Stuff from China -- How does it work?

[james]

I have bought stuff from aliexpress.com (and I know it's coming from China). Also have bought stuff from amazon (UK and German versions) and found it took ages to arrive and then came from China (Only after placing the order was I told it would take weeks to arrive). Nothing was over $20.

Am I liable for import duties and will I suddenly buy something for $10 and get a bill for 50-euros (including handling charges)?

[markof]

Hi James,
I recently bought a desktop SMSL amp from Amazon.de. The amp originated in China and the shipping took about 3 weeks in all. 1 week to move from China to Belgium and 2 weeks to get from there to here, this included customs clearance and a change of courier. There were no additional charges as I purchased the amp from Amazon in Germany - inside the EU.

I also bought a Denafrips ladder DAC directly from Singapore a couple of months ago.
Delivery took about a week. I was charged customs and handling on this about 2 weeks after delivery.

I see that the sums you mention is less than 20 and I believe there is a minimum allowance but I don't know what it is.
Revenue probably have a website with the allowances listed.

Mark.

[Fran]

From the 1st July all goods regardless of value coming into the EU from outside are subject to VAT (no minimum threshold). On top of that you have the same customs charges that always were there, but they still have a threshold. Most delivery companies will also charge you for collecting the Vat (an post included).

Most of the time the big suppliers will do all this up front - Amazon, eBay etc. The situation with AliExpress is unclear right now. It says VAT is included when you order, but I'm not 100% sure there aren't other charges.

It's a wait and see game....

[Ivor]

as Fran says, July 1st everything gets tighter. It's not just certain rules like the minimum amount gone but the whole attitude to goods bought from outside the EU gets a lot more officious.
Recently while confined with a broken ankle I browsed Chinese HiFi and ended up buying a nice looking, well spec'ed well priced integrated valve amp. (The devil will find work for idle feet to do) and ordered on a Sunday and was informed of it's shipment and progress every step of the way, by Wednesday it was on it's way to Ireland. hours before it was due to me delivered I got a call from UPS to say Customs had a question regarding the stated value... the seller, well intentioned, had stated the value of the amp at a fraction of its real value to save me tax... it doesn't work like that. Customs asked the same questions over the course of a month.
It seems the shipper (UPS/An Post) or whoever will collect the duties owed and charge a "brokerage" fee to a buyer - I assume a % of the duty owed.
It worked out ok in the end and I had to stress to the seller that unless a buyer requests an false value just write the correct one.

the lesson here... strongly request your seller to state the correct value to the cent. Factor that into your final cost

[james]

Thanks for all the replies. I have just ordered some cheap items from aliexpress. I don't mind paying tax but I don't want a handling charge that is a multiple of the price of the item.

I recently bought this .. (a cork turntable mat) ..

https://www.tnt-audio.com/accessor ... mat_e.html

and it arrived without any problems. (Not sure why I bought it since I already have a felt mat that is supposed to be better). But it cost about $10 including postage (and took about a month to arrive).

[Georgi]

.......

I also bought a Denafrips ladder DAC directly from Singapore a couple of months ago.
Delivery took about a week. I was charged customs and handling on this about 2 weeks after delivery.

......


Mark.

I got a bit of interest, which Denafrips DAC did you get?
Is there any chance of having a quick listen of it?
I'm thinking about one myself, but having not heard any of them make me a bit ...... 🙂

[markof]

.......

I also bought a Denafrips ladder DAC directly from Singapore a couple of months ago.
Delivery took about a week. I was charged customs and handling on this about 2 weeks after delivery.

......


Mark.

I got a bit of interest, which Denafrips DAC did you get?
Is there any chance of having a quick listen of it?
I'm thinking about one myself, but having not heard any of them make me a bit ...... 🙂

PM sent

[hudo]

Somehow, I was never charged for Schiit Asgard 3 Multibit amp/dac, ~450$ with shipping (arrived in like 3-4 days from USA!). Fedex just dropped the package and left.