Hellzero Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 (edited) I needed a fiver set of double ball Steinberger/La Bella. They all were out of price in the EEC. So, I contacted Mark at BassDirect and he did the Brexit maths. I paid £35.42 GBP shipping included for the set, so far so good as I'm supposed to simply pay the 21% of VAT for these goods. The next day I got a message from the Belgian post asking me €27.93 Euros (£23.57 GBP) as customs fee clearance !?! Not Mark's fault for sure even if the declared value was a bit too high at £40 GBP (shipping fee must be included in the declared value, but it was a grand total of £35.42 GBP), but the "you'll pay the same as the VAT is deducted" slogan you see everywhere is a total lie as you have to add that delirious administrative fee and VAT on everything. Some companies like ToneRider, for instance, give you a real all included price and work with couriers instead of the post, which is better and safer price wise. Thanks Boris is all I can say. Edited October 16, 2021 by Hellzero 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 (edited) Can no one go 60 seconds without making some kind of political comment at the end of an otherwise interesting post? I ain't interested in politics, don't care, don't want to hear it. Edited October 16, 2021 by Bassfinger 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted October 16, 2021 Author Share Posted October 16, 2021 But you have to live with these political decisions, no matter how deep you put your head in the sand. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 You come unstuck with the post office’s handling fee. Maybe get someone you know over here to get them for you next time, and under declare them? I did that recently for someone who lives in France, he wanted a CD. Thomann have now got it sorted out, the price you pay is it, nothing extra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 I'm waiting for a cheap secondhand neck from the Netherlands. It got as far as Oirschot, but is now well on its way back to the sender 😞 They say it's got the right address on it. No Cites declartion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 Post here used to chuck your stuff on a shelf and send you a letter of demand on behalf of Customs, all for free. Then the volumes got out of control and they realised what a racket they had been missing out on. Booh. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 @Hellzero - Really you should be thanking David Cameron, he will be forever know as the person that orchestrated the demise of Britain! Is there any room in Belgium for me, my wife and my basses? 😁 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted October 18, 2021 Author Share Posted October 18, 2021 17 minutes ago, binky_bass said: @Hellzero - Really you should be thanking David Cameron, he will be forever know as the person that orchestrated the demise of Britain! Is there any room in Belgium for me, my wife and my basses? 😁 You are welcome whenever you want, but the basses will have to stay forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 The basses can stay forever, but that will mean we have to stay forever. Have the spare room made up, we're on our way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted October 18, 2021 Author Share Posted October 18, 2021 The cellars are all yours. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 It would be nice to live in a country where you can just put Tony, Belgium and it gets to you! Ironically, my Father was called Tony, and he lived in belgium, and all that time I didn't try it. But probably because I would haver written 'Dad, belgium' and that is probably trickier. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted October 18, 2021 Author Share Posted October 18, 2021 A long time ago, a friend of mine send me postcard from abroad where he put my name on it, the street was " Blue Peugeot 205 Street" without any number and the place was "Near Virton, I think" which is a city 15 kilometres away. He stated Belgium. And yes I did get the postcard a few days after it was sent ! Good ol' time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 Back when it was just you and a handful of dinosaurs that resided in Belgium... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 1 hour ago, Hellzero said: The cellars are all yours. Have you left the manacles fixed to the walls? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellzero Posted October 18, 2021 Author Share Posted October 18, 2021 11 minutes ago, Paul S said: Have you left the manacles fixed to the walls? Of course. 😇 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
binky_bass Posted October 18, 2021 Share Posted October 18, 2021 Tony knows I refuse to stay in a room that doesn't have manacles! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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