Plal.com Deliveries into the European Union

[Degendorff]

Hello,

what do I have to consider, if I as a member of the European Union order shoes at plal.com? Do I only have to pay VAT or are there additional taxes to pay?

 

[chobochobo]

Plal.com won't charge you VAT as far as I understand, but you may be hit by custom duties etc by your own country.

 

[Percy Trimmer]

I would be interested to know the answer to this one myself.

A quick look at British Revenue and Customs sites suggests one might be liable to VAT at 17.5%, customs duty (10%?) and even a daily charge for the time the goods sit in the warehouse.

I understand that Pediwear will match plal prices which if it is the case willl save a lot of bother.

Trimmer

 

[jjl5000]

Originally Posted by Percy Trimmer

I would be interested to know the answer to this one myself.

A quick look at British Revenue and Customs sites suggests one might be liable to VAT at 17.5%, customs duty (10%?) and even a daily charge for the time the goods sit in the warehouse.

I understand that Pediwear will match plal prices which if it is the case willl save a lot of bother.

Trimmer

Pediwear will offer a further 5% reduction on Plal's price as per their 'price watch' scheme. I recently received two pairs of handgrades from Pediwear at a very deep discount as a consequence.

Of course, there were no tax / custom's duty issues either and the shoes arrived promptly being only domestic rather than international post.

 

[Stu]

Originally Posted by jjl5000

Pediwear will offer a further 5% reduction on Plal's price as per their 'price watch' scheme. I recently received two pairs of handgrades from Pediwear at a very deep discount as a consequence.

Of course, there were no tax / custom's duty issues either and the shoes arrived promptly being only domestic rather than international post.

I once sent them a plal price and asked them to match it. they wrote back saying: "You certainly were quoted a good price!" they said they'd get back to me, but then they never did. So color me a bit skeptical about their price gurantee.

 

[jjl5000]

Originally Posted by Stu

I once sent them a plal price and asked them to match it. they wrote back saying: "You certainly were quoted a good price!" they said they'd get back to me, but then they never did. So color me a bit skeptical about their price gurantee.

The price promise does have limitations. I found an alternative on-line retailer for Alfred Sargent shoes who's prices Pediwear could not match, their reason being the seller was not an approved AS retailer.

However, they did reply to my enquiry promptly explaining the issue and offered me the best price they could manage on the shoes in question.

 

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by Percy Trimmer

A quick look at British Revenue and Customs sites suggests one might be liable to VAT at 17.5%, customs duty (10%?) and even a daily charge for the time the goods sit in the warehouse.

Correct - if they inspect your package (which may or may not happen), you get hit with VAT, duty and also VAT on the duty.

 

[Degendorff]

But it is possible that I don't have to pay any tax (VAT, duty)?
Hmm, I used the Price Watch @ pediwear and will wait for the answer. If their offer is fair (less than plal.com + VAT, duty + VAT on duty), I'll accept it.

 

[bengal-stripe]

Have a look here, that explains it quite well:
http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/imptaxwng.htm

The principle is the same throughout the EU. Tax rates are unified, VAT rates vary from country to country (don't forget Germany's rate has just gone up to 19%).

The price of the merchandise and the postage make up the "˜taxable value', the tax (usually in single figures) is added on; onto that figure, you pay the VAT, and don't forget the carrier want their share (presentation fees) as well.

Yes, sometimes things slip trough (don't count on it), particular if they are carried by the national postal services. Independent couriers are rather keen to get their presentation fees.

 

[Percy Trimmer]

Originally Posted by bengal-stripe

Have a look here, that explains it quite well:
http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/imptaxwng.htm

The principle is the same throughout the EU. Tax rates are unified, VAT rates vary from country to country (don't forget Germany's rate has just gone up to 19%).

The price of the merchandise and the postage make up the "˜taxable value', the tax (usually in single figures) is added on; onto that figure, you pay the VAT, and don't forget the carrier want their share (presentation fees) as well.

Yes, sometimes things slip trough (don't count on it), particular if they are carried by the national postal services. Independent couriers are rather keen to get their presentation fees.

A very helpful link. Thank you.

Trimmer

 

[Stu]

Originally Posted by jjl5000

The price promise does have limitations. I found an alternative on-line retailer for Alfred Sargent shoes who's prices Pediwear could not match, their reason being the seller was not an approved AS retailer.

However, they did reply to my enquiry promptly explaining the issue and offered me the best price they could manage on the shoes in question.

Thing is, you said you got some handgrades. That is excatly what I sent for comparison, so i don't understand the inconsistency. I'm glad you got a deal, but why did they blow me off? Unless PLAL is not an approved C&J retailer, but I doubt that. Still, it's not a big deal with me, as I don't mind giving Shyam my money as he has treated me right.

 

[pemazel]

Originally Posted by bengal-stripe

Have a look here, that explains it quite well:
http://www.sloanefox.freeserve.co.uk/imptaxwng.htm

The principle is the same throughout the EU. Tax rates are unified, VAT rates vary from country to country (don't forget Germany's rate has just gone up to 19%).

The price of the merchandise and the postage make up the "˜taxable value', the tax (usually in single figures) is added on; onto that figure, you pay the VAT, and don't forget the carrier want their share (presentation fees) as well.

Yes, sometimes things slip trough (don't count on it), particular if they are carried by the national postal services. Independent couriers are rather keen to get their presentation fees.


This is the law.
But I noticed that plal's packages slip through customs unnoticed (the package looks like one done by an amateur). So it is up to you to take the risk.

Regards,

Paul

 

[jjl5000]

Originally Posted by Stu

Thing is, you said you got some handgrades. That is excatly what I sent for comparison, so i don't understand the inconsistency. I'm glad you got a deal, but why did they blow me off? Unless PLAL is not an approved C&J retailer, but I doubt that. Still, it's not a big deal with me, as I don't mind giving Shyam my money as he has treated me right.

I really don't know why Pediwear would have failed to follow up your enquiry. Plal is definitely an approved C&J retailer, I have spoken to staff at the Northampton factory store who confirmed as much.

The price match I got from Pediwear was Plal's plus postage minus 5% (no increase for VAT or Duty). IIRC the price was approx. £225 all in.

 

[Degendorff]

I did not receive an email from pediwear until now. What did I wrong? The day before yesterday I filled out the "Price Watch" form with the plal.com website, plal's price + postage, which was approximately 236 GBP. Must I register at pediwear?

 

[jjl5000]

Originally Posted by Degendorff

I did not receive an email from pediwear until now. What did I wrong? The day before yesterday I filled out the "Price Watch" form with the plal.com website, plal's price + postage, which was approximately 236 GBP. Must I register at pediwear?

Certainly wasn't necessary for me to register to get a response.
You could try giving them a call +44 (0)1422 331009 and ask for Carol.