Shipping Xmas Gifts to UK?

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, so mods, feel free to move if need be...

Is anyone shipping Xmas gifts to the UK? If so, how are you going about it? And how do you make sure that there isn't COD (cash on delivery)?

I feel like I might have asked this before, but I thought I'd start a new thread as it's the holiday season.

Two out of three times (the first time I didn't specify and the second time when I did, there still was COD) that I've shipped something to the UK (using UPS), there's been COD. I definitely don't want this to happen as I'm sending gifts to my fiance and his family.

Any tips on this?

TIA!

I don't know if this would be an option for you, but my husband and I just make an Amazon wishlist on Amazon.co.uk for our families back in the states.  You can pay with a US credit card, but get it shipped to a UK address and not pay international shipping fees.  It might be worth it to look on Amazon UK for your Christmas gifts if possible, I know our families back in the states feel it is a lot easier than trying to ship something themselves.

Why would there be COD?? Are you talking about customs charges or insufficient postage?

I've already got the gifts bought, just need to go in a box.

Dunno why these were COD. First time I sent an ipod and the second time I was charged was a guitar.

Am I doing something wrong here? 

Its not COD.  COD is when the goods are actually being paid for upon delivery and that is not the case here.  What the recipients are likely being charged is a customs charge or duty as Chary said. 

Did you fill out a customs declaration completely when you sent the package(s)?  Sometimes if you just write "gifts" as the contents, they will have to open the package to see what is inside and will pass the charge of this on to you.  I know it can spoil a surprise, but you do really have to write the contents of the package on the declaration form.

Per the HMRC site: Customs officers sometimes need to examine the contents of a package - particularly when the sender has not completed the declaration fully. In such cases the opening, repacking and resealing of the package is carried out, under UKBA instruction, by Royal Mail staff. The cost of these checks is often passed on in the form of a handling fee, payable on delivery of the parcel along with any tax and/or duty. See the section 'Delivery of goods'.

You also sometimes have to pay duty on packages sent to the UK from outside the EU.   Here's some more info about that: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/paying-tax.htm

Its not COD.  COD is when the goods are actually being paid for upon delivery and that is not the case here.  What the recipients are likely being charged is a customs charge or duty as Chary said. 

Did you fill out a customs declaration completely when you sent the package(s)?  Sometimes if you just write "gifts" as the contents, they will have to open the package to see what is inside and will pass the charge of this on to you.  I know it can spoil a surprise, but you do really have to write the contents of the package on the declaration form.

Per the HMRC site: Customs officers sometimes need to examine the contents of a package - particularly when the sender has not completed the declaration fully. In such cases the opening, repacking and resealing of the package is carried out, under UKBA instruction, by Royal Mail staff. The cost of these checks is often passed on in the form of a handling fee, payable on delivery of the parcel along with any tax and/or duty. See the section 'Delivery of goods'.

You also sometimes have to pay duty on packages sent to the UK from outside the EU.   Here's some more info about that: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/paying-tax.htm

Thanks mirrajay. So just to be clear, even if I fill out a customs declaration form, there still could be a chance that they are charged a handling fee upon delivery?

I'll make sure to fill out a complete customs declaration form.

I either heard or read that if what you are sending is less than a certain amount of money, then there won't be any type of fees (or what I thought was COD). Any validation to this or am I completely losing it?

Thanks mirrajay. So just to be clear, even if I fill out a customs declaration form, there still could be a chance that they are charged a handling fee upon delivery?

Yes, apparently.  If they think there is a reason to open the package and have to spend their time, opening and inspecting, they can charge you. (according to the HMRC site anyway)

I dont think the likelyhood of being charged duty or customs fees relies solely on the value of the shipment, but perhaps someone else can comment.

I don't know if this would be an option for you, but my husband and I just make an Amazon wishlist on Amazon.co.uk for our families back in the states.  You can pay with a US credit card, but get it shipped to a UK address and not pay international shipping fees.  It might be worth it to look on Amazon UK for your Christmas gifts if possible, I know our families back in the states feel it is a lot easier than trying to ship something themselves.

Yeah, this is what I do, nice and simple and cheap!

But I have shipped a couple of presents too from the US.  I just fill in the customs form at the post office, and I've never had to pay any extra at any point.  Having said that, the value of what I'm sending is usually less than $30.

Here's another random tip. I documented the heck out of my 3 year old, well used golf clubs shipped last summer and still had to pay to get them. Argh. What I realized after the fact is that I bought the boxes new and they said "Golfsmith" allover them. I'm guessing that threw up a visual flag.

Moral: Anything you can do to not make it look like it was new merchandise shipped to a US person and then forwarded (to avoid VAT or get better price) may help.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000014&propertyType=document#P58_4879

This should answer most of your questions

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000014&propertyType=document#P58_4879

This should answer most of your questions

Thanks, so much. I'll keep that in mind for the future! Sent my packages off yesterday!

Yaaay! My package just completed customs clearance. I think that's a good thing, right?