Buying tools cheaper in america or another country??

Hi,

I've spent a hell of a lot of money (for me lol) on tools in recent years, most of which have come from screwfix which I find relatively cheap for the UK. But tools can be less than half the price in america than in screwfix. So if you're gonna spend several hundred pounds or even a few grand on tools, would'nt it be nice to get them for half the price? but living over here, what's the best way to do it? I found a return flight to New york for around £250, so you could go buy them and post them back. But that's a lot of hassle and the expense of travelling adds up.

Any bright ideas?

cheers

 

i've just re kitted myself out with the entire range of hitachi 18volt battery tools, with li-ion batteries, and the nail gun. The prices were ridiculous even with the postage and the import duty (which is all tax deductable anyway if your vat registered). The only things i've had to buy additionally are some step down transformers for the chargers. Having said that you could buy a new hitachi charger for £50. The only thing you risk is the warranty.

I haven't touched the mains powered stuff as it runs on a different cycle and so wont last.

the nail gun was delivered from washington in 3 days.

This is the company i used and have no hesitation in recommending them (via flea bay)

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Hardware-Sales-Inc

 

Thanks thermo their prices are very good. Looks like I might have to buy from ebay. I think you're right about sticking with just cordless tools when buying from america.

Since it's so much cheaper i'm gonna try and get the whole range of 36V Dewalt tools, but they seem a little hard to source on ebay at the moment, they did'nt have any on the site that you recommended thermo.

I'm still considering taking a trip to america just to buy the tools and post them back, as I think that might work out even cheaper than getting them via ebay. I've got a few people that might be willing to fund my trip if I pick them up some tools, levis jeans etc.

I've been told that some people on ebay ship mass amounts of tools over from america and sell them for a profit. Although i'm not interested in this, I just want to kit myself out with some great tools for a relatively small price.

 

the customs man will be interested when they arrive

 

not a problem you just pay the duty on them which is reclaimable through the business. still a lot cheaper than here

 

I'm on the books so could not reclaim, could have a word with the boss though.

If they did charge you what sought of money are we looking at?

My boss seems to think that if you post them as a gift then they can't charge you duty????

 

ill check what we paid on the nailer, it was about £20 i think. still worth it!

 

all depends if they beleive you

it also has to be less than £100

my son bought a psp from on ebay from h/k before you could get them here
they even sent a valuation with it to say it was a gift worth £99
demand for the £30 odd quid "duty" came some weeks later


you dont pay import duty on second hand stuff you bring in personaly so get it coverd in emulsion and scratches
you also have a personal allowance for hand luggage of around £150

 

i just bought the new Derwalt DC608K 18 guage 18v finish nailer from ToolKing. It cost me £170 all in. It only comes with 1 battery but the 2 battery kit here costs £500 . I've no guarantee as it's a US model but Hay, if it goes faulty i can still buy another 2 and still be better off !!!!.

 

Ive just come back from the states...spent a few quid in Lowes and the home depot..

CHeck out the prices they are excellent...I saved a fortune on brushes etc less than half price.

I only bought small stuff and it probably came to less than a one er anyway.

The home depot ship abroad.

Thermo...how the the system work when you buy somthing other these from here?...do the shippers tate what it is and the customs people do their bit at this end then send a bill or do you have to pay the duty at source or another way?

 

My mate took his PC to the states It was an old battered case with a pentium 2 system in it, as he was there working doing graphics, he said it was for his work. When he returned he'd binned the components and stuffed it with all the latest components bought at a computer superstore, including 2 graphics cards, and 2 hard drives, stuffed! He got about a grands worth of new PC parts for less than half the price.

 

clicky

 

stuff arrived after 3 days. Another set i bought from a different company cleared customs in 2 days. I then got sent a bill from the vat man for the import duty about a week later.

The nailer only came with 1 battery as well, but i bought a couple of new spares off of e-bay for about £40.

Its no hassle at all.

 

I'm waiting for a delivery from USA and paid $49.99 + $33.20 for postage (approx £41) it's about shoe box size parcel, am'I expecting to pay anything on top of this?

First time I've done this and the reason for buying from USA, the item is not available in the UK

 

Never know, you might get lucky, lots of people do in this price range. What was it anyway? (nosey!)