Cost of sending 4 newspapers to the UK
Discussion
Seen some newspapers on American ebay that I would like. They're actually theatre props from a show (which I can use). Seller has listed them with the global shipping programme - so not only is there £16 of shipping, there's another £16 of import charges automatically added.
I contacted the seller to say that duty is not due on the item, but he only wants to ship through the ebay thing. Does anyone have an idea of postage costs for such items (they're not even full newspapers, just a sheet or two for each and can be folded down to A4)?
If he's close I guess I'll suck it up, if he's miles away, would anyone in the US be happy to take delivery and send on to me in the UK - happy to give you a drink for helping out.
I contacted the seller to say that duty is not due on the item, but he only wants to ship through the ebay thing. Does anyone have an idea of postage costs for such items (they're not even full newspapers, just a sheet or two for each and can be folded down to A4)?
If he's close I guess I'll suck it up, if he's miles away, would anyone in the US be happy to take delivery and send on to me in the UK - happy to give you a drink for helping out.
It turned into David vs Goliath! I rung eBay about the import duties on printed paper. Woman on the phone told me to make the purchase and then she'd raise the issue with the relevant people.
Heard back a few days later saying I shouldn't have made the purchase if not happy, basically tough titties. Explained that I was advised to hit the button but got nowhere. Seller should have used 'correct' category (it was correct, in that it was theatre memorabilia, also happened to be printed paper). More exchanges, told to cancel - but seller had already shipped.
No one seemed to think there should be any accountability for acting on the advice of staff - so I found email addresses for the eBay bigwig and the UK bigwig. Took a while but did receive a refund of import duty & fees (from Pitney Bowes direct).
I hate threads with no conclusion but this one wasn't very exciting! Thanks to those who offered to help. The newspapers went out today on their first trip to a youth theatre group (they were from The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and now get a second life in the UK for amateur shows) so was good timing.
Heard back a few days later saying I shouldn't have made the purchase if not happy, basically tough titties. Explained that I was advised to hit the button but got nowhere. Seller should have used 'correct' category (it was correct, in that it was theatre memorabilia, also happened to be printed paper). More exchanges, told to cancel - but seller had already shipped.
No one seemed to think there should be any accountability for acting on the advice of staff - so I found email addresses for the eBay bigwig and the UK bigwig. Took a while but did receive a refund of import duty & fees (from Pitney Bowes direct).
I hate threads with no conclusion but this one wasn't very exciting! Thanks to those who offered to help. The newspapers went out today on their first trip to a youth theatre group (they were from The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and now get a second life in the UK for amateur shows) so was good timing.
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