Buying Records From Europe

[Ted Massey]

Hi any body know if you have to pay any import duty or VAt on a record imported from Scandanavia if its insured

[Pete S]

Hi any body know if you have to pay any import duty or VAt on a record imported from Scandanavia if its insured

Not as far as I know Ted

[Ted Massey]

Not as far as I know Ted

Thanks Pete but could do with confirmation there must be someone on here who has bought in the passed

[Guest Awake 502]

Hi any body know if you have to pay any import duty or VAt on a record imported from Scandanavia if its insured

Where in Scandanavia ? Norway is not in the EEC.

[Sebastian]

Hi any body know if you have to pay any import duty or VAt on a record imported from Scandanavia if its insured

Only if it is posted from Norway, as they are not members of the European Union.

There shouldn't be a problem from Sweden or Denmark.

[Ficklefingers]

Hi any body know if you have to pay any import duty or VAt on a record imported from Scandanavia if its insured

VAT is a UK tax. Import Duty, Ted, is only due if the goods are over a certain value - although I don't know the precise figure (your post office could tell you) I believe it is around the low three figure bracket.

[pikeys dog]

VAT is a UK tax. Import Duty, Ted, is only due if the goods are over a certain value - although I don't know the precise figure (your post office could tell you) I believe it is around the low three figure bracket.

Import duty is only on items from outside the EU.

And it kicks in at about £18 (circa $30 USD).

They only tend to collect on higher amounts (around £100 declared ) because of the Post Offices extortionate handling fees (£8 charge for you to pay them the money).

[Ted Massey]

so if i purchase a record £500+ from Sweden and he insures it and the value is on the packet i wont have to pay any thing.I know you have to from the States as i found to my cost thats why we all hope and pray they arrive safe uninsured

[pikeys dog]

so if i purchase a record £500+ from Sweden and he insures it and the value is on the packet i wont have to pay any thing.I know you have to from the States as i found to my cost thats why we all hope and pray they arrive safe uninsured

They won't know the value as they use what's declared on the Customs form (it won't have one as it's from the EU).

[Ted Massey]

They won't know the value as they use what's declared on the Customs form (it won't have one as it's from the EU).

Thanks Pikey you have obviously bought from Europe before

[Guest]

Get them to put a low value on the declartion form and you should be all right

[macca]

I also buy from Europe, the UK.

The cat has been set loose...

Macca.

[Pete S]

There is no declaration form - theres nothing on the package that says how much it's worth. You won't have any problems Ted.

[Ste Henderson]

Just had one delivered from Sweden

No Problems and it only took a couple of days and no customs form.

Steve

[Denbo]

Import duty is only on items from outside the EU.

And it kicks in at about £18 (circa $30 USD).

They only tend to collect on higher amounts (around £100 declared ) because of the Post Offices extortionate handling fees (£8 charge for you to pay them the money).

Pikey, I've been done on 'double' figures so be careful everybody.

[Denbo]

There is no declaration form - theres nothing on the package that says how much it's worth. You won't have any problems Ted.

Pete, I felt it necessary to insure a high value record coming from Belgium and the value HAD to be declared on the paperwork stuck to the package. As Belgium is in the EU there was no Customs charge true BUT the problem was people seeing the stated value of the contents and thinking, oo, think I'll nick that. Bar Stewards. So, there's still a risk so be careful people.

[Guest]

Never got my head around why you should have to state the contents and value "An extremely rare record worth £500" and not expect it to get nicked, the states/Canada is notorious for sticky fingered posties in my experience.

Edited April 23, 2008 by Guest

[Denbo]

Never got my head around why you should have to state the contents and value "An extremely rare record worth £500" and not expect it to get nicked, the states/Canada is notorious for sticky fingered posties in my experience.

Pathetic isn't it. Just inviting trouble / theft / hassle / claims / frustration / etc / etc.

My last frustrating experience was with the Belgian Postal Service who INSISTED the value of the insurance be quoted on the package inviting all and sundry to steal it. Even though they agreed with the logic that it would invite theft they told us (me and the seller) that it was Belgian law??? ers

[Guest Awake 502]

so if i purchase a record £500+ from Sweden and he insures it and the value is on the packet i wont have to pay any thing.I know you have to from the States as i found to my cost thats why we all hope and pray they arrive safe uninsured

If you are that worried just go over and get it, I have just booked a return flight to Stockholm for less than £20 inclusive.

[Benji]

so if i purchase a record £500+ from Sweden and he insures it and the value is on the packet i wont have to pay any thing.I know you have to from the States as i found to my cost thats why we all hope and pray they arrive safe uninsured

you never have to pay any taxes/etc. when buying within the EU. no matter what value is stated for insured post, be it 5 quid or 500.

you may have noticed by now that the US of A are outside of Europe hence they are not a member of the EU .

[Denbo]

you never have to pay any taxes/etc. when buying within the EU. no matter what value is stated for insured post, be it 5 quid or 500.

Correct BUT if you insure the record then the value of that insurance cover has to be included on the sticker on the package. At least, like I said earlier, that's the case with Belgium. At least, in my recent experience. Which means the package, c/w sticker showing value of insurance, could invite theft. Belgian Postal Law has to change to overcome this ridiculous leaning toward the thief.

[Ted Massey]

Thanks for all the info lads checked with HMRC this morning and it is correct no vat ands duty to pay

[pikeys dog]

Pikey, I've been done on 'double' figures so be careful everybody.

I think they have a purge every so often, just to claw in some cash for the coffers.

Worst one I had recently cost me £12, £8 of which was the Post Offices "Handling Fee".

[Guest bazabod_downunder]

You are talking about Belgians...so come on...they can't decide between being french speaking Waloons, Dutch Speaking Flemish or German for fucks sake, plus their capital city is named after a vegetable....lol.

I think the moral is don't buy from Belgium, all my stuff comes as value $5 as the Australian Customs & ATO (tax office) like their Belgian cousins like to make a quick buck & I don't like to pay tax, especially on money that I'ver already been taxed on.

KTF

Baz

Correct BUT if you insure the record then the value of that insurance cover has to be included on the sticker on the package. At least, like I said earlier, that's the case with Belgium. At least, in my recent experience. Which means the package, c/w sticker showing value of insurance, could invite theft. Belgian Postal Law has to change to overcome this ridiculous leaning toward the thief.

[Denbo]

You are talking about Belgians...so come on...they can't decide between being french speaking Waloons, Dutch Speaking Flemish or German for fucks sake, plus their capital city is named after a vegetable....lol.

I think the moral is don't buy from Belgium, all my stuff comes as value $5 as the Australian Customs & ATO (tax office) like their Belgian cousins like to make a quick buck & I don't like to pay tax, especially on money that I'ver already been taxed on.

KTF

Baz

Yeah, when records arrive from USA they come valued at $30 max but it's different with the Belgian postal system.

I buy from Belgium because thay have a lot to offer by way of American Imports. I have to pay more 'cos they're pretty clued up but the hassle is very often, but not always because of the odd shark, worth the effort. Plus, mostly they're nice people.

[Djmelismo]

Hi Ted!

Looks like all your questions have already been answered. As stated before: no import duty or VAT on records sent from for example Sweden to the UK since we are both part of the EU, though another Scandinavian country -Norway - isn´t part of the union, so that it is a different matter.

Records should be sent registered/insured if money is the key issue. If the parcel gets lost you´ll get your money back.

If the actual record is your main concern it may actually be safer NOT to send it insured. I´ve had reports from the UK saying that (and it´s quite obvious isn´t it) that people are more tempted to steal packets/letters that are insured, than packets that aren´t, since they are not thought of as very valuable...

Best,

Melismo, Sweden

[Ted Massey]

Hi Ted!

Looks like all your questions have already been answered. As stated before: no import duty or VAT on records sent from for example Sweden to the UK since we are both part of the EU, though another Scandinavian country -Norway - isn´t part of the union, so that it is a different matter.

Records should be sent registered/insured if money is the key issue. If the parcel gets lost you´ll get your money back.

If the actual record is your main concern it may actually be safer NOT to send it insured. I´ve had reports from the UK saying that (and it´s quite obvious isn´t it) that people are more tempted to steal packets/letters that are insured, than packets that aren´t, since they are not thought of as very valuable...

Best,

Melismo, Sweden

Thanks Melismo

think i will risk the insurance

best ted

[Hermanthegerman]

Ask the seller to send the 45 by registered mail. Assures you it has been sent and gives you the possibility to track it, so it can´t get lost.

Edited April 26, 2008 by hermanthegerman