Is Importing Cheaper Than buying UK Now?

[Nightwingvyse]

Hi all, it's been a VERY long time since I was last here, but a thought has occurred to me and the only answers I can find are from back when cigar prices were very different in the UK. I also couldn't find anything directly relevant here so I hope I'm not just spamming a topic that's been talked to death already.

So a colleague of mine took a trip to Italy and I gave her some money to pick cigars up for me in duty free. She knows nothing about cigars so I gave her the basic rules of what to look for. The selection in duty free wasn't much good so she actually just bought them in Italian cigar stores while on holiday. She did amazingly for someone who doesn't know what they're doing, and got a dozen RyJ No.2's, a 10-box of Casa Magna Robustos, and MOST of a 25 box of VegaFina Nicaragua Robustos. She spent £288 in total which would have cost about £900 over here. (She went to official outlets with walk-in humidors so it's safe to say they're legit).

The question has occurred to me of whether it would just be cheaper to buy cigars from abroad and pay the import and customs fees. A few years ago it wouldn't have been worth it but the prices are so contrasted now between the UK and elsewhere that it might not be the case anymore. For instance the RyJ No.2's she got in Italy worked out to be £8.25 each, but are going for £25+ each over here currently.

I've checked out some customs calculators but I'm not convinced I've accounted for everything. The taxes would have to total over 200% of the value of the cigars to not be worth it, but I wouldn't put anything past the UK government. Does anyone know more about this?

Thanks in advance.

[ha_banos]

Interesting because for CC the latest Habanos increases are designed to level the international playing field so to speak...

Of courses taxed don't account for it all when you look at retail. H&F and the retailer have their harsh cuts too.

The customs calculator gives you an indication. https://trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/...IWkBJLeL188Dkc

There are sometimes offers that make things more level. It's obviously a matter of timing.

B.

[PeeJay]

The important to thing to remember is that HMRC weigh the package so you will be paying import duty on the whole weight. I bought some custom dalias from an import company knowing full well that I would incur duty and the supplier put the actual weight of the loose cigars on the customs label. After duty they came in at around £17 each which I thought was very reasonable.

Just remember that forum rules forbid discussing the evasion of duty but I think the above should be okay.

[liles]

I would assume you could challenge the improper application of customs duty if they're doing something bonkers like weighing the whole box - it would probably be a nightmare, however.

But yes, best to know the stick weight. A certain supplier [Edited by Deano] were able to give accurate information on the per-stick weight via live chat when I inquired about their custom rolls.

[ha_banos]

This is where CCW is a good resource, amount other things. Average weights per CC vitola

https://www.cubancigarwebsite.com/cigar/factorynames

[Cigar_Addict]

I was trying to work out this the other day..

A quick calculation on 25 Robusto's puts the weight just under 300g (bundled, no box). £395 per kilo makes it around £118 in import, plus the cost of the sticks in the first place

Is that a fair calculation or have I missed another tax/duty?

Edit, using the calculator ha_banos kindly linked, the above duty would be just under £200, plus the cost of the sticks.

[potpest]

I was trying to work out this the other day..

A quick calculation on 25 Robusto's puts the weight just under 300g (bundled, no box). £395 per kilo makes it around £118 in import, plus the cost of the sticks in the first place

Is that a fair calculation or have I missed another tax/duty?

Edit, using the calculator ha_banos kindly linked, the above duty would be just under £200, plus the cost of the sticks.

There's customs Duty as well which is 25% of the price of the box (was 5% in the EU, sorry couldn't resist)

Then you need to add 20% tax on the total.

So let's say the box is £200:

£200 + 118 + 50 = 368
368 * 1.2 = £441.60

Then there's a handling fee which is £8 royal mail and parcel force is around £12 even though there service is far worse and they tend to keep the package for a week before telling you.

[Midas]

In my opinion it's not worth it. You're better off taking a day trip to Geneva on the cheapest flights you can find with a mule and bringing 100 back and enjoying your day out.


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[Nightwingvyse]

In my opinion it's not worth it. You're better off taking a day trip to Geneva on the cheapest flights you can find with a mule and bringing 100 back and enjoying your day out.


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A mule!

So the customs and taxes would really triple the price of the cigars bringing them in? I guess I shouldn't be surprised but JFC.

Why Geneva btw? Because it's not too far and/or cigars are particularly cheap there?

[Cigar_Addict]

In my opinion it's not worth it. You're better off taking a day trip to Geneva on the cheapest flights you can find with a mule and bringing 100 back and enjoying your day out.


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I looked up some flights and you can get a return to Spain for under £100 for a day or two, so if you have friends somewhere you can stay with then happy days. Or like Midas says, you can go for a day trip for not much ££

[Cigar_Addict]

A mule!

So the customs and taxes would really triple the price of the cigars bringing them in? I guess I shouldn't be surprised but JFC.

Why Geneva btw? Because it's not too far and/or cigars are particularly cheap there?

From what I understand, it's a low cost ticket & there are very good cigar shops there

[ha_banos]

Bunch of the guys did this run mid winter () they should write it up!

[Midas]

Just looked up prices, September 9th Heathrow to Geneva return 18,500 Avios + £1.


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[JordanSuth]

I'm just back from Spain and I was getting Cubans for 1/3 to 1/2 the price of what you'll pay in the UK. Definitely better to enjoy a trip somewhere!

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[Cigar_Addict]

In my opinion it's not worth it. You're better off taking a day trip to Geneva on the cheapest flights you can find with a mule and bringing 100 back and enjoying your day out.

Speaking of... .. do kids count as mules?? Or do they have to be 'of smoking age' to get an allowance?