Buying film from the US for delivery to UK

film_man · Jan 9, 2011

Hello,

Has anyone bought film from the US for UK delivery? I'm thinking about ordering some of the new Portra 400 in 220, which as far as I can tell is nowhere to be found in the UK.

Does anyone what the import duty is going to be? I know I'll probably have to pay VAT on it but don't know what the duty is. Just so that I know if it is worth the trouble or not.

Thanks.

perkeleellinen · Jan 9, 2011

How much are you thinking of buying? A small amount will probably go under the customs radar but be careful which US shop you buy from as their international shipper may charge you import tax at the point of sale so the package doesn't get held up when it arrives on these shores.

Aurum · Jan 9, 2011

Last time I looked at this, the prices for product were excellent. The shipping was a killer.

Only worth doing if you absolutely can't get the material you want in the UK or Europe.

paul_c5x4 · Jan 9, 2011

Figure on around 20% of the total order value (including shipping) as import/VAT duties plus another £8 handling fee. If the total value of the order is under £18, then you will avoid the extra charges.

Over the last couple of years, the shipping costs from USA to England has increased dramatically, so where I used to buy stuff overseas, I rarely bother.

Argentum107 · Jan 9, 2011

You could order it from Germany,

http://www.macodirect.de/kodak-portra-220br5-filme-p-2173.html

without having compared, I would guess it's a lot cheaper and easier than a US order.

perkeleellinen · Jan 9, 2011

Or just buy it from the UK:
http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/new-kodak-portra-400-342-c.asp

Aurum · Jan 9, 2011

perkeleellinen said:
Or just buy it from the UK:
http://www.ag-photographic.co.uk/new-kodak-portra-400-342-c.asp

I never think about Ag for mail order, though I should, as they are 10 minutes away so all I have to do is rock up and stock up...

That reminds me, I'll need to do that soon as I'm running out of stock from my last raiding mission

perkeleellinen · Jan 9, 2011

It's about an hour's drive for me but I've always mail ordered from there. Do you have to phone in advance if you want to visit?

Aurum · Jan 9, 2011

I tend to phone ahead to make sure the guys are in, and not doing a post run or down the warehouse or similar. They've got very busy since I started going there, not long after they opened

They're above the all-electric Skoda Garage (Small door on the right)

pentaxuser · Jan 9, 2011

Given Ag's prices I'd never consider anywhere else if I was 10 mins away. Even with postage Matt seems to consistently beat most if not all the others most of the time for most of the range of analogue stuff he sells.

As far as prices in different countries are concerned, it's a case of charging what the market will bear. It could be the distributor or it could stem from the maker. The car market i Europe was like this many years ago. We in the U.K were the victims. This kind of "unfair" differential pricing stopped or was seriously curtailed when enterprising entrepreneurs helped( for a fee presumably) customers to order from the cheaper countries, thereby ensuring a cheaper car even when all the applicable duties had been paid.

The other possibility is that if the price differential become large enough then a "grey import" wholesaler will make it his business to order from the cheap country in bulk and sell in the dear country but at less than the maker/distributor is charging there.

In the meantime and until that happens we will continue to be charged what the maker/distributor thinks the market will bear.

If we must have film etc at any price then any price will be charged.

pentaxuser

film_man · Jan 10, 2011

Aha! Never heard of AG before. Generally I buy film from mailshots and 7dayshop. AG prices are really good, I'll order from them. Many thanks!

Adrian Twiss · Jan 11, 2011

I only bought film from the US once. I bought 50 rolls of Verichrome Pan from B&H. At that time shipping charges were reasonable.

The last time I was investigating buying paper from Freestyle the shipping charges made it a complete non starter.

Buying film from the US for delivery to UK

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