RE: [Leica] Texas Leica-on sale

["Tim Atherton" <tim@KairosPhoto.com>]

Simon,

where did you used to run your store?

Tim A

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Simon
> Stevens
> Sent: February 10, 2001 8:39 AM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: RE: [Leica] Texas Leica-on sale
> 
> 
> Frank Filippone wrote:
> 
> >Robert White products, when impoorted into the USA, and shipped by UPS
> or
> >FedEx do get hit with US Duty.... about 3-4%.  Plus the inescapable
> Customs
> >Broker charges of another $50 or so.... If you have it sent US mail,
> the
> >USPS does not exact its pound of flesh at all.. Basically duty
> free......
> 
> >The free duty is the English VAT that you do not have to pay... 15%...
> or a
> >rebate to you of 12%... Usually White already deducts that VAT when he
> >quotes you.....
> 
> Actually, Frank, I'm not sure this is right. Lenses have a duty charge
> of 2.3%, but still camera bodies do not (the rate is 0%). If you'd like
> to look this up the information can be found here:
> 
> http://www.customs.treas.gov/impoexpo/impoexpo.htm
> 
> The HTS number for lenses is 90021190, for rangefinder cameras it's
> 90065290 and for SLRs it's 90065100. Be sure to look at the rates for
> NPT countries. Unless you are ordering cameras from Iraq, you shouldn't
> have to worry about the other. :-) Also, be aware that U.S. Customs and
> customs brokers do make mistakes which is why the shipper needs to be
> very clear in the product description.
> 
> You have been paying $50 in broker fees? When I ordered a 35mm asph from
> Dr. Yao I paid duty plus a whole $5.00 in fees. I think you've been
> ripped off on that one!
> 
> Now, as a separate issue, British VAT used to be 15% back when I ran a
> camera store there. But it's now 17.5% (according to Ffordes when I
> asked them about it a couple of weeks ago). They said that this is what
> it is on new equipment but you don't get to deduct as much on used
> equipment because "the rate is calculated on the profit margin." I used
> to sell used cameras at the store in the UK back in the 80s and this is
> a new one on me. Does anyone know if White does the same thing?
> 
> Simon Stevens
> 
>