Import to Belgium... what a laugh

[Wally]

This is a rather stupid story but worth reading :

On the 29th of March I ordered some products : A PC (Finally !!!), Optimum polish & compound, Megs DACP, some pads, ....

I ordered them online, payed trough paypal and had a conformation with a tracking number.

Items left at 1th of April, leaved the US on the 2nd, arrived in Belgium the 3th !

Then they lied for about 6 days in a warehouse, nothing moved, nothing was done by customs.
The 10th I got a call from the customs office about my package.
After a seriously phone conversation I decided to head for the airport (A 20 mn. drive for me..)

So on the 11th I went to customs at the airport where I was almost arrested because I was importing forbidden products !
(DACP smells like almond, together with some clay bars they tought it was some sort of SEMTEX...)
The reason that they opened the package was because the invoice was missing, this is sended to me by normal mail after my payment was done (with visa)
The only paperwork included by the package was a packing list...
After 4 hours of dicussion and fillign in paperwork, they decided to let my goods into the country.
On the customs office, I had shown them this site, together with the site of the online vendor etc...

From customs it was sended to the postal service for delivery at my home.
Now you will ask why I didn't got the package when I was at the airport..
Beat me, but they wouldn't give it. "Delivery by post is the way it goes sir....."

Yesterday there was a card in my mailbox, the driver from EMS (postal service) had tried to deliver the package, nobody home so he returned.
(I had sticked a small not ON TOP of my mailbox with my phone number and the message that I was working about 5 km from my house, so if he called I was there in 5 minutes)

Yesterday evening, I went to the warehouse of EMS to collect my package and this was the result :

Amount 406 $ (330. from goods, 76 for delivery)

Extra tax added by customs : 150 $
(X-ray examination, extra VAT, import taxes etc...)

In the past I did several orders (detaling products and other things, from the US mostly)
and I never had to pay more then 25-30 $ import tax.
Now they ripped me off for an extra 150 $ !!!

Next time that I order, I want a company that "lowers" the invoice so that I don't have to go trough this nightmare again...

[SVR]

That seriously sucks
I've ordered thousands of dollars worth of gear and had it sent to me in australia and I have never paid any import duty or had a call from customs

Hope you don't have this trouble again.

[milky_08]

sorry to hear that that's mainly the reason why I don't have stuff shipped here anymore. Custom tax + shipping= plus I have to wait for a good two months for it to reach my place.

[holland_patrick]

wally....waqlly...wally...

next time trade..



for some
Affkugem Dobbel (25 oz) Affligem Tripel (25 oz) Abbaye de Rocs Noel
Boon Faro Boon Framboise Boon Vintage Framboise '97
Boon Kriek Chimay Blue (11 oz) Chimay Grande Reserve (25 oz & 1.5 liter)
Chimay Cinq (750 ml & 11.2 oz.) Chimay Rouge (11 oz & 750 ml) Corsendonk Brown Ale (11 oz and 750 ml)
Corsendonk Pale Ale (11 oz & 750 ml) DeDolle Ara Bier DeDolle Bos Keun
DeDolle Stille Nacht De Koninck De Koninck Cuvee (750 ml)
De Troch Pineapple Delerium Tremons Duvel (11 oz, 750 ml & 3 liter)
Hanssen's Oudbeitje Lambic Hanssen's Oude Gueze Liefman's Frambozen
Liefman's Gluhlarlie Liefkman's Goudenband Liefman's Kriek
Linderman's Framboise Lindeman's Kriek Lucifer
Mannekin Pis Orval Trappist Rodenbach Alexander
Rodenbach Grand Cru Rodenbach Red Ale Salson Dupont Foret (750 ml)
Salson Dupont Moinette (750 ml) Westmalle Double Westmalle Triple

[Wally]

Of course, I live in THE Beercountry...
Actually, almost all of the above beers are availiable here in any shop !

[Wally]

Are you guys paying any taxes on goods when ordering on online stores ?
Like, we have to pay VAT on everything, 6%, 21% depending on what it is.

Let's assume that a "polish" from an online store costs 20 $. Is there any tax included or so ?
I mean, if it is, then I have paid way too much because buying for export means tax free and then you have to pay taxes in your own country...

[StoicDude]

If the store is in the same state then you pay the taxes. If you live in California and the item is bought from a store that is in New York you dont pay taxes.

Some online shops that have stores all over the country charge tax.

I would say 90% of the time no tax.

You Europeans are crazy when it comes to mail. I sent an envelope to my aunt in Germany and mistakenly put a wrong last name on it and the envelope came back to me.

Apparently in Germany if there is a wrong last name they dont deliever it. In the US as long as the address is ok the mail will get there.

BTW, I had to pay $150 for buying some Dainese gear from Belgium. $50 for tax $100 for a "certificate" to let the merchandise through. Long story.

[StoicDude]

Also, th eUS does not have the same well establshed "Tax free for export" program like the EU contries do.

And I am pretty sure the online people you are dealing with would have no clue what you are talking about.

[Wally]

Agree, they don't know.
But in the end, I got some free gifts as always and that make's things good.
And also, the things that I'm ordering are not available in Europe, so ...

[Bence]

Next time say to the vendor that he should print on the package: Sample package. No commercial value.

Who the fükk will know it in Belgium???