How much to have a Purple Rain skirt imported to the UK?

[nidarosa]

Has anyone here bought a Purple Rain Adventure Skirt from the EU/UK, and if so, how much import tax/duty/VAT did you have to pay on top of the $15 US postage? Seems it adds up to quite a lot ... need to weigh up the actual end cost before I go for it!

 

[MinaKamina]

You will have to pay VAT over the price of the skirt plus the postage, and you will have to pay the clearance fees.
Current VAT in UK is 20%.
20% of $87 is $17,40 is 13,22 GBP (as of now). Handling fees vary. Royal Mail fee would be 8 GBP. Total costs in that case in GBP: 66,1 plus13,22 plus 8.
What happens after Brexit I have no idea.

 

[nidarosa]

Thank you, @MinaKamina, that is indeed a lot. And it would probably not get here before Brexit, meaning it could be stuck in massive backlogs and not get here in time for my walk. Best look at alternatives.

 

[Kathar1na]

The link https://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/THINGS-T...S-OUTSIDE-THE-UK-EU-/10000000091954988/g.html suggests as a rule of thumb: Whatever the cost of your item, expect to pay around an extra 33% in charges - that way you don't get a shock when your item arrives in the UK.

I once looked into ordering an item of clothing from Japan and found a proper online calculator for the charges of importing these kind of items into the EU as a private customer and I found that it made no difference whether I ordered it directly from Japan and paid shipping plus VAT and import taxes or bought it from a specialist shop in the EU (no economies of scale because it's not a mass product and not marketed by retailing companies in the EU).

I also once ordered HikersWool directly from New Zealand where I had only to pay for shipping and not for import. I think they had declared the item as merchandise sample which I found a bit odd but it was perhaps ok because purchasing price and shipping cost for this item were quite low.

It is sooo hard not to add something about Brexit and tariffs. And no idea which emoticon to add now.

 

[nidarosa]

@Kathar1na - good to know. Such a shame Purple Rain Skirts don't have a European seller, I'm sure her profits would soar! And as for Brexit ... Forum rules prohibits me from going there

 

[Kathar1na]

Such a shame Purple Rain Skirts don't have a European seller, I'm sure her profits would soar!

That skirt looks really cool! Especially the purple one! And the sandstone kilt isn't bad either.

 

[nidarosa]

@Kathar1na Yes I have lusted after one for ages and have now got spare PayPal money after a huge clearout, so I thought this was the time. Maybe it isn't.

 

[MinaKamina]

@Kathar1na Yes I have lusted after one for ages and have now got spare PayPal money after a huge clearout, so I thought this was the time. Maybe it isn't.

Options, options....

• might tariffs go down after Brexit? I haven't followed the complicated process in detail, but given the high EU barriers to trading, they might.
• buy it anyway and let a good US Camino friend put it in his or her backpack for you
• buy it anyway and vow to wear it for 20 years, the price per year is a laugh
• sports fabrics are usually more expensive, but you don't need much for a mini-skirt, and it will start under your navel so that's even less fabric

if you don't need all the functionality or whatever the word is, find your own fabric. (who needs UV protection on a waist band of a mini-skirt?) the design is pretty basic, four panels and a waistband, double pockets on the outside and no zippers, buttons or velcro strips. you just need a friend who sews.

 

[nidarosa]

@MinaKamina Haha, absolutely agree, I am currently mulling over all the above!

• I doubt anything will get cheaper or improve with Brexit, so won't be pinning any hopes on that.
• One good US camiga has already offered to bring it over, which is brilliant, but then I won't get it before the end of my camino, which isn't ideal.
• I knew I couldn't be the only one who thinks like that about big/extravagant/quality purchases!!
• I am in possession of a sewing machine and used to be a passable Make-your-owner, so the thought has crossed my mind. It's just the simplicity of buying ready made with my PayPal (near enough Monopoly) money and also supporting a cottage industry. Hmmm ...

 

[MinaKamina]

@MinaKamina Haha, absolutely agree, I am currently mulling over all the above!

• I doubt anything will get cheaper or improve with Brexit, so won't be pinning any hopes on that.
• One good US camiga has already offered to bring it over, which is brilliant, but then I won't get it before the end of my camino, which isn't ideal.
• I knew I couldn't be the only one who thinks like that about big/extravagant/quality purchases!!
• I am in possession of a sewing machine and used to be a passable Make-your-owner, so the thought has crossed my mind. It's just the simplicity of buying ready made with my PayPal (near enough Monopoly) money and also supporting a cottage industry. Hmmm ...

It was Technical Fabrics Week this week on the Great British Sewing Bee. If you need inspiration for turning a festival pop-up tent into something wearable, durable and stylish ..... look no further, you have come to the right place.

Link to the episode for those of us outside the BBC area:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RKF1zl7Cpxc8y1EZFxTHKq7zMyrYfF3j/view