I've finally saved up enough for a VKB HOTAS (Gladiator and Mongoose) and have to order from the EU site. SInce UK is no longer in the EU, I have to pay the VAT but not through VKB itself. Does anyone know how that works? Who do |I pay the VAT to? It's a fair amount of money and I'm just being cautious.
Anyone in UK bought from VKB EU in the last year?
- Thread starter Cymoril
- Start date
If VKB have not changed their billing system* since Nov 2022 then the process is that they dispatch the goods (in my case via UPS), the carrier emails you to tell you what the import charges (the VAT) are and how to pay them - since the carrier does the process they charge a fee - that is what annoyed me (it is included in the "total amount due" in their email). Basically, there is a pay now link in the email and you pay it via that.
I should say that UPS were atrocious, they wanted to leave the package at a "delivery point" which was miles away, I had to email them to force them to deliver to my address.
* Virpil changed their system to include VAT and thus you don't have the "handlers fee" nonsense. Maybe VKB have done that too now.
I should say that UPS were atrocious, they wanted to leave the package at a "delivery point" which was miles away, I had to email them to force them to deliver to my address.
* Virpil changed their system to include VAT and thus you don't have the "handlers fee" nonsense. Maybe VKB have done that too now.
rootsrat
Volunteer Moderator
I ordered one to Poland, since I'm visiting family. The transport was delayed and it won't be delivered on time lolThanks for the answer. It seems that VKB have VAT included in the price now according to the cart so perhaps they've updated the final payment as well. Still states that an extra import duty will be charged before you get to the final payment though... hence the confusion
I'm curious to see what the import charge will be, please update if you decide to order one to the UK!
UK import duty calculator: Calculate customs duty | Swoop
Our UK import duty calculator helps individuals and businesses estimate the import duties and taxes they may have to pay when importing goods into the UK.
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I'm in London and I've bought from VKB twice (in 2021 and 2022). Both times UPS was the shipper. The UPS delivery email sequence is a bit confusing as at first they quote a delivery date that assumes no delays on the shipment. Then once their system realises customs duties are due, it raises an "exception" and you receive extra emails detailing the extent of the charges and payment links. The delivery date will be pushed back as a result of the customs process, but (with the exception of the confusing emails) the delivery process ran reasonably smoothly.
Whether you have to pay VAT or not depends on how much you spend.
If the order total without VAT is less than £150 (unless it's changed in the last year?), you don't pay VAT on it.
I've bought 2 of the Gladiators with the SCG, a premium upgrade kit for one, and the OTA adaptor for the other, all at different times... No VAT on any of the orders.
Go the checkout and change your delivery address to UK. Removes the VAT.
If the order total without VAT is less than £150 (unless it's changed in the last year?), you don't pay VAT on it.
I've bought 2 of the Gladiators with the SCG, a premium upgrade kit for one, and the OTA adaptor for the other, all at different times... No VAT on any of the orders.
Thanks for the answer. It seems that VKB have VAT included in the price now according to the cart so perhaps they've updated the final payment as well. Still states that an extra import duty will be charged before you get to the final payment though... hence the confusion
Go the checkout and change your delivery address to UK. Removes the VAT.
the vat is removed once you put the Uk in as your delivery, the issue most folks have is with the Courier and the import tax and handling;
some it went smooth for, others report horror stories, in the end its pot luck, which it shouldnt't be as its a normal logistic transaction that couriers deal with day after day but for some reason the Courier that VKB use seam to frustrate and complicate the UK side of the operation no end.
i want to get the
which comes in around 310, without tax, at current exchange rate, its the import tax and handling thats unknown as far as i'm concerned and associated communication.
some it went smooth for, others report horror stories, in the end its pot luck, which it shouldnt't be as its a normal logistic transaction that couriers deal with day after day but for some reason the Courier that VKB use seam to frustrate and complicate the UK side of the operation no end.
i want to get the
which comes in around 310, without tax, at current exchange rate, its the import tax and handling thats unknown as far as i'm concerned and associated communication.
I think most of the problems were caused by confusion over the import and VAT rules on our end, after we left the EU market in 2020.
Shouldn't be an issue anymore
Thanks for all the replies and I've now received my STECS and Gladiator. For future reference, this is how it went for me. I ordered the items on June 14th. The STECS was in stock but the Gladiator was on Backorder. I made sure that I was fully registered with VKB before I ordered (wanted to avoid experiencing some for the VKB horror stories). When I made the order, the price was in Euros sans VAT. The order was now in Processing. They finally received a shipment on July 30th and on the 2nd of August, the order status changed to Completed. At the same time, UPS sent me a notification that they were going to pick up the package which happened on the 4th. The notification also included full tracking details. When the package arrived in the UK, I was sent another message asking for payment of import taxes/fees. They acknowledged receipt of payment and the HOTAS arrived on the 7th.
Notes:
Well worth registering with both VKB and UPS, making sure all address details were correct. (Some people on the forums hadn't done so and delivery didn't go so well).
Although I paid the import fees to UPS online, you can also pay the driver when they deliver.
Although the backorder delay was kind of irritating, I have to say the wait was worth it. The VKB Hotas is so above the Thrustmaster 16000 and TWCS in performance.
Thanks to everyone for their input, it's much appreciated.
Notes:
Well worth registering with both VKB and UPS, making sure all address details were correct. (Some people on the forums hadn't done so and delivery didn't go so well).
Although I paid the import fees to UPS online, you can also pay the driver when they deliver.
Although the backorder delay was kind of irritating, I have to say the wait was worth it. The VKB Hotas is so above the Thrustmaster 16000 and TWCS in performance.
Thanks to everyone for their input, it's much appreciated.
Congrats on the sticks, I love mine and they are a big step up from the TWCS!
I'm slightly late to this discussion but thought it worth highlighting that VKB seem to have recently appointed a UK representative, situated in Reading (South East England).
If you go to to VKB FSC Europe website < flightsimcontrols.com > and select a product, you'll see text entitled "Attention to our UK customers" and a direction to VKB FSC UK; the website for which is < flightsimcontrols.co.uk >. They have a limited range and stock available but their site says they're planning to expand.
I've just ordered the Gladiator left hand premium stick from them to replace an ageing and malfunctioning Thrustmaster stick. I live about 10 miles from Reading so will wait with anticipation to see how quickly they get the stick to me (their site says 2-3 days).
If you go to to VKB FSC Europe website < flightsimcontrols.com > and select a product, you'll see text entitled "Attention to our UK customers" and a direction to VKB FSC UK; the website for which is < flightsimcontrols.co.uk >. They have a limited range and stock available but their site says they're planning to expand.
I've just ordered the Gladiator left hand premium stick from them to replace an ageing and malfunctioning Thrustmaster stick. I live about 10 miles from Reading so will wait with anticipation to see how quickly they get the stick to me (their site says 2-3 days).
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The UK agant has been around for a long time, but they used just to bring items int otherwise UK that had already been allocated to customer orders, and carry a very small stock (I thin it was NXT sticks they held in stock) If VKB are now directing UK customers to the UK agane actively, the the status of the UK agent will have changed. When I had to return a grip, I did have to send it was to a reading address.
Interesting to know; thanks for that. It would appear the UK agent has been 'upgraded' as they've obviously got stock on-hand: the Gladiator I ordered in the small hours of Sunday morning arrived at my house this morning. I've yet to assemble and configure it but it looks good, feels solid, is a definite upgrade from the Thrustmaster sticks I've always used up until now and I'm looking forward to using it. I only wish I'd looked into VKB earlier but wasn't aware until a few days ago that they offer proper solutions for lefties like me.