Hi. I'd like to ask some questions about shipments to the USA. I tried submitting this question via the website help email a couple of weeks ago but never got a response.
Can you explain how you handle shipments to the USA? Specifically, I'm interested in the following issues:
VAT TAX EXEMPTION. As a purchaser in the USA I would be exempt from the UK's VAT, and subject to any tariff/import duties upon entry of a package to the USA. For this reason I would like to ask what are the VAT-Exempt prices for shipments to the USA. Obviously, your web site's prices include VAT, but I am exempt from your VAT and subject to my own country's tax laws. Can you explain how you handle VAT-exempt sales and what the VAT-exempt prices would be?
SHIPMENTS TO USA - CARRIERS. What shipping options are available for shipments to the USA? When using the Post Office I am am not required to hire a customs agent to represent me when my package clears customs -- I act as my own agent at no additional charge. On the other hand if an independent commercial carrier such as DHL/FedEx/UPS etc. are used for shipment, they charge an exorbitant fee for clearing my parcel through customs -- the added expense is unreasonable and makes the idea of buying boards non-viable.
I'd like to purchase several boards, but the VAT-Exemption problem and the international courier problems are potential deal-breakers.
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for the explanation. I've still got a question though -- When you ship internationally, what carrier do you use? I see shipping choices for regular shipping, or shipping with tracking, but I don't know which I would get for a transatlantic shipment. It's important to know which services you use for international orders (Post/DHL/Fedex/etc) and which of those provide tracking. Thanks.
Thanks for reaching out! I’m happy to clarify how we handle shipments to the USA. As I operate as a sole trader and am not VAT-registered, my prices do not include VAT—what you see on my website should be the final price, and no additional VAT needs to be removed (unless there's a bug with the payment provider, in which case please flag it to me and I'll get it sorted).
Regarding import duties, in the United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), the corresponding code of my product is 8534.00.00, which covers "Printed circuits, without elements (other than connecting elements) fitted thereon." Products under this classification are typically subject to a 0% import duty, rendering them duty-free. ​Different story for the EU (...Brexit) where there are import duties on this product code (https://www.parcel2go.com/international-shipping-hub/Consumer/customs-and-vat)