Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/04/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Nathan, Please READ carefully. I said I would make sure my customers would not have to PAY import duties and VAT, I did NOT say I could ensure they would not be CHARGED. If they are charged, I pay for them. Every package is properly declared and insured. If no duty is charged, I cannot be blamed. There are no tricks involved. Please do not use your standard to judge others. No import duty or VAT has been imposed for the past twelve years. Not even once. And since September 2001, the UK Custom and Excise has been more interested in looking out for explosives than photo equipment. I would still break even if one in five customers is charged, but the rate has been zero. For large ticket items, the goods is actually despatched within the UK, thus no import duty of any kind to speak of. My family and I have several businesses in the EU and employ over 2,000 people. We do know a thing or two about doing businesses there. Joseph On 18/04/2010 3:09 AM, "Nathan Wajsman" <photo at frozenlight.eu> wrote: > 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 >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information