I posted recently about DigitalRev HK sending an item by post to me and Irish Revenue stopping the package for two weeks to collect the duty and VAT.
One of the reasons I buy in DigitalRev is precisely to avoid this delay in customs, customs write a letter and post it ~ they don’t take credit cards and one must write a cheque and post it back to them, time consuming and wasteful in the extreme.
DigitalRev collect VAT & Duty and this package was the first not sent via UPS or FedeX BUT by HK mail.
DigitalRev asked for the customs receipt which I sent and they refunded the entire amount, good one I say.
A Pentax W30 for my son in the cadets, something a bit rugged but very easily pocketable ~ was not available locally, was not available at the time from B&H and there is no way I could pay for it in UK Sterling.
Between the USA and HK, the low dollar is king currently, savings over the CP-E4 was €20, not so much but availability and speed of delivery generally goes to the USA, but a package from China, of all places holds the world record for an item [a telescope] sent by mail, ordered on a Saturday night and in my hands 10AM the following Monday ~ extremely bizarre.
Eighteen months ago I bought a 350D Kit for €950 from DigitalRev with my best Harvey Norman local price of €1,399 with most local shops another €400 on top of that again. One needs to watch the prices, DigitalRev often do introductory specials, or popular specials to shift inventory.
One must be careful to log-in under their own currency as converting it from the standard UK Sterling STŁ will give stupidly inflated prices. Also check their EBay store, guess what? Yes! they have EBay specials too and that can be well worth it, I've seen two hundred dollars [US] less on popular items on Ebay over their "on-line store" ~
paulhodson wrote:
As a matter of interest - what did you get (and save )?
I bought my D50 and 18-70 lens from Digital Rev and got the Vat back too. I had to pay it to the delivery guy though, perhaps it's a little different in the UK. They do seem like a good outfit
firewireguy wrote:
I bought my D50 and 18-70 lens from Digital Rev and got the Vat back too. I had to pay it to the delivery guy though, perhaps it's a little different in the UK. They do seem like a good outfit
What remains unknown is if their collection of VAT & Duty is legal ~ I don't mind paying the taxes as it avoids a three week stay in customs, but Revenue.ie did not answer my question.
My package arrived my mail ~ the Post Office.
I've several packages from them via UPS and no further duty applied.
Why is there a difference? Is there a difference or was this just random coincidence?
If UPS delivers from the USA I have to pay UPS the extra on delivery. FedEx sends a bill two months later for the balance.
With all these unanswered questions, it's nice to know they will refund the double duty paid ~ so I've ordered from them again.
It depends on the price of the item (which should be declared on goods being imported) and also random spot checks. If it wasn't marked as a gift then it's likely to be looked at. I have had a few other things sent from HK that haven't been picked up on. If you haven't paid the duty on the item in your country then it is perfectly legal for them to collect the duty on the item. Also if it's marked as a gift when it's not then you /the sender can probably be called up on it. As long as you get a receipt then DigitalRev will refund it. I think DR have this VAT policy because they know that a lot of the time they wont have to fork out for it because most /half will get by without paying it.
If you try http://www.onestop-digital.com they offer the VAT refund policy and free shipping on everything they sell as a matter of course.
