[Elecraft] Re: Ordering form PA (AND UK!)

[G3VVT at aol.com]

In a message dated 04/09/05 17:27:02 GMT Daylight Time, nigel at ngunn.net  
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