The reasons I haven't ordered from fivestar recently have been because of the way the shipping adds up, and because of the lost package incident (or sticky-customs fingers) which are always resolved well by your and Ethan's excellent CS, but are always unpleasant to have to report and work through.

Cheers,

scipio

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But do you still submit the full value on the packaging ?

VC

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If Five Star are going to keep stating the full value - which they are perfectly within their rights to do so - then the economy of this shipping method will be somewhat compromised, I am afraid.

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1. what is the tax called ?
2. how is it calculated ?
3. how is it collected (ie do you pay Fed Ex on receipt) ?
4. since from the posts here I deduce if the value is low there is no tax, is it therefore cheaper to, say, place smaller seperate orders rather than one large order ?

This is an enquiry for carriage to the UK.

Thanks.

Z.

Edited by - ziniaraya on 5/15/2003 3:12:12 PM

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Z.

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I can't give any personal comment other than having the usual charge levied by Fed Ex on packages from Five Star - they charge £4.50 for their expenses (ho hum) and also duty and VAT at the usual rates. This added up to an extra charge of £24 or thereabouts, on 8 discs.

I am not sure what you mean about other charges for opening packets - I think this can only be done by Customs inspectors or Royal Mail inspectors acting for customs, but frankly I'd only be speculating and don't want to misinform you. Fed Ex, for example, don't open the packet - they just charge based on the Customs declaration made by the vendor.

What I can say is that in the unlikely event - I've never been charged any extra or had a package opened from Laser's Edge or Adult DVD Now - Royal Mail are supposed to collect the duty from you, and they'll charge for doing this too! Don't know how much this would be, but chill out, I am sure many of the shoppers here will assure you there's not too much to worry about.

For anyone interested in this topic, have a look at the Customs website - internet shopping, customs allowances, banned goods! It's all there.

Edited by - Gabriel Nine on 5/25/2003 4:58:59 PM

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(1) precisely what will happen is a bit hit and miss but provided the VAT and duty is factored in there should be no nasty surpises;

(2) what I don't pay in duty on one shipment might be swallowed up by Royal Mail's own collection fee next time round when they do call to collect duty so its swings and roundabouts.

I can live with that.

Z.

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