Ebay seller Brand_Jfa

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#79
Hi there!

I am in the UK and want to get an LV bag (Monogram Alma) shipped from a Japan-based seller on ebay, could some one please shed light on the custom duty/import taxes/insurance etc. that i'll have to pay on it? Any info in this regard will be appreciated :)

Thanks!

A
 
#80
amn3 said:
Hi there!

I am in the UK and want to get an LV bag (Monogram Alma) shipped from a Japan-based seller on ebay, could some one please shed light on the custom duty/import taxes/insurance etc. that i'll have to pay on it? Any info in this regard will be appreciated :)

Thanks!

A
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The Border Agency website is a good place to start, and you can get a sense of rates here.

Basically you'd be looking at:
1. VAT @ 20%; plus
2. Customs Duty - % depends on "category" of item; plus
3. Customs handling fee - the last time I got charged this was on a £30 item from the US, and the handling fee cost £8! Not sure if that's a flat fee or if it's proportionate to the item value.

Sorry I'm not aware of any good online tools that will automatically calculate everything that you will need to pay, but unfortunately it will be quite a lot, which is why I never bother buying from outside the EU. For a mono Alma (which I assume is not rare), I really would recommend thinking twice about it. Even where the face value is really good, the customs charges usually make it "not worth it".

Insurance is to protect the seller rather than the buyer. The seller would presumably want to insure for the full value of the item and that may be built into the postage costs that they ask you to pay, but I wouldn't think that you need to purchase additional insurance on your end.
 
#81
OK, I had a chat to my VAT guru and she pointed me to this useful site re customs duty:
https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff/sections

So you need to figure out what category the bag falls under. I may be wrong but I think it would be Section VIII > 42 > 02 > "handbags, whether or not with shoulder strap..." >> "With outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials" >> "of textile materials">> "other" probably? Depends on if they think coated canvas is textile or "leather composition", I'd say customs duty is approx 3-4%.

So you have your purchase price + customs handling charges + shipping, then apply ~4% customs duty to that subtotal, then apply 20% VAT to that subtotal. Is it still a good deal after all that? :-/
 
#82
Silversun said:
OK, I had a chat to my VAT guru and she pointed me to this useful site re customs duty:
https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff/sections

So you need to figure out what category the bag falls under. I may be wrong but I think it would be Section VIII > 42 > 02 > "handbags, whether or not with shoulder strap..." >> "With outer surface of plastic sheeting or of textile materials" >> "of textile materials">> "other" probably? Depends on if they think coated canvas is textile or "leather composition", I'd say customs duty is approx 3-4%.

So you have your purchase price + customs handling charges + shipping, then apply ~4% customs duty to that subtotal, then apply 20% VAT to that subtotal. Is it still a good deal after all that? :-/
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Uh-oh! That's a lot :( ....thanks a ton Silversun for such detailed information, really appreciate your help!
Could you also recommend where can I shop for pre-loved bags from trusted sellers in the UK?

Thanks again :)
 
#83
Some of those bags look like they need to be thrown in the garbage. How sad people can let bags get so dirty. One think that would bother me is the mildew or mold smell. I would think it could multiply and ruin your other items in your closet.

I am sure there are many great buys but I see so much damage and abuse. I couldn't carry a damaged back or one that smelled.
 
#84
^^^They have so many choices, brand, condition, model, color, and prices. Look closely to description and pictures and ask question if necessary. No need for you to buy much damage, mildew, mold bags.
You are right, mildew and mold bag will ruin the entire closet with the smell, etc. and yes I also wonder why some people abused their bag to death.
Just skin those you do not want to buy.
 
#85
meandmylouis said:
^^^They have so many choices, brand, condition, model, color, and prices. Look closely to description and pictures and ask question if necessary. No need for you to buy much damage, mildew, mold bags.
You are right, mildew and mold bag will ruin the entire closet with the smell, etc. and yes I also wonder why some people abused their bag to death.
Just skin those you do not want to buy.
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I often wonder if bags that have mildew and/or mold could have had water damage from flooding, etc. I know with used cars, insurance companies will sell them at auction, and the buyers will take them to another state and sell them, often failing to mention that they were in a flood. The same might be possible with bags as well.
 
#86
tutushopper said:
I often wonder if bags that have mildew and/or mold could have had water damage from flooding, etc. I know with used cars, insurance companies will sell them at auction, and the buyers will take them to another state and sell them, often failing to mention that they were in a flood. The same might be possible with bags as well.
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I think the mold/ mildew in this case is has to do with the climate. Some places in Japan is very humid. My family lived in paradise Island, Bali for 4 years. Some of our shoes and bags that were put in non air conditioner room were damp from very high humidity and grew mold.
This is one of the issue buying bags from Asia (mostly no problem, but there are some) Some Louis Vuitton with leather lining will peel and sticky if stored in high humidity climate, and those vintage canvas will smells like mold. So if you like an older/vintage bag, be aware and ask question.
 
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#88
I am buying the white bag from this seller. I was hoping that I could take it to Chanel to restore. But. I m worried because it is white. Does anyone have any experiences with white Chanel's?
Thanks:)
 
#89
Kimberlym said:
I am buying the white bag from this seller. I was hoping that I could take it to Chanel to restore. But. I m worried because it is white. Does anyone have any experiences with white Chanel's?
Thanks:)
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I have no idea what the item you are buying is or looks like, but Chanel spa can redye any authentic bag made of lambskin or caviar (metallics they don't do this for, and patents can't be fixed at all). You will lose some of the softness of the leather with a redye, but it will bring back the original color. Best of luck!
 
#90
Hello everyone! I am looking into buying from this seller, I was wondering if any of you from the U.S had to pay any fees from customs or anything? Was there any difficulty receiving the bags?
 
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