Extra Costs buying Equipment from the EU

Halo Photography

Halo Photography

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Mark
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This is more of a warning than a question but recently purchased a new softbox for a specific job from Amazon. Had no idea it would be coming from Germany as the delivery time was quite quick but the next thing I knew I received an invoice from Parcel Force for VAT, Duty & Fees. Amazon Customer Services told me I wasn't liable for the costs but the Seller wouldn't take it. They messed about so much that I had to pay the fees to release the equipment to do the job.
Going to send it back at the earliest opportunity.
Brexit has alot of unseen consequences so beware of buying from the continent or add 30% to your price.
 
It's the same for us in the EU buying from the UK, I'm only across the water in Ireland but I may as well buy from the Orient now as from UK - apart from Northern Ireland, no customs charges between us and them ... yet! Shame, I used to mostly buy from English based companies, as we get milked over here. I have to search euro alternatives now, inc on ebay or the likes of MPB [they now redirect us to their euro site] not bought from there yet but if they still ship via UK it'll be useless.
 
I had the same thing, I purchased a phone direct from Motorola , it came from Germany ( I think ) but UPS wanted VAT and shipping before they would release it.
The moto web site said inc VAT and shipping so they did refund the costs but as Mark says check first .
One of the many benefits of "taking back control"
 
Halo Photography said:
This is more of a warning than a question but recently purchased a new softbox for a specific job from Amazon. Had no idea it would be coming from Germany as the delivery time was quite quick but the next thing I knew I received an invoice from Parcel Force for VAT, Duty & Fees. Amazon Customer Services told me I wasn't liable for the costs but the Seller wouldn't take it. They messed about so much that I had to pay the fees to release the equipment to do the job.
Going to send it back at the earliest opportunity.
Brexit has alot of unseen consequences so beware of buying from the continent or add 30% to your price.
Click to expand...

Your description re: ....'but the seller would not take it..' infers that you were not buying 'fulfilled & sold by Amazon' but from an Amazon Merchant.

AFAIK all Amazon EU items "sold by Amazon" are fully duty & VAT paid, whichever EU nation they originate from! I bought a LowePro case and seeing the shipment tracking, it came from Italy.

PS and do read it correctly that you are going to send it back even having used it? Why are you not pressing Amazon to make a refund of the charges.....even if it was a third party merchant. Because the seller has broken their contract with Amazon.
 
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Box Brownie said:
AFAIK all Amazon EU items "sold by Amazon" are fully duty & VAT paid, whichever EU nation they originate from! I bought a LowePro case and seeing the shipment tracking, it came from Italy.
Click to expand...
Several things I’ve bought from Amazon recently have come from EU with no extra charges -- all “fulfilled by Amazon” though.
 
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I got stung when DJI returned my drone back from a warranty claim! Ended up getting the money back but it was a hassle
 
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