bestecig.com and UK customs?

[K.P.]

I decided to order 2-3 items from bestecig.com (I'm pretty sure the consensus here is that they're good, reliable folks to order from--please correct me if I am wrong). Then I thought that as long as I was paying that much for shipping, I should go ahead and get a 5 pack each of batteries and atomisers. But if HM Customs/the Post Office take an interest in that package (VAT, import tariffs, tax on all that plus a service charge just to collect the money from me) the result will overwhelm the fairly modest savings by doing this.

My experience (plus several friends' experience) in ordering lots of things from the US in the 30-70 pound range is that they only very rarely bother--even when the customs label clearly says it's of sufficient value to be hit for import-related charges. But it occurred to me a company in China doing brisk business might be a different matter.

So...anyone done a similar thing and have any experience to share? Should I expect it to have the same 95% or so chance of being passed over? Or is there a reason to be more cautious? Feel free to PM me if you'd rather not say it publicly.

[robw]

I have gotten 2 orders from them delivered here to the USA and never paid any customs.

[matt30uk]

I've had deliveries from the USA to the UK and not had any problems (although when I ordered from Johnson Creek, the goods value on the customs declaration was considerably lower than the actual price). Will have a parcel arrive from China tomorrow too. (hopefully HMRC will have been on their tea break when that one went through too)

[katink]

I'm getting parcels from China regularly. It has happened just once that I got an extra bill... and that wasn't even because customs looked at it; but because the delivering-agency took it upon themselves to 'take work out of customs hands' by billing what customs 'might have billed otherwise'...grr... (that was DHL - and not a real high bill, I think about 20% of the value)

[CaSHMeRe]

USA Brokerage Customs fee's need to have a value over $500 to be hit with anything ... Atleast by any major shipping company (minus USPS)

[dc2k08]

nothing ever and I've ordered from bestecig. Also They didn't hit me up for my liquid either which was 2kgs worth. They cut open the boxes though to take a peak. Also I think in the EU since jan 09 there is no duty on orders valued under ~€100 though I could be wrong. previously it was something like €25

[MAD 69]

I made the mistake of ordering from bestecigs, never again, they're shipping costs too much, their products are not that good, and they will not let me return the defective product they sent me.

[e-pipeman]

I ordered three usb passthroughs and some liquid from bestecig. Arrived very quickly in perfect condition with no problems. Imho this makes the postal charges reasonable.

[Denni]

I've had problems with oversea orders (not e-cigs) in the past and tend to buy from UK suppliers. They (TW and e-cigs) are very good, so why look elsewhere?

[Madisavapor]

I've ordered from Bestecigs in the pas couple of weeks. Delivery took lesser than a week. You can even track where the order is.
So all in all I am happy..
If you look at the paperwork, it doesn't really says what it is though...
No issues from customs too..