Particularly given the large increase in postage for the first 45 + the decline in the value of Sterling + I was charged £9 VAT on a package with a customs value of $30 + £8 Royal Mail handling fee. I used to get some very nice items for $5-$10 that I could sell on, but these charges are making it not really worth while to buy reasonably priced items that used to be cheaper to buy from the States, unless it is a must have for your own collection. It may still be worth it for a high value item bought cheaply obviously. Do other buyers have the same observations?

I have also been stung for £11 vat for a record that was $22 a while back, I refused to pay it and it was sent back and I received a refund less postage and PayPal fee Having bought a few before the postage rise I simply sent a message asking the seller not to put full amount on customs ticket, worked a treat several times but since the rise I haven't bought again and unless it's something I really want I won't be buying again. Corporate greed knows no bounds!

I reckon I'll be lucky to get away with £300

I had a tune arrive that was $600 not long ago...worked out at £98 with customs and postal charges....I rekon £250 tops

It's just as bad in this country since the charges went up last April. Try sending a 45 anywhere abroad and you'll have a shock. I've had to stop selling to customers outside the UK on my business web site. The cost of postage means it's just not worth it.

It's not that bad. Well it IS bad, but not to such an extent that's it's stopped me selling and people buying.

£3 to Europe

£4 outside Europe

£8-£9 registered worldwide

One more cheesed off US seller here--I think the future is multiple records sold as a lot to justify the postage and low customs value on all. Maybe you get the one you want and a few similar to trade or sell yourself. Keep watching...

Yes when I'm buying from the States I double up now. $11 for up to three records isn't too off putting. There are still bargins to be had (more so if UK buyers are put off by the price increases). I picked up the Exsayeyons "I Don't love you no More" on Smoke - all be it in VG condition - for £6.95.

I think prices are coming down due to the amount offered for sale at the moment, that said the rare ones are holding their own.... Deffo think the bottom will fall out of it in the next 5-10 years though, disconcerting though that may be, there will be no revolution in the music industry like the cd to totally reignite the collecting scene as with the 9ts, but you never know the 'Mod' trend/style in the uk is as strong as ever and is ever present saw merc outlet on house of Frasier yesterday... So the northern scene stands a chance in the future...

Although, We may all be past it when that happens...and our collections living in oxfam shops and market stalls.... It was like that on the late 8ts.

I think postal charges won't chane things in the long run, the mother country has too much to offer to stop collectors buying, we wil just get smart, buy on account, keep the additional charges down and all that

Mal.C

Edited February 27, 201312 yr by Mal.C.

How are the Yanks justifying such Major increases , just watch the bloody royal mail will follow suit !! Paul

It's because the US Post Office is losing $25 million US per day. They are required to pre-fund health insurance for future retirees, which started in 2006. It's really moronic, because before the postage increase, I was giving them a lot of business, and since the 27 January jump, not so much.

Just had my first ever Customs charge. Record cost $167 and I asked the vendor to declare a nominal value, which he declared at $47. It cost me £14 in charges. The only good thing about it was that I paid online Weds night and it arrived this morning.

Rob