Wummyock Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Hello was just wondering if anyone on here has bought Digitrax controllers from the USA on E-Bay?They do appear to be very cheap but do you have to pay some import tax when they turn up in the UK?Also did wonder how it affects the warranty if you are based in the UK? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium spamcan61 Posted November 12, 2011 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 12, 2011 This may be some help, although I'm not convinced by 'cables and leads':- http://www.dutycalculator.com/popular-import-items/import-duty-and-taxes-for-n-dcc-equipment/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Tax - you owe VAT and import duty on the items when they enter the UK/EU. Also, if they come via post office (and some other carriers), there will be a handling charge for collecting the tax. Warranty - you get no support from UK dealers (why would they ? you are not spending a penny with them), if it goes wrong, you send it to Florida at your expense. The warranty will be whatever the US offers. In contrast, stuff bought from UK dealers can be returned for repairs at UK dealers, and UK/EU sales regulations apply which offer considerably more protection to consumers. Power supplies - some Digitrax kit has regional power supplies, so the power supply for some US items will be 110V. It won't work if plugged into 220V. Some other power supplies are multi-voltage switched mode types, so work on any voltage/frequency of mains (though US items will have US plugs). Radio certification - Digitrax' older "simplex" radio system is illegal in the UK/EU - operates on frequencies reserved for other use. The "duplex" system is legal in the UK/EU. Technically one should use the duplex stuff with CE certification marks, though I suspect there is no technical difference other than the certification tests have been carried out. - Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wummyock Posted November 12, 2011 Author Share Posted November 12, 2011 Cheerz spamcan and Nigelcliffe! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigelcliffe Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 This may be some help, although I'm not convinced by 'cables and leads':- http://www.dutycalcu...-dcc-equipment/ I'd have suggested the "Toys" category would have been better. Once in there, one can get to a final sub-category for model railways. Currently the duty is 0% on those. - Nigel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted November 12, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 12, 2011 Ebay is not the only source if you want to buy from the US. There are a number of reputable dealers there, including this one http://www.tonystrains.com/index.html who specifically stocks the CE version of Digitrax duplex kit. Nigel Cliffe's point is relevant though - you are on your own for warranty items. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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