Importing second-hand machine spares into the UK

[AndrewMawson]

If it is through eBay, they now have an international shipping program that covers all charges, so you know in advance what it's going to cost you.

I've used this system and it works well, I've also brought stuff in a few times before this arrangement started, and not only do you not know a final price until you get it, the timescale varies enormously. The new system sails through customs, whereas before it could be in their hands for weeks!

For one shipment (a whole load of powered tooling for my Traub 5 axis lathe) the seller put it in six 'fixed rate boxes' that the US Post Office offer. Five came whizzing through within a week door to door, the sixth took over a month !

This lot weighed a fair few pounds and cost even more !!!