 rip off vat man
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 43
Greenhorn
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OP
Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 43 |
just a quick rant,orderd some parts from new speedmaster in america,very quick delivery.the thing is i got a letter from parcel force telling me that they could not release the parcel until i pay a £35 vat charge. has anyone else had this probblem,is there a way round it for next time or have i just been unlucky.   glen
pilgrim
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 235
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 235 |
When I lived in the U.K. the same thing happened to me every time I ordered from Brent......it's just one of those things with the import duty rules. It can be avoided (sometimes) if the packet is marked as a 'gift' but you can still come unstuck if the Customs people look into it.
I now live in Spain and it's worse here. Import duty, I.V.A. (similar to V.A.T.) plus a Post Office 'handling charge' !!!!!!
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,402 Likes: 7
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,402 Likes: 7 |
I had it with everything I've ever bought from Brent and other US companies. I seem to remember it's not all VAT - like Nomad said, there is usually a Post Office charge in there too. Ask Grzegorz to get it for you in his name, he's bought stuff and never been charged a bean! 
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 533
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 533 |
Does the VAT charge apply to items shipped to other countries as well? I have seen a few things in European catalogs that I like and do not understand how VAT may apply to an American buyer.
2018 FLHCS
2014 Surly Straggler - 16,000 miles and counting!
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 763
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jul 2006
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 31
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 31 |
Another method is for said contact member (not vendor) in the States to repackage item and indicate "gift" along with a greatly reduced $ value on the declaration.
Since it comes from a private entity one is not obligated to include the vendor's/manufacturer's original invoice.
I have done this several times on various items, including some Corbin seats for one of my other bikes.
The US taxman is not interested and the EU taxman doesn't know better.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,402 Likes: 7
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,402 Likes: 7 |
Quote:
Does the VAT charge apply to items shipped to other countries as well? I have seen a few things in European catalogs that I like and do not understand how VAT may apply to an American buyer.
In the same way that visitors to the UK can buy goods in High Street stores and not pay VAT, I'm pretty certain you won't have to pay it if it's shipped abroad.
Don't take my word for it though, check with the seller first!!
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,254
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,254 |
Well, being a devious anti-tax/duty paying Scot, i have found a couple of ways of dodging said taxes . Businesses will not usually mark prices down on goods shipped for several reasons .tax is one of them,items purchased legally will be entered in their books.and postal insurance is another ,if you buy an item for say $200 and its insured value is only $50 if it goes missing guess who's out, so they wont mark prices down .what i have found is if you ask (nicely of course) they may mark packages as 'Gift' or 'Returned Item'.i know in Canada gifts are tax and duty excempt upto $60 . Ive sent a few things back home to the UK and marked the packages Returned Item no problems as yet .i know a certain Fleetwood resident (who shall remain nameless  )would be able to confirm or deny if this 'returned item' thingy does indeed work . if you are getting items sent over by our American cousins try the returned item way , that way you can still insure the package for what its worth . you have no idea how many packages we,ve never had delivered over the years .good luck my anti tax paying bretheren
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,254
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,254 |
Quote:
Does the VAT charge apply to items shipped to other countries as well? I have seen a few things in European catalogs that I like and do not understand how VAT may apply to an American buyer.
You should not be paying Vat on anything if its being shipped out of the country (UK for sure ,cant say for Europe tho).
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
Quote:
Does the VAT charge apply to items shipped to other countries as well? I have seen a few things in European catalogs that I like and do not understand how VAT may apply to an American buyer.
The VAT is basically a sales tax that is added on to the cost of goods in countries that have it. It is often hidden in the price so that the consumer doesn't know he's paying it. In order to promote exports it is almost always rebated to exporters from countries that have the VAT and added to goods imported to those same countries. Politicians love it because they can often hide the amount they are charging consumers. It can also vary between various types of goods giving them the opportunity to dole out benefits to favored industries.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
You will have a Royal mail handling fee incorporated into that Glen of around £10.00 the rest is import tax and duty. Quote:
.i know a certain Fleetwood resident (who shall remain nameless )would be able to confirm or deny if this 'returned item' thingy does indeed work .
Ray(UK)
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 738
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 738 |
Did I mention that I am an Officer of Her Majesties Revenue & Customs (aka VAT Inspector)…….now who lives in Fleetwood..... 
One day as a tiger is worth a thousand as a sheep
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,643 |
Quote:
Did I mention that I am an Officer of Her Majesties Revenue & Customs (aka VAT Inspector)…….now who lives in Fleetwood.....
DoH!!!!! 
Ray(UK)
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816
Freelance Jedi Knight
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Freelance Jedi Knight
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816 |
Quote:
Ask Grzegorz to get it for you in his name, he's bought stuff and never been charged a bean!
been charged ...even last week ...only one thing came without any charge EPCO exhaust from Brent
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 755
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 755 |
2003 black and silver T.B.A A1 removed,Specialty Spares long slashed Pipes .
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,440 |
Quote:
The VAT is basically a sales tax
And as you say, VAT is much more sinister than a simple sales tax. It's added in at various stages of procurement and manufacturing, not just at the end of the retail cycle. In some cases, even those producing the product don't know how much the gov't is stealing, because hidden costs are added to their raw materials.
Quote:
Politicians love it because they can often hide the amount they are charging consumers.
And there' talk about doing it in the States as well. Ba$tards.
'08 America Blue/White; Custom Headlamps, Custom Lowers, Clearview 20", Bafflectomy
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
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Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
The more I watch our rulers the more I like John Hancock. Prior to the American Revolution he was a New England trader. Actually, he was a smuggler who evaded the British taxes prior to open hostilities and later help fund our war against them. America was not founded by the meek and it cannot be sustained by them either.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
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Re: rip off vat man
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 51
Member
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Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 51 |
Yup, ba$tards have always got me. I love the way Parcelforce send a letter second class post, so it arrives in two or three days, and says that they have 'paid on your behalf'. Ah, bless their cotton socks!
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