Selling direct to the EU from the UK

ZX80 / ZX81 hardware and software offered for sale or swapping
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Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2013
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Selling direct to the EU from the UK

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Hi all

I sell the occasional zeddy, currently mostly on a well known auction site. I use their global shipping process which is very easy but quite expensive for the buyer.

As well as the computer they pay in effect two lots of shipping (one in the UK to the global shipping centre, and one to take it to the buyers country) as well as, I have no doubt, a handling fee. I also pay higher seller fees for using this global shipping process.

For the EU at least I could send stuff directly (as well as the occasional direct, not via said auction web site sale) and save on fees etc.

But, what do I need to do in order to do this legally? Since Brexit I have only sent gifts to the EU (genuine zero cost items rather than ‘gifts’). Do I need a VAT code and similar? If so is this down to the value of the sale?

Any experts out there?

Many thanks!

Lardo
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
Moggy
Posts: 3053
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:00 pm

Re: Selling direct to the EU from the UK

Post by Moggy »

Lardo Boffin wrote: Sat Sep 16, 2023 5:07 pm Hi all

I sell the occasional zeddy.....


Sorry Lardo, just had to. ( Hides.)

Serious head on, perhaps Rich Mellor may have some ideas re this.
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dr beep
Posts: 1974
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:35 am
Location: Boxmeer

Re: Selling direct to the EU from the UK

Post by dr beep »

customs will sent an additional bill for the import of the goods, 7 euro minimum.
rmbrowngr
Posts: 26
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2021 2:58 pm

Re: Selling direct to the EU from the UK

Post by rmbrowngr »

I think the applicable term is a “nightmare”. I’ve been charged VAT for importing goods when it wasn’t due, plus occasionally import taxes for certain goods. I’ll only buy from the UK from Amazon and eBay via its global shipping unless I’m confident the seller knows what they’re doing.
ZX81 (purchased November 1982), my first computer.
ZXpand+, ZX8-CCB.
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Paul
Posts: 1445
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 8:15 am
Location: Germanys west end

Re: Selling direct to the EU from the UK

Post by Paul »

I suggest taking the tunnel and posting in Calais :ugeek:
In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is.
dr beep
Posts: 1974
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:35 am
Location: Boxmeer

Re: Selling direct to the EU from the UK

Post by dr beep »

friday and saturday I am in the UK and take the tunnel back home.
jojo
Posts: 116
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:25 pm

Re: Selling direct to the EU from the UK

Post by jojo »

UK ( GB ) is non-eu !!

so unless the seller is IOSS the buyer pays the bill !!

In my country up to € 75 for a small item i stupiditly bought in the UK

-illegal-import fine ( as the buyer needs to announce the import to the customs office )
-handling fees ( including a ridiculous amount as "stocking-fee" per day )
-import taxes ( based on a phantom-fee-table , see line 1 ) )
-bpost handling fee to get the parcel to their postal services
-the final taxes on top of that ( 21% )


i cry myself asleep every night , as all my sinclair and commodore parts come from the UK
Zx81-16k exp.- Spectrum 48 - Spectrum 128- Interface 1 - DIVide - Zx flashcard- Zx printer - Ram turbo-Velleman interface system-Currah microspeech -Ql - 512k exp.- Ql printer - Cst floppy interf.- Double 3.5 floppy- Minerva - Qimi-and much more .
Lardo Boffin
Posts: 2013
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 2:42 am

Re: Selling direct to the EU from the UK

Post by Lardo Boffin »

The most important parts of my zeddy refurbs come from Germany and although the seller has done a great job of keeping things simple I still feel your pain.
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
jojo
Posts: 116
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:25 pm

Re: Selling direct to the EU from the UK

Post by jojo »

the german seller simply add the costs for non-eu items to the selling price !!

so right now my old-computer hobby has come to a 100 % halt.

spare parts are simply too expensive to make this situation bearable .

i stopped my repair service as the prices i need to charge are beyond my customers price range

i will need to make a car trip to the uk and get the parts delivered somewere around the chunnel area .
Zx81-16k exp.- Spectrum 48 - Spectrum 128- Interface 1 - DIVide - Zx flashcard- Zx printer - Ram turbo-Velleman interface system-Currah microspeech -Ql - 512k exp.- Ql printer - Cst floppy interf.- Double 3.5 floppy- Minerva - Qimi-and much more .
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