If I wanted to order something from one of the British Companies...

[Anonymous]

...how would I do that?

Is there any tariff or special thing?

What about conversion of currency?

For that matter, how would I order fro a Aussie company?

I know the post office part, but the rest I need guidance before I try.

Major Carrales

[John Busby]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

...how would I do that?

Is there any tariff or special thing?

What about conversion of currency?

For that matter, how would I order fro a Aussie company?

I know the post office part, but the rest I need guidance before I try.

Major Carrales

Hi Major Carrales
First off check the current exchange rate in your local papers bussiness
section and do the calculations that will let you know the cost of the product in your currency.
Find out what your credit card company charges for
foreign currency transactions.
Make sure you have full contact deatails for the company phone number address (Email If they have it).
Don't have any one of them dont deal with them (Email is the exeption).
Talk to people who have dealt with that company find out there expieriences.
having done that if satified.
Then I have found the best way is to phone order and give details
The company will tell you the postage cost when you order or you can ask
then make up your mind.
I am afraid I don't trust E comerce I had a bad expierienc the first time I tried it
Which UK company??
And most important make sure they put TOY TRAIN for GRR products on the Customs declaration this can save some seriouse problems with the customs and quarentine people who would not have a clue what they are looking at.
This brings up make sure you know what level of cost before import duty gets charged you should not have a problem there
But do check it or you could get caught off gaurd I know of a case of a family having to pay customs on a very big teddy bear that was a gift for their daughter its cost was over the amount allowed in free and the grand parent sender did not check.
All of this is from the AUSSIE perspective so check up your local laws on this
I think?? I have covered every thing
But if you want whatever it is and you can afford it give it a go and see how it pans out, make sure you are aware of your local import and customs laws
Thats the bit likely to hurt if you get it wrong you can always get you credit card company to do a transaction reversal if you have other problems.
regards John

[kimbrit]

Hi Joe,
When I first ordered from Ozark I just followed their website and everything went great, payment, postage, delivery at this end. As John says, make sure they declare 'TOY TRAIN PRODUCTS' or such on the parcel. Talking with other people on other forums it would also appear that the bigger the box, the more attention it gets, my little Ozark packages escape attantion from the excise men!
Stating the obvious, make sure that you leave them in no doubt that the parcel is States bound and therefore not VATable (sales tax) - 17.5% currently.
Cheers,
Kim

[Anonymous]

Hey Capt.

As the phone rates are so cheap now I call the British company before hand. The ones I've dealt with have been friendly and practical, offering advice from their experience with foreign orders. Give them a call and find out what they usually do. They will know about duty. I don't pay duty here in Japan, though I've not ordered anything that expensive yet, again the company will probably know.

Just being nosey but, who and what are you after?

Ragards, Matthew [bow]

[BR60103]

Remember that Britain is 5 or 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (not sure what zone Texas is). At 9 in the morning in new York. it's already 2 or 3 in the afternoon in London. That gives you a small interval to catch the staff in the office. You will probably get better service if you can use a credit card than mailing a money order, and definitely avoid a check.
You may be able to order supplies from an importer in North America. There might be a small saving in hassle if there's a problem, and they deal with customs.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone and keep 'em coming.

I have seen several places on line that seemed to be in England or Austrialia. I have been impressed by the items I have seen at some expecially in the area of RC and the like.

Your advise is helping me formulate a plan for when I am going to try an order.

Major Carrales

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Be careful about electrical supply values and the like, they usually use 50 cycles while we use 60! They often are standardized on 220 or even 440V whereas most of our stuff is 110 Volts. Same deal on frequencies and interfereance tolerances for radio equipment being different in the old world as compared to those of us over here in the colonies!

I like the suggestion of using an importer! Much more likely to have stuff to the proper specifications to be used over here! Why spend a couple of hundred bucks for something only to fry it as you plug it in???

I'd probably call the factory and find out who the USA importer/authorized dealer is so that I could get the product from them and let them worry about all that head scratching stuff!

[BR60103]

Electrical equipment can be a problem. When Hornby produced their live steam HO locomotive, they ended up doing 4 variations -- England, Europe, United States, and Canada -- Canadian Standards insisted on their own modifications. (Not sure what Australia got).