Re: [Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!)
My experience is that the best carrier to use is UPS. Of those I have used UPS has always performed flawlessly with international purchases (not - Switzerland is not in the EU - so everything I buy goes through customs). If the parcel is correctly marked I can rely on UPS for efficiency, promptness and above all courtesy. UPS may be a tad more expensive but it's well worth it. Simon Brown --- www.hb9drv.ch www.laax.ch RSGB HF Convention: Friday 7th - Sunday 9th October 2005 Holidays: Monday 10th - Thursday 20th October 2005 - Original Message - From: Peter Howson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Just to add my experiences. My first order for a K2 (Jan 2004) came through parcel force and full duty was charged. Parcelforce collect the duty for customs, but would not admit that they were in the wrong. I did manage to contact customs by phone, but only by way of a helpful receptionist who got the customs officer to return my call. I sent off the label on the parcel together with copies of the invoice. Then I received a letter saying that because of the additional evidence they would refund me, infering that it was my fault. I eventually received the refund, three months after. My second order (March 2005), for extra modules and upgrades went through with no problems. You pays your money and takes the chance. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!)
Hello all again, As starter of this thread I would like to thank you all for reactions, I fully agree with Simon about UPS. I ordered my K2 last Friday, shipping via UPS, and hoped my new toy would be delivered within a week or 2... Yesterday (Monday) I came home from work, turned on my PC to see if there is some sort of order confirmation.. triiing UPS at the front door with a package! Wow that was FAST... My K2 arrived and by paying BTW (tax, no import duties) I was ready to start building in 37 hours after ordering! K2 # 5095 is work in progress at the moment! 73 to all! Sjoerd van Nederveen PE2SVN -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Namens Simon Brown (HB9DRV) Verzonden: dinsdag 6 september 2005 9:34 Aan: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Onderwerp: Re: [Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!) My experience is that the best carrier to use is UPS. Of those I have used UPS has always performed flawlessly with international purchases (not - Switzerland is not in the EU - so everything I buy goes through customs). If the parcel is correctly marked I can rely on UPS for efficiency, promptness and above all courtesy. UPS may be a tad more expensive but it's well worth it. Simon Brown --- www.hb9drv.ch www.laax.ch RSGB HF Convention: Friday 7th - Sunday 9th October 2005 Holidays: Monday 10th - Thursday 20th October 2005 - Original Message - From: Peter Howson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Just to add my experiences. My first order for a K2 (Jan 2004) came through parcel force and full duty was charged. Parcelforce collect the duty for customs, but would not admit that they were in the wrong. I did manage to contact customs by phone, but only by way of a helpful receptionist who got the customs officer to return my call. I sent off the label on the parcel together with copies of the invoice. Then I received a letter saying that because of the additional evidence they would refund me, infering that it was my fault. I eventually received the refund, three months after. My second order (March 2005), for extra modules and upgrades went through with no problems. You pays your money and takes the chance. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!)
At 00:47 05/09/2005, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: It would be great if all this worked, but am sad to say you are still at the mercy of the official at the point of import who may not understand or want to understand the rules and can place import duty on the package. This ramps up considerably the price you have to pay before the package will be released. The easist route at this point appears to be to pay this cost and go though the saga of reclaiming the amount from Customs, which took about 3 months in my case. The UK Customs involved were unreachable by telephone, did not answer e-mail and the only route appears to be snail mail. Getting agitated does you no good, only tends to raise your blood pressure. Others have got their consignment without any hindrance of this type. Just the luck of the draw on the day or which way your personal Customs official gets out of bed in the morning. Bob, G3VVT K2 #4168 Hi Bob, Your experience echoes mine. I'm afraid it's worse than that. Mistakes may be endemic in UK customs. I did manage to speak to a representative in customs over the phone at the International Parcel Force clearing centre. I also got a written explanation of why the error occurred. Apparently, their computer system only allows the first part of the HS tariff number to be entered. Since there are several rates of duty for the same prefix, they can charge the highest rate of duty for all the codes with that same prefix. This is even though Elecraft is stating all the correct information and full HS tariff code on both the customs declaration and the invoice. It also took me about 3 months to get a refund. UK customs are supposed to have a service charter and respond to claims within a certain period. I had to email them twice to remind them that they had exceeded their own time limits for a response. I have to say that if their explanation is true, the whole thing is a crock. In such cases, I think the important thing is to always assert your rights and claim the refund. Nils carborundum illegitemae. Conversely, I have ordered goods delivered by courier. In all cases, the customs handling of these was fast and correct. So I suspect the issue is that it depends which customs clearing centre is being used. The one for International Parcel Force seems a shambles. One thing I suggested to Pam at Elecraft was that they should specifically stamp on all parcels destined for EU countries that import duty is zero rated. Elecraft could have a ready-made label for EU shipments that stated in bold letters EU zero rated import duty or some such. That way, there would be a chance that a customs officer using the inadequate computer system and entering just the prefix might be prompted to actually look up the proper full code. 73, David M0DHO (K2 #4030). ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!)
At 00:47 05/09/2005, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Others have got their consignment without any hindrance of this type. Just the luck of the draw on the day or which way your personal Customs official gets out of bed in the morning. Just to balance the horror stories: I have had a number (~7) of shipments to the UK from Elecraft over the years and only once was charged anything other than 17.5% VAT (plus the outrageous ParcelForce fee to collect it, of course). On that occasion, I contacted Customs by e-mail, they asked me to send them the sticker from the package, and I got a refund of the duty within a month. Neill G4HLX K2/100 #2425 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!)
Just to add my experiences. My first order for a K2 (Jan 2004) came through parcel force and full duty was charged. Parcelforce collect the duty for customs, but would not admit that they were in the wrong. I did manage to contact customs by phone, but only by way of a helpful receptionist who got the customs officer to return my call. I sent off the label on the parcel together with copies of the invoice. Then I received a letter saying that because of the additional evidence they would refund me, infering that it was my fault. I eventually received the refund, three months after. My second order (March 2005), for extra modules and upgrades went through with no problems. You pays your money and takes the chance. Peter GM8GAX K2 #4027 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!)
pa3gyu wrote: 1. I seem to recall that this was a cheaper route then buying from Germany, but do check for yourself. 2. I seem to vaguely recall that we asked Elecraft to mark the package as 'transmitter', with a special customs-code. I can't recall exactly which code that was, but may be able to retrieve it from an e-mail archive (that is currently on another computer). Contact me directly if interested. I'm interested in similar info for the UK. I'm led to believe that if it's marked telecommunications equipment, and especially if marked kit, I may drastically reduce import duty? Any truth in this? Any other tips? Similarly, is it likely to be better to order from www.qrpproject.de or www.elecraft.com themselves? Being part of the EU and all that, I've already paid taxes if I order from .de I think? -- Nosey Nick Waterman, Senior Sysadmin. #include stddisclaimer[EMAIL PROTECTED] Calm down. It's just ones and zeros. - cbmvax!carolyn ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!)
Kits are irrelevent. Import duty rules are the same for all of Europe and I would expect that Elecraft already know the correct codes and descriptions to use. Try 8525209900 for transmitters and transceivers (including kits) 8529904 for accessories for above 852910 for antennas 852719 for receivers with internal battries 852721 for externally powered 12V receivers 852731 for other receivers There are other codes but that's a start. Full details are available on the net. On Sunday 04 September 2005 17:09, Nick Waterman wrote: p I'm interested in similar info for the UK. I'm led to believe that if it's marked telecommunications equipment, and especially if marked kit, I may drastically reduce import duty? Any truth in this? Any other tips? ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
Re: [Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!)
In a message dated 04/09/05 17:27:02 GMT Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Import duty rules are the same for all of Europe and I would expect that Elecraft already know the correct codes and descriptions to use. Reply:-- Yes, Elecraft appear to be well aware of the correct commodity codes that should be included with the shipping documents and mark everything accordingly. In the case of equipment of this type there is a concession in place at present for this to be imported free of import duty, at least in the UK. The VAT applicable still has to be paid on the price of the equipment and any shipping costs plus the customs handling charge of the shipping route used. It would be great if all this worked, but am sad to say you are still at the mercy of the official at the point of import who may not understand or want to understand the rules and can place import duty on the package. This ramps up considerably the price you have to pay before the package will be released. The easist route at this point appears to be to pay this cost and go though the saga of reclaiming the amount from Customs, which took about 3 months in my case. The UK Customs involved were unreachable by telephone, did not answer e-mail and the only route appears to be snail mail. Getting agitated does you no good, only tends to raise your blood pressure. Others have got their consignment without any hindrance of this type. Just the luck of the draw on the day or which way your personal Customs official gets out of bed in the morning. Bob, G3VVT K2 #4168 ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
