Balls, Balls, Balls and further curses!

[northwest]

Not a happy bunny this morning. As some of you know I have a pair of ESL 57's all original, so after a long back and forth with Sheldon over at quadesl.com I decided that I would refurb them myself.
I concluded that my best bet would be the kit from eraudio.com.au So after a bit of correspondance with Rob Mackinlay I just saiad "put everything I need, or MIGHT need into a parcel and send it over", how much? Okay, here you go, $AU 400 later and parcel was on it's way.
So this morning I receive a nice letter from ParcelFarce. SEVENTY QUID and they will give me my parcel. W@NKERS. I just can't stress how pi**ed off I am by this. The Internet will double it's present e-commerce levels by 2016 so hey, brace yourselves. It is just wrong that VAT should be charged on the postage as well. How do they really work this out? What if it came over on a British Airways flight? it was £57 VAT and £13.50 'administration' - what a racket!
They have been paid to deliver the thing, that was included in the postage so to tack £13.50 onto the deal for just taking the payment!! How would it be if we all here who are VAT registered told our customers "thanks for that, oh and £13.50 for collecting the VAT please". I know what would happen as it is actually an offence under the VAT rules to charge for collecting the VAT.

Okay, Okay, i'll calm down now:steam:

Oh, and I put it into the DIY thread as I thought it best for a fundamentally DIY project.

[Rare Bird]

Hi Graham
I feel for you i got crucified last year over a boat load of CD's i bought from the USA..I just buy within the Europe these days.

[chris@panteg]

Hi Graham

I got stung last year too , I think customs are tightening things up .

[RichB]

Holding my breath re a parcel from Canada, probably cost more in fees than the original value of £40!

[Covenant]

Eek! I have £250 headphones ordered from China!

[Dominic Harper]

Parcelfarce I love that:lol::lol::lol::lol:. Check on your sheet, because I have received quite a few items for Dom and they charge us £8.50 for checking the item. Therefore, we get charged for them opening the item and checking the thing for us. We are so priviledged for getting such a thorough job done !NOT!:steam: This is what I call hidden charges for doing nothing.

Natalie

[chelsea]

Parcelfarce I love that:lol::lol::lol::lol:. Check on your sheet, because I have received quite a few items for Dom and they charge us £8.50 for checking the item. Therefore, we get charged for them opening the item and checking the thing for us. We are so priviledged for getting such a thorough job done !NOT!:steam: This is what I call hidden charges for doing nothing.

Natalie



Can't you keep the driver at the door and check it youself?

[northwest]

Well, I have shipped a LOT of stuff over the years and there is a sort of ruleset to follow. China, Asia - you are on pretty safe ground here. The sellers list the actual value of the item on the package, not what you paid for it. The Customs declaration asks the value of the item in the package. So for instance, in the package tomorrow (and it will be tomorrow as I succumbed to the mugging) there are goods with a value of probably £50. But then add the intellectual property value - the know how of which bits go where and the fact that this formula glue is better than that formula and you are justified in selling with the consideration of the value of the intellectual property. So in other words £150.
Stuff from America - toughie. A friend of mine was being sponsored by a particular manufacturer in a sport, because he had no money so needed the sponsorship. He was sent a bit of equipment to help him out free of charge from this company. Nothing particularly expensive, less than £100 - Nailed for £32 + the fees! Help our sportsmen and women?
I know from experience that if you send ANYTHING express you get nailed because all of the courier companies have a "arrangement" with HMRC. Sending by regular Snail Mail is the best solution in my experience.