[Elecraft] Import duties on amateur radio items

[TF3KX]

The "import duty" is not the problem, but the VAT (somewhat similar to the US
sales tax), which is exceedingly high in many European countries.

I wonder if anyone tops the Icelandic VAT, 24.5%, which is added on the
total package value:  Content price + shipping + insurance.  Additionally, I
may be charged for the paperwork ($10-20), and to top it all they may
occasionally request a permit from the Post and Telegraph Authorities for
"radio components".  This is what I had to go through when ordering my K2 a
couple of months ago.

Last week I received a notice from the customs, which had in its custody an
envelope with a transistor and five ceramic capacitors from Elecraft, marked
with the value of $1.  I managed to convince the customs that these were
replacement parts and I had already paid for the original kit earlier, but I
was lucky this time.

73 - Kristinn, TF3KX


Ken Kopp-3 wrote:
> 
> I've always written "Amateur (Ham) radio item" on the
> customs form.  Never had an item questioned.
> 
> 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP
>        ElecraftCovers at rfwave.net
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: Elecraft at 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
> 
> 

-- 
View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/-OT--Importing-low-cost-items-to-Europe-tp16550503p16569684.html
Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.