[Elecraft] Re: import duties

[Mario Lorenz]

Am 24. Oct 2003, um 14:12:53 schrieb Brendan Minish:

> I will no longer order anything from the US or the UK that gets shipped by 
> 'post' since it will pass though the hands of GLS. it's such a shame that 
> the Irish post office no longer gets to handle this incoming parcel traffic 
> from the US / UK since the Irish post office has always offered high 
> quality service.

I agree. I didnt have any problems with Deutsche Post delivering, either.
Just that they are now DHL, and therefore good earlier experiences not
necessarily apply.

I have taken up the "fight" with GLS about a year ago. Back then, they were
were unable to read and transcribe Elecrafts Customs declaration, subjecting
the shippment not only to VAT but also to customs fees, and charging 20 EUR
"service fee" for that. As for my complaint about that bill, they said they'd
send me a new one etc. pp. However they are even too incompetent to get their
paperwork sorted, they kept on sending me overdue notes and threatened lawyers
etc., and charged the VAT (which I had paid) _again_ half a year later. Several
phone calls: "Yes, we are sorry, will be sorted immediately", but no,
shortly after the next overdue note came in. This ended by getting some
supervisor to send me a letter that this has been sorted and my balance is 0,
just to be followed 3 days later by the next overdue note, signed by the
very same people who signed that letter 3 days earlier.

In short: Avoid GLS at all cost.

As for USPS, I have, one year ago, when this mess started, also tried to
figure out what was going on, because GLS blamed USPS in that they had to
charge this fee... It was a really interesting afternoon, taking
advantage of some 1 cent/minute international long distance offer a telco
was running. I was refered across the country, including general customer
complaints, Aptos postmaster etc, and nobody knew a thing about this. I
finally ended up in USPS Corporate, and some email exchange followed:

"Since the implementation of the agreement, we have instructed our retail =
window sales staff to advise customers mailing to another country that =
if a parcel is assessed a fee by that country's customs office, the =
delivery company's processing fee will also be collected.  Based on your =
comments it appears that another round of instruction is in order.  We =
have sent another update to all postmasters, station managers and =
clerks.  Monthly briefings have been provided to reinforce the message."

Shortly after, that information showed up on USPS Website, and the service
charge was negotiated down to 10 EUR.

> there seems little that the consumers of Europe can do to improve things 
> with GLS, I wonder does the USPS realise how many European customers are 
> now avoiding the USPS because of GLS ?

Well, as stated above, my next order definitly will ship UPS.
Now I just have to wait for the 70cm XVerter, so that there actually is
something to order (that I am interested in)...

Mario

-- 
Mario Lorenz                            Internet:    <ml@vdazone.org>
                                        Ham Radio:   DL5MLO@OK0PKL.#BOH.CZE.EU
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