Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/04/17

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] WTB : Leica 21mm f2.8 ASPH in silver (UK)
From: photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman)
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:09:30 +0200
References: <C7F01A5E.684AA%joseph@yao.com>

Joseph,

Sorry, but there is no way you can make sure. I know what you are talking 
about. By using various tricks you can reduce the likelihood that the 
recipient will have to pay VAT etc. but you cannot guarantee anything.

What I wrote was not "theoretical", it was based on actual experience from 
living in several EU countries.

Cheers,
Nathan

Nathan Wajsman
Alicante, Spain
http://www.frozenlight.eu
http://www.greatpix.eu
http://www.nathanfoto.com

Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog






On Apr 17, 2010, at 8:09 PM, Joseph Yao wrote:

> Nathan,
> 
> Thanks for all the theoretical bits which I am well versed.  You play the
> academic/lawyer and I am the businessman.
> 
> I just make sure my UK customers don't have to pay import duties and VAT.
> 
> Joseph
> 
> 
> On 18/04/2010 12:57 AM, "Nathan Wajsman" <photo at frozenlight.eu> wrote:
> 
>> Joseph (and others),
>> 
>> When someone resident in the EU buys something from a merchant outside 
>> the EU,
>> the rule is that the recipient must pay his local VAT on delivery, plus 
>> any
>> duty that may be applicable. In the case of photo equipment, the duty is
>> small: something like 4% on bodies and nothing on lenses, or the other way
>> round. The VAT is much more substantial, e.g. 17.5% in the UK if I am not
>> mistaken.
>> 
>> It is the job of the delivery company to collect the VAT and duty. Now,
>> sometimes I have been lucky and the post office has simply delivered the
>> product to me without any charges. This has happened both in the 
>> Netherlands
>> and (much more frequently :-)) here in Spain. But it is an act of 
>> negligence
>> on their part, albeit one in which I happily acquiesce :-)
>> 
>> The private delivery companies like UPS or Fedex are much less likely to
>> commit such an act of negligence, and they often charge additional fees 
>> for
>> doing the customs paperwork. For that reason, whenever I buy from the US, 
>> I
>> specify the USPS as the carrier and will simply not do business with 
>> merchants
>> who insist on using UPS etc.
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Nathan
>> 
>> Nathan Wajsman
>> Alicante, Spain
>> http://www.frozenlight.eu
>> http://www.greatpix.eu
>> http://www.nathanfoto.com
>> 
>> Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
>> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
>> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Apr 17, 2010, at 6:40 PM, Joseph Yao wrote:
>> 
>>> What Import Duties?
>>> 
>>> I have been selling photo equipment to the UK for over ten years and 
>>> none of
>>> my customers has ever had to pay import duties or VAT.
>>> 
>>> I am sure fellow UK LUGger Jem Kime can confirm.
>>> 
>>> Joseph
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 17/04/2010 12:48 AM, "Eric Calderwood" <eric.calderwood at 
>>> btinternet.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> I contacted the seller yesterday, however with him being in Canada and
>>>> Import Duties etc being what they are here in the UK it would make it a
>>>> rather expensive proposition, otherwise I would have already snapped it 
>>>> up.
>>>> 
>>>> Cheers
>>>> 
>>>> Eric
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 



Replies: Reply from joseph at yao.com (Joseph Yao) ([Leica] WTB : Leica 21mm f2.8 ASPH in silver (UK))
In reply to: Message from joseph at yao.com (Joseph Yao) ([Leica] WTB : Leica 21mm f2.8 ASPH in silver (UK))