From China to UK via DHL - How long does it take?

[Thiago C]

Hi!

I'd like to buy some vaping stuff from Cvapor and use DHL shipping because I need a fast delivery.
They estimate 2 to 6 days for delivery in their website via DHL, but I don't know if I can trust this info.

Has anyone in UK ordered from Cvapor or another China based website (Heaven Gifts, Gearbest) and expedited their package via DHL? How long does it took?

Also, will I have to pay any taxes when it reaches the UK border? I'd like to spend around 180/200 dollars.

Background info: I don't live in the UK but my sister is going next week to spend 4 days in London. I'd like to buy from Cvapor and deliver the package to her hotel.

If there's a better sub to post this thread, please tell me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Thiago C]

I did some research on customs fees in the UK and found this:

From Royal Mail

So any package with value up to £15 is subject to Import VAT.

I also found a handy Duty and VAT Estimator on shippo.co.uk to calculate the costs for my package assuming I'd spend $200 USD.

Is that right? I'm not sure. And I don't know if the Royal Mail picks packages by sampling to pay import VAT.

In my country it's kind of a lottery if they'll pick your package or not and charge taxes. You just never know. However, if you ship via DHL you always have to pay taxes. I guess it must work in a similar way in UK. So, after the shipping cost and the Imports VAT, I don't know if there's great advantage from buying in China.

 

[Miss Pepper]

1. Trying to time your delivery with your sister being over here. Incl picking and packing and shipping.
2. A company being happy about shipping to a hotel for a guest (typical fraud purchases are noted as being this way)
3. Uk taxes being offset / reclaimable upon your sister leaving the UK and returning where?
4. The amount you are buying will possibly put your sister over her limit on buying gifts to take home (or for herself) - look into it.

I have used DHL before, but when i first started vaping.

 

[crustyfolker]

Hi!

I'd like to buy some vaping stuff from Cvapor and use DHL shipping because I need a fast delivery.
They estimate 2 to 6 days for delivery in their website via DHL, but I don't know if I can trust this info.

Has anyone in UK ordered from Cvapor or another China based website (Heaven Gifts, Gearbest) and expedited their package via DHL? How long does it took?

Also, will I have to pay any taxes when it reaches the UK border? I'd like to spend around 180/200 dollars.

Background info: I don't live in the UK but my sister is going next week to spend 4 days in London. I'd like to buy from Cvapor and deliver the package to her hotel.

If there's a better sub to post this thread, please tell me.

Thanks in advance!

So i suggest forget what you are thinking and order from Fasttech and get the goods sent to you at home.
The reasons are you cannpt rely on the time frame
You would most likely get a customs bill using DHL, fasttech won't cause any customs fees especially if you split your order up rather than having it all in one package. But this is dependant on your countries tax laws of course
a lot of us use the China based sites all the time i only buy my Eliquid making stuff from UK because The Chinese vendors are much cheaper for vapegear

 

[vapemac]

Why does it need to be sent to the uk? To be honest it sounds like a massive gamble to get it there in the exact time frame that your sister will be in the UK.

 

[Mitz]

It will be most likely be delayed because you will have to pay import duty and VAT. It can take 2 -3 days for a package to be released after charges are paid. So add 2 -3 days on top of their maximum estimate.

 

[Thiago C]

Thanks everyone for your input! All things considered, it really sounds like a bad idea and it'll probably won't work out.

@vapemac, you asked "Why does it need to be sent to the UK?" and there are two main reasons:

1. Vaping commerce is prohibited in Brazil. Of course you can find and buy vape products here in stock but everything is sold for double the price or more. Lots of folks buy on GearBest but it's a lottery if you'll receive your package or not. They pick some random packages and sent them to our National Sanitary Surveillance Agency -- if this happens your package is returned to the sender.

2. Our postal service is awful. We only have one postal service, which is a federal/state service. The delivery time is another lottery: if you purchase something from China it may take anywhere from a month to 4 months for you to receive your package. Right now our postal service is on a strike so all deliveries will be delayed for God knows how long.

My last option is to buy from a UK store online and ask them to delivery to her hotel. I did some price research yesterday and I think I'll try Grey Haze and Taste the Vape.
Would you recommend some other online stores in UK?

 

[Thiago C]

So i suggest forget what you are thinking and order from Fasttech and get the goods sent to you at home.
The reasons are you cannpt rely on the time frame
You would most likely get a customs bill using DHL, fasttech won't cause any customs fees especially if you split your order up rather than having it all in one package. But this is dependant on your countries tax laws of course
a lot of us use the China based sites all the time i only buy my Eliquid making stuff from UK because The Chinese vendors are much cheaper for vapegear

FastTech doesn't deliver hardware stuff to Brazil (they used to, but probably went into trouble, since lots of packages are returned). I think they still delivery coils, wires and some accessories though.

 

[zouzounaki]

What about finding a physical store near where she is going and getting her to collect your stuff? Would be much less of a gamble.

 

[Thiago C]

What about finding a physical store near where she is going and getting her to collect your stuff? Would be much less of a gamble.

I wasn't considering a trip to a vape shop because I didn't want to bother her (spend her vacation time looking for stuff for me). Also, at least in the USA, I know that the prices are not the same in vaping shops and are considerably cheaper online. Last, but not least, sometimes you can find some good Clearance deals online as well. But maybe I'm wrong?