If I buy branded goods at retail prices in the US, can I ship them to the UK, pay import taxes etc and sell them to the public?
Some big brands have fixed prices for the UK and US, could they stop me from selling their goods here if they were purchased in this way?
Have you read?:
What you want to do is called “gray marketing” in North America.
You might get into trouble with the brand-owners for “interfering in contractual relations” with their authorized distributors.
The electrical requirements will be different and you won’t have safety certificates for the products.
And none of the authorized dealers will service them.
Could be a problem.
If you are talking about electrical products it is illegal to sell them in the UK with a plug that is not the standard 3 square pins . As the importer you would be responsible for all requirements including test certificates and CE marking where appropriate.
Also organising recalls if something goes wrong
With goods packed by weight or volume you would also be responsible for ensuring they are the correct size.
The BERR provides information for importers – search http://www.berr.gov.uk
Whilst not totally illegal, as a previous poster has stated you may get in trouble for undercutting retailers/shops here in the UK. The consumer wouldn’t mind though.
It does depend on what goods you are selling.
If you obtain an importers licence there shouldn’t be any problem