Page 1 of Customs and Excise

There`s always a lot of talk about importing DVDs (and other stuff) from the US, but what`s the full financial picture? HMC&E open every package that comes into the UK, so if you want to import something mucky or violent, the post`s out. For regular DVD`s, there`s the duty rate and VAT to consider, unless I`m missing something here. Doesn`t that add to the cost of importation, and what about admin charges by the carrier?

Robert`s very kindly set me straight on this one, but I still think the whole question of personal importation is fraught with dangers.

I think it is just wishful thinking by HMCE that they COULD open all of the packages that come in! In reality a much smaller percentage gets opened.

I`m sure they go STRAIGHT for the ones that look like wrapped up oddly shaped sex toys or square boxes like videos. ;-)

The general rule is, customs will sieze anything they discover that they consider to be obscene or illegal. This generally will only become an issue with things like dodgy looking horror films and pornography.

I`ve imported about 300 DVD`s for myself and my friends over the past 2 years, and I`ve had about 7 packages stopped. The ones which were stopped were either around Christmas time or when I`ve had more than 3 DVD`s in a package.

It would be impossible for Customs to open every one that comes through.

I get most of mine from DVD Box office in Canada as they usually only send one or two DVD`s at a time. I do get some from the UK (www.godvd.co.uk) if I`m in a hurry as they deliver next day usually.