Importing riflescope into UK by post...

[R-Dhillon]

Hey evuryone,
I was just about to order a 6-24X 50 mm illuminated recticle scope from Hong Kong(getting it quite cheap) into UK. Is it legally fine or not? I tried searching the net but could not get enough info.
Regards,
R.Dhillon.

[mundaire]

It's probably cheap because unlike items which you purchase in UK, these online sellers will often bypass paying the import duty and VAT, which can affect the price substantially. However, bypassing taxes is not kosher and if the parcel is detained in UK, you may anyway end up paying the taxes (and maybe punitive charges), besides having to make a trip down to the postal customs office... do factor in that fact.

[simar]

beyond the tax issues, you should be really aware of the fakes that are sometimes are sent from hk can be very useless when it comes to holding zero and having repeatable adjustments. I've been burnt once, so the old addage, you get what you pay, holds true for me.

[R-Dhillon]

Thnx for your post, I'll drop the idea I think.
Regards,
R.Dhillon.

[mundaire]

BTW I just remembered, you can claim back VAT when you return to India (if you are on a visitor visa). For this you will have to ask the vendor to fill out and sign a form and submit the form along at the airport when you are coming back to India. If payment was made by credit card, the refund will show up as a credit on your card statement in about 2 months time, if it was cash they will mail a cheque to your Indian address.

There is a separate counter at the airport for this and since VAT rate is 17.5% it can be worthwhile doing this for expensive items.

[hamiclar01]

BTW I just remembered, you can claim back VAT when you return to India (if you are on a visitor visa). For this you will have to ask the vendor to fill out and sign a form and submit the form along at the airport when you are coming back to India. If payment was made by credit card, the refund will show up as a credit on your card statement in about 2 months time, if it was cash they will mail a cheque to your Indian address.

There is a separate counter at the airport for this and since VAT rate is 17.5% it can be worthwhile doing this for expensive items.

Not on online items usually, as online sellers mostly refuse to entertain this.

Also, the item is to be bought within 3 months of departure for a successful VAT refund.

And it's not the visa that matters but the passport. As long as we don't have the burgundy one, we can claim.

I've bought stuff online from the U.S. The worst case scenario is a little letter telling you the item is in the local post office and will be released upon payment of customs duty (all items above 25£). It is not a regular affair. I've paid 13% import charge for some items and none for the other. Guess it's up to the Babu handling the parcel.

As the others write, riflescope..hongkong? will be a cheap chinese deal. I'd rather save my pennies and buy a good scope even if it costs me more. But it's up to you

[R-Dhillon]

The scope is a Bushnell 6-24X 50mm AO IR. Now, I'm confused... ....

[tirths]

The scope is a Bushnell 6-24X 50mm AO IR. Now, I'm confused... ....

Be careful factory seconds are are sold in HK

[hamiclar01]

The scope is a Bushnell 6-24X 50mm AO IR. Now, I'm confused... ....

do think your exit strategy out. if there is a problem with the scope, are you going to send it back to hong kong? will he accept returns? how will you organise it.

bushnells are certainly more expensive in the u.k. than the rest of the world, but us lot are resigned to our fate to buy them locally simply becasue there is too much hassle, and the customs levy can even out any commercial advantage an import offers.

[simar]

why not just get a falcon menace 5-25x56 or 50 locally in england....