated, you're entitled to challenge it. You should get a refund if you paid up front to release the goods.

[silverbitz]

I seem to remember a thread regarding import duties etc. There was a 'duty code' mentioned reducing 20% to 5%. I tried it and it worked on a rather expensive machine from the States. People mention various delivery companies but I've found Fedex is superb. The clue is to get an account with them as I have found it considerably cheaper than 'sellers' quotes directly from Fedex in the U.S.

[spintop]

Bought a Hidden Treasure Bryans machine from the States a number of years ago when the exchange rate was really good. It came in a large wooden crate made by the seller and, if I remember, it was shipped by Fedex. Paid £700 in all with post. I did have help from the seller and paid no extra in total !! it all worked ok and Sold it on a few months later.

There was another allwin type European-made very ornate machine with a real fancy carved door and i remember some gold metal ringed small flower in the corners of the playfield ,it was from the early 1900s or a just a bit later , I bought it from the States and after a few months i put it on ebay and it sold for £1300 which was more than i first thought i would get due to the machine not being in the best of condition needing restoration both internally and externally, when the buyer collected and told me in the past he was going to buy one the same for up to £2000 but got outbid in a french auction , he was very happy with the machine he bought from me , i guess the restoration may have put some collectors off but not him , i saw the same type of machine in a french machine book once and then guess what sold that book on ebay as well so dont remember the name now , i did have some photos of it on a old computer of mine so if there still on it and i can find them i will try and add photos to this post , never seen the same machine for sale anywhere before or since and was told by a foreign collector at the time it was on ebay it was rare with only a small number still known to exist. , very good profit but sometimes i wish I had kept it and got it restored some how myself but was told the grey looking internal castings inside are hard to restore once broken which i was told then by a known french collector who wrote books on french slot machines as well

[john t peterson]

Spintop,

These stories are great. They would be even better if you could provide a picture or two or at least the name (if there was one) of the machine in question!

[clubconsoles]

Topic moved & merged - Site Admin.

Happy Christmas to All!
What's the cheapest way to ship a bandit from the States?
Any recommendations of shipping companies to use?
I have always used Fed ex at around the $500 a time to box and ship.
Just had a quote of $925 for shipping alone.
The seller is going to double box for $50 which I think very reasonable!

[clubconsoles]

Went for fedex in the end.
BUT, as posted in the thread earlier, it makes a HUGE difference if you set up an account with them here in the UK!
Seller in US got quote for $925 and i just booked it for £328 through my fed ex account.

[treefrog]

Well done, I had to pay the full price when doing the other way around, but was slightly constrained as did through an auction house.

Worth considering for future. For me the packing is critical and the packing firm I had used did an amazing job, they then shipped through fedex. Would be good to hear outcome of fedex packing service....

Do we get to hear what Beauty you have bought

[clubconsoles]

yes of Course treefrog.
I missed out on the two that went through the Elephant House recently, was the under bidder on the cheaper of the two
A trusted seller on eBay, I bought a Jennings of him in 2006 via fed ex and that turned up well packed!

[badpenny]

Lovely machine, I hope it comes without the carpet.

[clubconsoles]

Lol he can keep the carpet, not to my tastes!