David Jenkins
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| posted on 8/5/08 at 03:08 PM |
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Aargh!
Got a card through the door this morning telling me that the Post Office is holding a package from Canada for me, I have to go 6 miles each way into
town to get it, and I have £14.50 import duty to pay when I get there. 
It's the components for my JAW AFR meter kit, which cost me just over £40 - so how can they justify £14.50 duty on that? It equates to 36%
extra! 
I wonder just how much of that is the Royal Fail 'handling charge'...
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 8/5/08 at 03:10 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by David Jenkins
I wonder just how much of that is the Royal Fail 'handling charge'...
35%?
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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coozer
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| posted on 8/5/08 at 03:11 PM |
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Oh dear, I was thinking of ordering a JAW myself. May have to think about lining Browns pockets now
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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BenB
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| posted on 8/5/08 at 03:12 PM |
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there are three different things to add on
VAT
import duty
Royal Mail "handling fee"
I'm suprised it's not more....
It sure sucks though!!!
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Duncan_P
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| posted on 8/5/08 at 03:13 PM |
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You get post in the morning
Ours doesn't normally bother turning up till mid afternoon.
I know the feeling about getting stung for import duty....if it makes you feel any better than Royal Mail aren't anywhere near as bad as some
other courier companies. I have paid a £20+ handling fee before + the taxes etc
ETA The worst thing is that even after all the extra charges it often still ends up cheaper ordering things from the states rather than here.
[Edited on 8/5/08 by Duncan_P]
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TimC
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| posted on 8/5/08 at 03:27 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Duncan_P
ETA The worst thing is that even after all the extra charges it often still ends up cheaper ordering things from the states rather than here.
Yup - it's a classic double whammy. Where "luxury" goods are priced at what the market will pay, the US market will generally pay
the same nominal figure as us; only they pay in Dollars and we pay in Sterling. Hence a $229 helmet over there is £229 over here. You then add to
that an exchange rate of 1.96ish and it pays to import.
This probably pointless post was brought to you by someone clearly affected by their MBA - Sorry!
[Edited on 8/5/08 by TimC]
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Paul TigerB6
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| posted on 8/5/08 at 06:12 PM |
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VAT is payable on the postage too isnt it - what a con that is!!!!! Dont mind it on the parts themselves but come on Mr Brown (you robbing bar
steward!!)
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 8/5/08 at 06:19 PM |
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I had a look at the Customs & Excise website - and I think I owe the Royal Mail an apology.
Import duty = 14% (for electronic goods)
VAT on goods, postage AND duty = 17.5%
(yes, that's right, they tax the tax - just like petrol)
I estimate that Royal Mail are taking somewhere between 50p and £1 as a handling charge, if anything.
Apparently when I get the package I should also get a statement from the Customs & Excise - I might write to them and object, claiming that
it's an educational kit of parts, not 'electronic luxury goods'.
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 10/5/08 at 06:30 PM |
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No - I don't owe the Royal Fail an apology!
Import duty = £0
VAT = £6.15p
Handling charge = £8!
So let's think about this - incoming packets go to the same place (Mt Pleasant, London). All get checked. Some go for free, and get delivered.
Some get stopped, have a label put on them and sit on a shelf until collected.
So I pay £8 to have a parcel sit on a shelf and not delivered, and have to go and collect it? Does it cost £8 to have a postman lift it off the
shelf, wave a scanner at it, and pass it across the counter to me? Did I mention that they didn't have to put it in a van, take it to the local
sorting office, give it to the postman who had to cycle a few miles to my village?
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Schrodinger
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| posted on 10/5/08 at 09:26 PM |
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You didn't have to have it posted direct, you could have picked it up at the port of delivery and then you would only have to pay the VAT but
how much would that have cost you. 
To be fair the Post office have to handle and deal with your VAT, it's nowt to do with them.
Keith
Aviemore
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