Does anyone have experience with buying wine from overseas? Thanks to the strong dollar, I found a wine I like at a price I like, but I have no idea about taxes/shipping/import duties? Can anyone provide a quick crash course?
Alex
Worth also looking in Europe, as the Euro has dropped against sterling, so even better bargains may be had there.
regards
Ian
A good idea as well! I will certainly look into it, but I still need to figure out how the mechanics of buying overseas and shipping works.
The simple answer is that it doesn’t…
Have a look at these threads:
I’m sure there are many more.
In fact, this question seems to come up regularly, so perhaps it should be made into a sticky with links to the threads covering it?
I used to live in London and buy most of my wine through BBR. Still have several hundred bottles over there with them.
When I moved back to the U.S., they shipped about 800 bottles to me for a total of about $2,500, which included the shipping costs and all U.S. customs and duties charges. The wine at BBR was held in bond, so I never paid the 20% VAT charge in the UK. Overall, it was a pretty good deal, I thought.
Who is BBR? Do they have a website?
Alex
Berry Bros and Rudd. An incredibly historic London merchant with a surprisingly clued up approach to the internet.
regards
Ian
That’s the only way it works for anywhere reasonable money.
You have to ship at least a pallet at a time (about 50 cases).
Interestingly, Corney & Barrow and another major wine merchant (either Justerini & Brooks or BBR) about a year ago started a service where they will ship a case to select destinations in Asia (Hong Kong & Singapore, I think) for 30 GBP. But only Asia since they have physical presence there on the ground and don’t have that in the US.
Google is your friend:
I’ve purchased small quantities (generally a case or two at a time) from both retailers in the UK and France, each time having a company called Seabrook Export Services collect the wine from the retailer and deliver to me. Their costs include all duties and taxes. From the UK, I’d figure on about US $350 per case.
I’ve done this ocassionally, but not in a very long time. Maybe with the USD strength its worth looking into again. But in general I would not recommend it. It doesn’t make economic sense to do this unless
a) one is buying lots of wine,
b) or very expensive stuff.
c) something is so insanely rare that you can’t find it in your own country
It’s a plus to live in a major port city like NYC or SF, where its easier to collect the goods if its coming by sea freight.
If the dollar continues to rally, retailers and the rest of the supply chain will do the heavy lifting for consumers, and get the importation / shipping done – probably more efficiently than any one person can.
The UK is expensive to ship out of.
A little over $40-- per case is doing very, very well.