Paying over the odds?

[parapaul]

I've been itching to try a Gillette Black for a long time, but I haven't been able to find them anywhere in the UK so in a spat of late-night ebay shenanigans I bought a couple of packs on ebay, from the US. The blades themselves were $6.99 for 2 packs of 7, which I didn't think was too bad. Then the shipping came to $12 and customs charges $4...

So, that makes them just over £1 a blade! Compared to my normal Feathers which are about £3 for 10 that's just insane!

Late night eBay. Must. Stop.

And they'd better be the best damn blades I've ever used at that price!!

 

[Alphonse]

The blacks are really nice.. Maybe someone in the US will send you some blades. They aren't nice enough to pay what you paid though ;P

 

[elverdiblanco]

I've been itching to try a Gillette Black for a long time, but I haven't been able to find them anywhere in the UK so in a spat of late-night ebay shenanigans I bought a couple of packs on ebay, from the US. The blades themselves were $6.99 for 2 packs of 7, which I didn't think was too bad. Then the shipping came to $12 and customs charges $4...

So, that makes them just over £1 a blade! Compared to my normal Feathers which are about £3 for 10 that's just insane!

Late night eBay. Must. Stop.

And they'd better be the best damn blades I've ever used at that price!!

You shouldn't have had to pay any import taxes on that! I'd get on to HMRC for a refund just to annoy them

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm

All other goods

If you order or send purchased goods other than alcohol, tobacco, perfume and toilet water from a country outside the EU then you:

• don't have to pay Excise Duty
• may have to pay Customs Duty on goods with a value that exceeds £135
• will have to pay import VAT on goods with a value that exceeds £15

Note that on all goods from outside the EU, Customs Duty is waived if the amount of duty calculated is £9 or under.

 

[Cornishman]

Hi,
I live in Cornwall and recently bought 84 Gillette 7 O'Clock Blacks (60+24 free) from this guy in India for £16.66p

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gillette-...942?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19dba1cece

They took a few weeks to arrive but they were free post and no import duty!
Works out between 19p - 20p a blade. They're good blades too!

 

[parapaul]

Well, these arrived yesterday - typically about 10 minutes after I'd just finished shaving and loaded a new Feather, so they'll have to wait for a few days.

Thanks for the link Cornishman, if they're good that ebay link works out cheaper than the Feathers.

 

[Toothpick]

FYI: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/332992-The-Great-Blade-Exchange-2013

if you ever want to sample a blade before committing yourself to a purchase.

 

[Chadao]

I think I've seen since that you didn't like them, so it may not matter. I paid $24 for 105. They are now my favorite blade.