buying toys

**icemaiden** · 01-11-2004, 20:19

Hi all
We are going to Florida for the first time in June 05 and have a small quirey. whilst looking around on the internet tryna find christmas pressies we noticed that the bratz dolls that my daughter collects are considerably cheaper in the usa than here in the uk. what we are now wondering is if we buy them whilst there and discard the packeging are we able to bring them back here with out paying the ridiculas tax the bumps the price up back here in the uk. there are also far more available or in the usa than here so the opertunity for her to collect rare ones is making her quite excited. thanx for your help. stacy.

**christhear** · 01-11-2004, 20:48

I was over a few weeks ago and looking at toy prices as we are going over for Christmas. Most toys are almost the same in dollars as they are in pounds, so using the exchange rate about 60% of what they cost in Britain.
I am taking a chance with my Son's Christmas presents. They will be unwrapped when we return so who is to say that we did not purchase them prior to going to the USA. Anyway Santa doesn't pay TAX does he?

**Ray&Sarah** · 01-11-2004, 20:50

You are allowed a certain amount of purchases per person anyway and a customs officer would have to be feeling really mean to pullover a little girl wouldn't he?[msnsmile]

02-11-2004, 02:12

When I was Cabin Crew I used to buy all my kids toys in New York etc and bring them back. I declared ALL of them and never once got charged duty, lots are often free from tax like books for example[msnwink]

**orlandobabe** · 02-11-2004, 02:50

I think you are allowed about £124 (or some ridiculous figure like that) worth of gifts-which I would have thought they would come under.

**wend** · 02-11-2004, 02:55

Hi Stacy. Just got back from a holiday in our villa and was on the look out for Bratz dolls too. The one I purchased from Wal-Mart was $19.99 (£11 at that time) and I recently saw it retailing for £24.99 here - so was a bargain. Also visited the toy shop at Premium Outlets and they were also doing the same doll at $19.99 but you got the second one with 50% off. My suitcases were bulging with Christmas gifts for our 3 year old and friends. We are back out in May 2005 next so will be taking a few empty suitcases with us.

Wendy

**LiesaAnna** · 02-11-2004, 02:57

we're looking forward to buying some christmas pressies for kids in florida, its a shame that Fao scwarz has shut, i was really looking forward to going there, oh well walmart here i come again!!!!!!!!!!!
bought babies pressies when we last time, cot toys, teethers, clothes and "receiving blankets"
oh how i love shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**LiesaAnna** · 02-11-2004, 03:01

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wend
Hi Stacy. Just got back from a holiday in our villa and was on the look out for Bratz dolls too. The one I purchased from Wal-Mart was $19.99 (£11 at that time) and I recently saw it retailing for £24.99 here - so was a bargain. Also visited the toy shop at Premium Outlets and they were also doing the same doll at $19.99 but you got the second one with 50% off. My suitcases were bulging with Christmas gifts for our 3 year old and friends. We are back out in May 2005 next so will be taking a few empty suitcases with us.

Wendy
[/quote]

my 9 year old loves them, we bought bratz dolls last time, in fao scwartz the ones that were £29.99 here were alot cheaper over there, but this time we're looking for the nite dolls, she'd like the retro bus but i think that would have to wait for UK shopping trip, if we get it!!!!

**MTP** · 02-11-2004, 03:15

Here is the Customs web-site import duties levels link:

http://www.hmce.gov.uk/channelsPorta...yType=document

Hope it helps.

The important one for this thread would be the £145 for other goods, including gifts & souvenirs.