Hello all,
Looking to buy an item from Amazon UK (I know but cannot find it anywhere else).
Cost is about £180. I’ve seen somewhere that they now a ‘hub’ in Orleans ?? so any idea about custom fees, VAT etc???
Many thanks in advance!
I too would be interested in any replies to this, having just sent a PC back via Amazon to Spain and, after several problems with it language wise, am also looking ahead to the next purchase, possibly from UK.
Only obvious disadvantage is if such an item needs to go back it is almost impossible (depends how much fuss you make 
) to get the full return postage reimbursed.
we used this calculator tool to work out the costs of importing
a roll of fabric from the US - but should work on any imports to
France…
Just be aware that certain courier companies add a fee for filing
paperwork. Can be as much as £25 per item, Post office does too
but not so pricy.
I have bought several items fulfilled by Amazon UK without problems. I’m not sure about items which are dispatched by Amazon from their warehouses, but I assume the same applies. Market place companies may or may not be part of the Amazon system. Check the items are International Shipping Eligible
The price at the checkout has always had UK VAT deducted, and French VAT and import duties and delivery costs included. The items have come through various “hubs” in Belgium, France and Germany.
I have made a return for an item costing about £120 and received the full amount paid. The return label was addressed to a French “hub”. I received the refund soon after the package was scanned in a LaPoste
If you go to Help and Customer Service on Amazon UK and search for International Shipping you will find more information (linking to the page doesn’t work)
That is really useful, and welcome, Elsie.
Some years ago I had 2 laptops go belly up within 6 months of purchase. The first one cost over €20 to return but I only got £8. When the same thing happened to the 2nd one I thought enough is enough and told them only the full postage would do. They paid up without a murmur.
Last week I had a package arrive via UPS, it was held up in customs at Corbeil Essonnes - I had to pay 13 euros import on a £50 package. I also had to declare I that the contents were mine and I would not resell them.
There was approx a 2 day delay due to this process.
Today I received a £40 Amazon UK package - there was no delay and no further charges to pay.
Many thanks to everyone that took the time to reply. Much appreciated.
Happy Christmas to all!!
I have bought one item recently through Amazon France that originated in the UK that I couldn’t find in France, and also had no issues with VAT or import duty. However, looking back at this, I found the following on the products page on amazon.fr
Les importations en provenance de Grande-Bretagne peuvent différer des achats de produits locaux. Des conditions supplémentaires s’appliquent. En savoir plus
Following the link went to a page that basically said that I agreed that I would be responsible for any VAT, import duties or any other charges levied and that Amazon could not be held responsible for such.
So, we may just have been lucky.
That sounds like an item fulfilled/delivered by Amazon through the Amazon Global Store?
https://www.amazon.fr/b?node=26366679031
Import costs included at the time of purchase and customs clearance managed by Amazon
Amazon Global Store simplifies the import process and tells you how much you will pay for orders for international products, including import duties, taxes and fees. Amazon will also take care of customs clearance on your behalf
They estimate what those costs are likely to be, but you are responsible. For a couple of items I purchased last year the estimate was high and I received a small refund about six months later. I’ve not yet experienced an underestimate.
Following the link for conditions on Amazon France gives this (translated)
When you purchase International Products, you acknowledge (1) that you are ordering from the International Amazon Store; (2) that the International Products have not yet been imported into France at the time of purchase; and (3) that the sale takes place outside of France and that you import the products into France for your personal use (or to give it as a gift to another person for their personal use only) and not for resale or use for commercial purposes, as will be indicated in customs documents. You will be designated as the importer of record and will assume the role of declarant for customs clearance purposes. Your purchase may be subject to local taxes in France and if VAT does not apply, you will be responsible for paying all taxes, customs duties and other charges levied by the French customs authorities (“Import Fees”) as a result of your importing International Products into France. When Import Fees are due, as the declarant, it is your sole responsibility to pay such duties and taxes. When possible, we will assess a “Deposit relating to Import Fees” which will correspond to an estimate of the Import Fees which will be levied on the products of your order and will be collected at the time of validation of the order. it is your sole responsibility to pay these duties and taxes
This seems a bit ambiguous, but it may be the translation that has made it so. My French isn’t good enough to tell. The main thrust of this seems to be that is the buyers responsibility to pay for any fees or charges. If I try to buy the same item again, there is no mention during the buying process of “an estimate of the Import Fees which will be levied on the products of your order and will be collected at the time of validation of the order”. Because of this, I can only assume that this was never taken into account.
It just shows that we should read the small print, which I didn’t do when buying the product.
Perhaps if you buy via Amazon UK, it is different ?
I spoke too soon,
Only obvious disadvantage is if such an item needs to go back it is almost impossible (depends how much fuss you make
) to get the full return postage reimbursed.
Not long after I notified Amazon that I had sent the pc back to Spain I received a message from the seller to say that as I hadn’t contacted them first and allowed them to collect it from me they will not be paying me the 40 odd Euros of postage.
I replied that I have before me the clear instruction from Amazon to send it by La Poste, or another carrier if I wished and that I would be challenging that decision, and then gave them a triple single star rating and the explanation as to why. So it isn’t just Euro external transactions that can be unexpectedly expensive.
I assume that was because it was not fulfilled/despatched by Amazon?
This is the EU document on Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) IOSS which details what sellers need to do with regards to declarations, VAT, duties, etc. Companies such as Amazon which provide a marketplace are responsible for sellers through the marketplace. Note there is a different process for items valued over 150€.
A simple fact sheet https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/system/files/2021-02/e-commerce-uk-factsheet_en.pdf
The document does not include references to guarantees or the return or goods. That is where the Amazon fulfilled/despatched becomes important and why purchases from some companies result in charges when returned. There are probably other companies doing something similar in supporting customers but I’ve not seen any list. See also Guarantees, cancelling and returning your purchases - Your Europe
Yes it was, and something I always said I would never do, but I spent so long comparing the various options, about 3 weeks, that when I finally came back to that as the best for all my needs, I completely forgot about that point.
But I did everything by the book printing and reading carefully all the instructions for return by Amazon and at no point was I directed to consult the seller directly, and indeed, I have it before me now where it clearly says that I should send it by La Poste or another carrier if I preferred.
If they reimburse only the purchase cost, and I believe they will, I will take it up with Amazon. I have won disputes with them before but that was with UK, not sure I have the dexterity in French to argue my case.
You don’t need any dexterity, send your complaint in French and English and they will get one of their English speaking customer service people to take your case complaint and answer or phone you in English.
Yes I thought that too, but when I saw an English option while researching another matter the button had magically disappeared when I looked again.
I much prefer email or ‘chat’, so if that is available in English I will go for that. I have found that the level of English as pronounced by some is difficult to understand sometimes. But of course that could be me and my hearing, I have difficulty these days understanding spoken French, even though 20 odd years ago working in a completely French speaking environment I had little problem.
Hi All,
My dad sent me a £5 calendar in the post for Christmas and had a not from the post office that i had to pay 9 euros tax!
NOT a chance! Never collected it
A friend in the UK sent me a package but the customs label on the front not only said clearly what it was but also that the value was less than 20 euros. I didn’t pay anything
So what happens to it, do they dump it, store it or send it back? And if the latter is the sender then faced with a bill for all the postage and handling? Just wondering. 
Hi David,
Well 2 weeks after not picking it up I had to go to the post office for another parcel (no tax, also a calendar) and she said she had the parcel which she showed me.
I told her I’m not paying the tax and I didn’t want it, so completed a small form refusing and signed.
I’ll let you know in time if it gets returned to my dad and he has to pay???