Importing from the USA

[Spectrum]

I would like to get some special bits for my table saw, but cannot find anywhere in Europe to supply, can get them from the US but what problems am I likely to get with customs and at what cost? They are aluminium and a value of $400.

[Polarengineer]

I once bought a rotor disc for my wood chipper, it weighed a good 20kg, solid steel 45cm dia. The only supplier I could find was the original American maker. I do not recall any problems. The manufacturer organized the shipping and taxes, OK you may have to pay a bit for it to get imported, but this was all in the price I paid to the manufacturer if I remember correctly.

[exile]

Checking the World trade duty rates, it looks as if there will be no duty to pay.
https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/headings/8207

You will more than likely have to pay VAT* on arrival and this will be on the cost of the goods plus the cost of shipping from the US to France. There will then be a charge for handling the VAT payment - depending on the company actually doing the shipping into the EU. FRom experience anywhere between 8 and 25€

* It should be automatic but again experience says sometimes you get lucky and the VAT charge somehow gets lost.