UK Rigol buyers... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: JJHamster
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 10:51:11 am
content: How much am I likely to get stuffed by UK customs if I import a DS1052E? I am tempted with Aidetek (ebay) offer (~£250) but with BoredAtWork’s free delivery experience it makes the sums hard to do. Anyone willing to share their actual experience? I wonder if the xmas traffic could hold things up?We are getting a VAT hike here as a new year’s present from the government so it would seem sensible to buy before that. I haven’t found a UK supplier with a price anywhere near ebay deals (even allowing for VAT/duty) – maybe I should take up a cheaper hobby like stick whittling or knitting.Thanks!

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 12:00:27 pm
content: I recall a UK distributor with competitive prices who posts here on occasion, if you factor in the raw cost of the scope is about $400 US, then add your VAT, the total price maybe near what she can give you.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=572Can't hurt to find out.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 02:55:17 pm
content: Don't think there's significant duty on this type of imort, so amount will be VAT on declared value + shipping, plus handing /clearance fee (£8 via Royal Mail, could be a lot more if via Parcelforce,UPS,Fedex etc.)

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 05, 2010, 04:07:16 pm
content: I bought from AideTek (USA) via ebay for $375 imported to the UK direct from Hong Kong via DHL which was their chosen carrier. DHL have a consumer friendly policy on such a non commercial consignment... a fixed £10 customs paperwork fee. There was a realistic declared value and I ended up paying only VAT plus the DHL £10 fee.

author: Joy at MCS
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 06, 2010, 03:13:43 pm
content: There is definitely customs fees if you are buying from China and you'll likely get charged VAT. It however also depends on how they ship it. If they forget to mark that you are suppost to pay the VAT and customs fees on your end then it would be billed back to the supplier.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 06, 2010, 06:09:59 pm
content: I would only buy from HK if there would be significant savings compared to buying local. Compare price + shipping + VAT/duty + whatever extra fees the courier charges with price + shipping locally. Then compare the money you save with the risk of having to send it back. Shipping costs + hassle to HK may easily erase any saving, but on the other hand you may never need to return it.It sounds like buying overseas may be significantly cheaper (I haven't done the math), ask yourself how much warranty is worth. I would consider warranty in HK almost no warranty, since it will be gone for many weeks, and shipping costs from Europe to HK are much higher than the other way around.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 17, 2010, 05:57:56 pm
content: I bought mine from china on ebay and was not charged any import duties but maybe I got lucky I have very little concept of how import duty works

author: dealexcel
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2010, 06:48:36 am
content: welcome to order with us:http://www.dealexcel.com/we offer the lowest price on rigol products

author: JJHamster
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 02, 2011, 10:49:53 am
content: Quote from: Simon on December 17, 2010, 05:57:56 pmI wonder what the odds are for imports being stopped? Maybe the new government public sector cut backs will reduce the number of HM revenue Rigol import inspectors!

author: phil4107
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 03, 2011, 05:54:17 pm
content: I've bought a few things from the far east including a DS1052E (from Hong Kong) and have never been stung for import duty.However, I did get hit on two items I bought from the US!

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 10, 2012, 10:38:05 pm
content: Do we really need multiple copies of this nonsense? This is clearly FUD lacking any substance.

author: Kozmyk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2012, 08:40:02 am
content: I got my 1052 from HK last year just before I learned of the existence of Batronix in Germany and before MCS lowered their prices.Whether or not you get hit for duty on stuff from HK is a matter of luck.Do you feel lucky?I'd have been happier paying a bit more for the comfort of knowing there was local warranty support.Luckily for me it's been going fine.Then again with the 100MHz hack, if it had gone wrong and been unable to revert to original spec, the warranty would have been void anyway. ;^)