Buying from France on eBay for delivery to the UK.

[epigramophone]

A French eBayer lists records singly with a note that 20% VAT will apply, but also lists job lots of 12 or more with no mention of VAT.
Can anyone in the UK with experience of buying secondhand items from France on eBay please let me know what additional charges apply, and whether it is the buyer or the seller who is responsible for paying them.

[Steve]

You, as importer, will have to pay 20% VAT on everything imported plus any handling fees. The VAT is also applicable to any shipping charges.

Any item marked as "antique" or which is provably over 100 years old is subject to 5% VAT at reduced rate. However, I've found it incredibly difficult to get the UK port authorities to recognise an item as an antique, regardless. There can also be Import Duty charged but in all my years of buying overseas I've never been charged this, even on items costing several thousand pounds, just the VAT element.

[epigramophone]

Thank you Steve for confirming my worst fears. Although the records I was interested in (24 Fonotipias) are all over 100 years old, this would be difficult to prove to the satisfaction of the relevant authorities. Life is too short, so reluctantly I have decided not to proceed with their purchase.