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Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Hi Guys
Ok, I got my Ovation from London, and had it sent to my hometown in Lancashire, both in the UK...but now at home they have received a bill for "import tax"...although...nothing has been imported, not my us anyway...
Anyone ever heard of this? |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | There had to be an import tax at some point because your guitar was made in the US. I imagine that the dealer passes that along to the customer. Just guessing, but it sounds logical to me. |
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Location: Texas | I imagine that the dealer passes that along to the customer Its in the small print, just right above your signature. |
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Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
There had to be an import tax at some point because your guitar was made in the US. I imagine that the dealer passes that along to the customer. Just guessing, but it sounds logical to me. It sounds logical to me too, if I was the one buying it from the U.S.. but as I bought a second hand guitar, shipped from UK to UK, there should be none at all.. otherwise we would pay import tax on every thing second hand we buy,and of course that would be ridiculous... |
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Posts: 4413
| Only HRMC can charge you import duty - and VAT is only calculated on the gross price once the import duty is added, so there should be a VAT addition to the bill.
The seller of the guitar cannot charge you import duty.
In my experience, shipping companies never release a guitar to you until you have paid the import/VAT up front when they receive the guitar in this country.
If this is a new guitar - did you buy it from an internet dealer who quotes an American price but only mentions on page 127 of the small print that you are liable for all local charges? This is very common in the photographic world - prices are always Hong Kong prices, payable to an English bank account but then you are liable when the goods arrive in the UK. This isn't illegal or a scam, but it is misleading.
Who issued the invoice? Remember only HRMC or a registered shipping company (UPS, FEDEX, USPS etc.,) can attempt to collect the taxes. |
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Posts: 260
Location: Spain | It's a USA guitar, sold as used (it's 20 years old)from an ebayer in London. Item location sold as London. Bought from London and shipped up to Lancshire.
Thanks for the replies people :-) |
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Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by martinez:
otherwise we would pay import tax on every thing second hand we buy,and of course that would be ridiculous... You do. They just call it VAT. And it is ridiculous. |
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Posts: 260
Location: Spain | The plot thickens...it appears the guitar was advertised on ebay as being in London, but was actually sent from the USA....(for free shipping!!! is that possible??)
Hence the import tax..which of course I'm not going to pay, the f*@+ing seller can pay it!! asshole!
I guess what he does is buys guitars at cheap prices in the U.S, then leaves them there till he has a buyer, then asks for it to be shipped to said buyer.. |
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Location: NJ | that is so insane of a thing to do I don't even know how someone would think about it |
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Posts: 260
Location: Spain | It's a bit strange Al, I guess it's to try and avoid tax, pass it on to the seller!!
By the way, can you buy a USA made Elite for less than 200 dollars over there? that's the value on the shipping form...and ZERO for shipping.... |
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Location: Spain | I mean pass it on to the buyer.. |
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Location: closely held secret | How much did you pay for this guitar? |
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Location: Spain | A LOT more than that haha, if that's the case I'm not at all bothered, more power to someone who can find something that I can't find I say! I looked for months & months for a guitar at the right price, and am happy with my purchase :)
It just seems a bit weird that the value on the shipped invoice is 200 bucks, I imagine it's to cheat the tax cost..? or can you really get them so cheap in the U.S? I never saw any!! |
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Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by martinez:
the f*@+ing seller can pay it!! asshole! I think you meant to say a*$hole |
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Location: Texas | If he would have put the true value on the customs form, you might have had to pay more. Not saying this is of any consolation, but it could be. Some countries will not let you have the package until the fee or tax is paid.
I looked and found this one with no case that appears to be in vg condition. The last couple of guitars I have shipped to France were right at 115.00 to ship via USPS. They probably were heavier. If it was US origined...and off ebay...(and depending on what you paid) the profit margin was probably so slim that they didn't want to go further in or get closer to, ahem, the hole. |
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Location: Spain | Oh sorry :-)
It appears I er...over-reacted a bit....I had an angry email saying the tax has already been paid and that, and I quote, "I can f****ing assure you I paid mora than two hundred f++++ing dollars for it!! you cretin!!"
Ho hum.....do carry on... |
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Location: closely held secret | "cretin". Strong language.
At least you can take some comfort in knowing if anyone gets busted for understating the value for import, it won't be you. |
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Location: NJ | as I see it you mark the value for the amount you can insure the instrument.
it only makes sense. shipping overseas is tricky I have done it many times. but there is a bond that must happen with the buyer and seller and there must be an element of trust.
sometimes the buyer can lose you say your max insurance is $500 and the instrument is $1500 and it is lost or damaged. the buyer is out the $$$$
find a buyer you can trust and sometimes pay a little more is worth it in the long run. |
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Posts: 1455
Location: Texas | Originally posted by jay:
I looked and found this one with no case that appears to be in vg condition.
Something doesn't add up; Why would a seller claim to be in London and then ship from the US, where he is actually located? And why only purchase $200 of insurance?
I hate to say this, but the first thing that comes to mind is that the guitar was stolen: The victim in the US would be unlikely to check EBay-UK for their missing guitar. The seller (thief) could minimize out-of-pocket costs by purchasing a small amount of insurance. If it gets lost or stolen in shipping, he still makes $200, (since he had zero cost for the guitar.) Also, at only $200, he's less likely to be asked to produce a receipt or proof of the value to collect the insurance. He probably figures that shipping out of the country is a relatively safe way to get rid of traceable stolen goods and avoid getting caught, yet still make some cash.
Pure speculation on my part, but it seems to fit, including his rude reply when questioned about the odd circumstances.
Does that make sense? |
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Location: Texas | Something doesn't add up +1 |
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Location: Utah | Originally posted by martinez:
By the way, can you buy a USA made Elite for less than 200 dollars over there? that's the value on the shipping form...and ZERO for shipping.... No, a USA Elite goes for a lot more than $200 over here. |
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Location: Spain | In the end the guy has actually paid the import tax, I now have confirmation.
Weird goings on. Thanks for the advice everyone, as usual!
Still a bizarre way of going about business, buying from the USA, then waiting and shipping direct to whoever buys it off you....in the UK..I can't for the life of me see how there is profit there..unless they are all stolen guitars, as suggested....but then would you have a ebay shop? full of stolen guitars? isn't that the first place the police would look these days??
Ah well, all done, cheers. Beer time. |
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Location: Texas | Just curious...
what is the address of the sender in the states.
and what was the sellers name on Ebay UK... |
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September 2011
Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Sender was "Access USA, experess lane Sarasota, and the ebay name is "puristics"... |
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Posts: 1249
Location: Texas | pm sent |
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Import Tax
