Official Customs, Duties, and International Shipping Questions and Stories Thread

[thats.mana]

Ridiculous how it takes something from Canada almost 2 weeks and 3 days from the UK.

 

[Rommel]

Ridiculous how it takes something from Canada almost 2 weeks and 3 days from the UK.

I've had stuff take 3-4 weeks to get from the US to Canada with usps ground.

 

[notwithit]

Anybody in the US had an experience with a store in the EU that won't refund VAT? I bought something from Spence, and they're saying it's against their policy to refund VAT.

According to their web site, they're VAT registered: http://www.spenceclothing.com/store/index.php?page=termini

 

[velomane]



Anybody in the US had an experience with a store in the EU that won't refund VAT? I bought something from Spence, and they're saying it's against their policy to refund VAT.

According to their web site, they're VAT registered: http://www.spenceclothing.com/store/index.php?page=termini

As a rule, I won't pay tax in someone else's jurisdiction. If they won't deduct the VAT from your purchase, tell 'em to shove it. Take your business elsewhere.

 

[pdsf]



Anybody in the US had an experience with a store in the EU that won't refund VAT? I bought something from Spence, and they're saying it's against their policy to refund VAT.

According to their web site, they're VAT registered: http://www.spenceclothing.com/store/index.php?page=termini

Same as what Velomane said above, I refused to buy from retailers who don't refund VAT. They are basically cheating, pocketing the VAT as extra profit. One of those retailers is Coggles in the UK - they blatantly told me they would not refund VAT. I have boycotted them since. There are enough shops around. The only exception I have made is with Marks and Spencer because as a Brit living in the US I often crave their stuff (best undies!!!) and they did offer me free shipping so I thought. "Okay, Marks and Sparks, I shall let you get away with it you cheeky monkey."

 

[TheObserver]

Same as what Velomane said above, I refused to buy from retailers who don't refund VAT. They are basically cheating, pocketing the VAT as extra profit. One of those retailers is Coggles in the UK - they blatantly told me they would not refund VAT. I have boycotted them since. There are enough shops around. The only exception I have made is with Marks and Spencer because as a Brit living in the US I often crave their stuff (best undies!!!) and they did offer me free shipping so I thought. "Okay, Marks and Sparks, I shall let you get away with it you cheeky monkey."

Coggles is full of ****. Got a pair of boots in black but it turned out to be dark brown. Their product images are so ****** that they cannot display the real color. I filed a complaint and they only said sorry and offered 10% refund as compensation on $600 boots. I could not return it either cuz I paid $63 custom duty and they don't refund that money. Not to mention banking international transaction fee. And yes, they don't deduct VAT. Still waiting for 10% refund after nearly 2 months.

 

[pdsf]



Coggles is full of ****. Got a pair of boots in black but it turned out to be dark brown. Their product images are so ****** that they cannot display the real color. I filed a complaint and they only said sorry and offered 10% refund as compensation on $600 boots. I could not return it either cuz I paid $63 custom duty and they don't refund that money. Not to mention banking international transaction fee. And yes, they don't deduct VAT. Still waiting for 10% refund after nearly 2 months. 

That's terrible. I remember the way they told me they wouldn't deduct/refund VAT was kinda blunt actually - it was like "we don't deduct VAT; you pay exactly how much it shows on the checkout page. Bye."

I wish we had a thread devoted to feedback on shops....

 

[1989thenumber]



Same as what Velomane said above, I refused to buy from retailers who don't refund VAT. They are basically cheating, pocketing the VAT as extra profit. One of those retailers is Coggles in the UK - they blatantly told me they would not refund VAT. I have boycotted them since. There are enough shops around. The only exception I have made is with Marks and Spencer because as a Brit living in the US I often crave their stuff (best undies!!!) and they did offer me free shipping so I thought. "Okay, Marks and Sparks, I shall let you get away with it you cheeky monkey."

Agreed, I won't buy from EU sellers who charge VAT when shipping outside EU. It's a massive rip off. You're right, they're pocketing the money. I stopped using Goodhood for that reason.

 

[1989thenumber]

We should start a VAT blacklist.

 

[Timbaland]

I won't be shopping at Gasmy again. Bought some basics that came out to $170. Shipping was $40 so I paid $210 overall. The geniuses there marked down the package value as $210 even though I asked them to put the total as without shipping. So I got a customs bill from DHL for $73.24. It was $66.75 for import/export duties and a deferment fee of $6.49.

I believe anything under $200 should be customs free. I am going to call DHL tomorrow.

 

[cyc wid it]

I must've been the only person to ever successfully order from there without any issues.

 

[zippyh]

I've ordered from gasmy twice. First order there was a bit of delay in shipping but nothing major.
Both were shipped via TNT (whoever the hell they are) with delivery in US by Fedex.
Got dinged with customs+usual Fedex fee for one order. The other one slipped by.
Each order was for a pair of shoes with value over $300.

BTW, having a sender mark something as "gift" may actually screw you. You're allowed $100 in gifts duty free but $200 otherwise.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/919/kw/personal exemption

 

[Timbaland]

I talked to DHL and sent Gasmy an email asking them to give the proper invoice to DHL separating shipping costs. Hopefully they resolve things quickly

 

[notwithit]

Does UPS only do COD (as opposed to leaving the package and sending a bill)? They've tried to deliver my order from Spence twice and I've gotten a delivery exception both times (oddly, they haven't rung the bell either time).

I'm somewhat tempted to let them return the package to Spence and just get my money back, but I'm not sure if they'll still try to collect the $40 I apparently owe them. Not sure how much of that is customs fees and how much is their brokerage fee.

 

[NaTionS]

Yeah you have to pay by check to the driver.

I remember my order from Spence was a huge hassle. UPS wouldn't deliver the package to my work and their hold for pickup locations are useless. Closes at 5pm M-F and closed weekends, so it was pretty much impossible for anyone with a regular job to get a package from UPS that required a signature or duties payment. Ended up asking my neighbor to wait in my house for them.