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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / January 2005Worth buying from U.S???
I am thinking of buying some LiPo batteries from CheapBatteryPacks.com. Mainly because they are fitted with cell taps for their charge guards, but also because they are a lot cheaper than UK available batteries even after adding VAT. Any comments? Colin > I am thinking of buying some LiPo batteries from CheapBatteryPacks.com. > Mainly because they are fitted with cell taps for their charge guards, but [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Colin I have. Bought. As long as customes don't find em. > I have. Bought. As long as customes don't find em. Me. Too. & it's still cheaper even if those pesky varmints do "open the box".  SignatureBoo I have bought from the US but the item does need to be a lot cheaper than in the UK to make it worthwhile. When HM Customs got their hands on my model the charges worked out like this :- To the price of the model and postage add 2% import duty (2% because it was a wooden model ) then add another 17.5% VAT. These charges are paid COD and for the privelege of paying on your doorstep the carrier will charge at least £8. It makes me think carefully before I buy from the US. In your situation, however, the item is not available in the UK so it does make sense to order from the US. > > I have. Bought. As long as customes don't find em. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > -- > Boo That is not my experience with them! I had some laser cut parts sent from the US. Total value: $28.00. I did not get the opportunity to pay at the door (good thing too!). I was contacted by phone from the depot and told that the total charge was GBP56.00. When I asked what the charges were for, I was given a bunch of gibberish about this and that but no straight answer. I asked them how they could POSSIBLY justify three times the value of some wood pieces and they just said that was the customs and VAT charges. I refused the shipment and they sent it back. Being a US Government employee, I get all my stuff through my FPO address (US Navy mail system) so I don't have to pay for VAT or custome except for my bearings which come through DHL. -- Paul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > I have bought from the US but the item does need to be a lot cheaper than in > the UK to make it worthwhile. When HM Customs got their hands on my model [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > -- > > Boo > That is not my experience with them! I had some laser cut parts sent from > the US. Total value: $28.00. I did not get the opportunity to pay at the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > wood pieces and they just said that was the customs and VAT charges. I > refused the shipment and they sent it back. That's never happened to me in dozens of shipments. I believe you can query the tax if you believe it's wrong. The total price payable is generally around 21%, plus there's a handling fee of, say, £15 ish. It's often not worth importing if the stuff if the handling fee is a large proportion of the value but set against that is that very low value imports aren't taxed at all. I don't know what the level is but I do know it's too low to be much use. Your story seems exceptional to me and I think you must have run into a w.nker in the UK side courier firm (presumeably Parcelfarce ?). I'd have written to their office and told them what duty ought to have been payable and why and asked them to investigate. My experience is that even when you do pay VAT and duty the total price is lower than it would be in the UK - how much would it have cost to have the bits cut in the UK by comparison ? SignatureBoo >> That is not my experience with them! I had some laser cut parts sent >> from [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > is lower than it would be in the UK - how much would it have cost to > have the bits cut in the UK by comparison ? Yes. Those who import from the US in bulk, have to pay VAT, handling charges, and customs charges. AND make a profit, and probably get almost no discount. And have no guarantee that the goods will actually sell. Thats why they mark em up so high. For specialist stuff, import and be damned. > I have bought from the US but the item does need to be a lot cheaper than in > the UK to make it worthwhile. When HM Customs got their hands on my model [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > carefully before I buy from the US. In your situation, however, the item is > not available in the UK so it does make sense to order from the US. I looked into this in some depth a while back, even chatted to a customs advisor (they're quite happy to advise on the phone though the procedure is a bit laborious to say the least) and that 2% is the lowest rate and ONLY applies to all wood items. As soon as there's anything else in the box the rates shoot up, it's horrendously complex and illogical and most goods can quite legitimately be put under more than one tax code. You can of course try to fiddle it by getting the sender to misrepresent the goods as all wood, or even of no value, but if you get caught you will not only have to pay the true rate (the worst rate they can manage to apply) but also charges for the inspection and allocation of tax codes. For the average modeller it's simply not worth it, you may as well put your money on a horse!. I even had a chat to a well known trader at one of the shows and he told me that it's only worth it if you are importing tens of thousands of pounds of stuff in one order so can afford to employ some sort of agent who sorts the whole mess out for you, finds the lowest code that can apply, pays everything by the cheapest method, and avoids inspection by being a recognised agent. We live in rip-off Britain and the system of ripping us off is very sophisticated and hard to avoid. Greg > I looked into this in some depth a while back, even chatted to a customs > advisor (they're quite happy to advise on the phone though the procedure is [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > for the inspection and allocation of tax codes. For the average modeller > it's simply not worth it I haven't counted the savings I've made over the years by importing from the USA but it must be literally thousands of pounds : a quick example would be the last batch of APC props I bought to experiment with : 7x8 sport 7x9 7x10 8x6e 8x8e 9x6e 9x7.5e 9x9e 10x5E 10x10E Total Price ? £33.03 ! Compare that to SMC and weep (even if they had them in stock :-). That's around 1.65 a prop. (The reason you get a different answer is because there's 2 of each size included in that price). Another example : 3 off Futaba S9252 servos from RC Mushroom : total cost delivered inc everything £114 - that's less than 40 quid each ! Try doing that at Midland Helis and see how far you get. Or from Cyberheli : 2 off S9254 tail rotor servos for a similar £114 ish, a saving of better than £40 over UK shop prices. Prices from Europe can also be good : I just bought an "Altus XL" from airtech-rc, total price came to £124 (including VAT, being a European supplier and carriage). Cost of the equivalent model ("Highlight Speed") from WLM in the UK ? £159 excluding postage ! You choose you lose, but I know how to improve the odds ;-) , you may as well put your money on a horse!. I even > had a chat to a well known trader at one of the shows and he told me that > it's only worth it if you are importing tens of thousands of pounds of stuff Nah. Even if you end up paying duty (which is almost always 3% btw) and VAT and a £15 handling charge it's currently cheaper to buy from the USA whenever the price of the goods is over £100. There are exceptions (generally stuff that's made in Europe), but if you assume an exchange rate of 1.7:1 then you will average out about right and that includes postage and the occasions when you're caught. > in one order so can afford to employ some sort of agent who sorts the whole > mess out for you, finds the lowest code that can apply, pays everything by > the cheapest method, and avoids inspection by being a recognised agent. > > We live in rip-off Britain and the system of ripping us off is very > sophisticated and hard to avoid. True and I really don't understand why you are so opposed to importing ? You have to play the averages and the current system is such that you don't get stung very often and if you do then the prices are the same as you'd pay in the UK. Not trying to start a flame war, this is just my experience plain and simple. SignatureBoo >> I looked into this in some depth a while back, even chatted to a customs >> advisor (they're quite happy to advise on the phone though the [quoted text clipped - 75 lines] > Not trying to start a flame war, this is just my experience plain and > simple. I agree. I imported an astro whattmeter and 109 charger from Astro, and DID get stung. It ended up as a 20% hike on about 130 quid of goods...taking them up to teh same prices give or take that I could have go them from westlondon models, who by the time I got the goods, were actually selling the 109. OTOH I have imported from cheap battery packs and that wonderful japanese site, aircraft-world, and never giot hit by customs. It was mainly Astro's insistence on loads of customs paperwork and declaration of contents and an exposrt invoice that attracted the attention.. I would say that if its over 60 quid, import and be damned, if the goods are unobtainable here or are more than 20% more expensive here. Under that you do take a risk odf a 20 quid 'handling fee' to process £2 of 'taxes' Boo, You make a good point about the Highlight models from WLM. The 1.5m Highlight is on 'special offer' at £108 but is available from Modellbau Lindinger for 99euro! The 1.8m Highlight costs £117 at WLM but at Modellbau Lindinger 115euro! Well worth importing imho. > and the occasions when you're caught. > True and I really don't understand why you are so opposed to importing ? > You have to play the averages and the current system is such that you [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Not trying to start a flame war, this is just my experience plain and > simple. I'm not trying to start a flame war and won't contribute to this thread further for that very reason, the fact is that several of my friends have tried importing everything from modelling goods to scuba gear and without exception regretted it, one very seriously regretted it but I won't elaborate. I'm just warning people what they are getting themselves into and the risks. The fact you talk about accepting the occasions when you get caught, and the odds of getting stung, surely implies that you know you're doing something illegal, I assume the paperwork has false valuations and/or tax codes quoted at the sender's end in order to get your custom?, for example it could be coded as all wood modelling goods at virtually no tax when it should be electronics at some silly rate which I can't remember. If there was no illegality in it then you can't get caught or stung can you. >Your story seems exceptional to me and I think you must have run into a >w.nker in the UK side courier firm (presumeably Parcelfarce ?). I'd >have written to their office and told them what duty ought to have been >payable and why and asked them to investigate. The carrier does not decide on the tax they apply, the supplier in the US (or wherever) declares a value and tax code (which represents the type of goods) and the carrier just applies the rules and collects the tax for the government, they don't pocket it!. The alternative would be that they had to open every parcel, value the goods and determine the tax code which clearly they don't. They don't make the tax rules, the only thing they can control is their charge for carriage and acting as agent for the government, but the US supplier chose them on your behalf so blame the supplier. You can appeal to customs and excise directly if you want but that can cost you too... About a year ago I spent quite a while discussing this subject with the customs and excise, as indeed any of you are free to do, just look on their web site for the numbers, I was seriously considering importing myself. All I'm doing is passing on the facts as they told me, and the fact is that if you import most modelling goods containing electronics and plastics you SHOULD be paying a heck of a lot of tax and if you're not then you're evading it, take that risk if you are prepared to take the consequences but don't tell people there aren't any because there are. Greg > The fact you talk about accepting the occasions when you get caught, and the > odds of getting stung, surely implies that you know you're doing something [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > electronics at some silly rate which I can't remember. If there was no > illegality in it then you can't get caught or stung can you. The real isseue greg - and I don't expect a reply - is that this is not a cut and dried area. Certain values are deemed to be too small to be worth collecting, the charges for 'administration' by the couriers are not standard, and even the category into which the goods fall is open to question. Tow non model related examples from my extensive experience importing and exporting - Software from USA to UK. Cost price $50. Insurance value (since the manufacturer can replace at the cost of a new manual and in those days two floppy disks) $5. Therefore 'commercial invoice' says $5. We started paying tax on $50, then paid tax on $5. Then we printed our own manuals and imported a LICENCE TO REPRODUCE the software. We paid no tax at all. All apparently totally legal ways. - Importing electronic compnents int the then strictly protectionist south africa. Call from Mr Customs. Were they 'Capacitors for motors' (tax 15%) Capacitors for domstic and commecial equipment (25%) or 'radio spare parts, general' (tax 5%). Guess which category we declared them as. Customs was happy. I can envisage likewise a SCUBA compressor being 'sporting goods general' or 'industrial equipment'. It's the madness of trade barriers in general. Usually the real killer is when low priced goods go by courier, and they charge 20 quid for the privilege of filling out forms that cost you 3 quid import tax that gets you. Ther are no official standard charges for that sort of thing. I wouldn't mind if they simply stuck UK VAT on the thing - one would know where one stood - its those random charges for 'handling paperwork'. Plus the indefinite import duties. So dependent on interpretation. And quoted value. This is where we agree! The bearings I import come in by DHL (usually) I have only been hit twice by HM Customs and DHL did not charge for the privilag of handling the goods. FedEx, on the other hand, wanted GBP15.00 for it. I told them that DHL didn't charge me and they waived the fee. Seems you never know what you will be hit with! -- Paul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > > The fact you talk about accepting the occasions when you get caught, and the > > odds of getting stung, surely implies that you know you're doing something [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > paperwork'. Plus the indefinite import duties. So dependent on > interpretation. And quoted value. Greg, The laser cut goods did not have the tax code assigned by the sender. This is neither necessary nor commonplace. HM Customs decided what it was and decided to try to screw me. -- Paul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > > and the occasions when you're caught. > [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > > Greg I bought 5 x HT645 servos just before Xmas from the YooHessof Hay Hobbie Guy RC On the doorstep in 4 days @ £22 delivered (each) I did once buy a plan / cowl etc and take a hit, It was a massive box which might have drawn attention to itself. I'll certainly try it again Stu K > I am thinking of buying some LiPo batteries from CheapBatteryPacks.com. > Mainly because they are fitted with cell taps for their charge guards, but [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Colin well I woulod go for the hobby lobby kit packs as all items are matched Im really not a hobby salesman.. but I will get one of the stuka models.. and the matched motor and battery set they recommend. better they experiment and crash them than me or you. they have some lovely scale model matched up sets.. just the radios are on 72 mhz so dont get them unless u are in usa. lots of luck.. and wish me luck with the stuka.. zieg heil hahaha The main reason modelling (and many other) items are cheaper in the states than the UK is quite simply down to buying power.The US buy in much larger quantities than we do so getting a better price break..This allows them to sell at very competitive rates. Without the US market place most of these far eastern companies would not survive so they have to supply at the right price,we on this little island have very little clout in the big world so we pay up..Some of our UK model shops (the larger ones) buy directly from the far east(so called grey imports) and pass the savings on to their customers.These large US importers distribute to their chains of model shops dirctly so only one profit margin to worry about,model shops in the UK buy their goods from distibutors like Perkins/Irvine/Ripmx etc who take their cut first.The model shop then has to try and compete with the likes of Inwoods and Al's hobbies.As an example if Inwoods bought a JR PCM 9X transmitter from Macgregor and sold it at their current advertised price they would make £12 this is something like 4% profit,hardly a fortune unless you could sell 200 a day.Then of course what happens if it faulty or develops a fault in a short space of time who is responsible for getting it replaced or repaired, the retailer of course(it's your statuary right to take it back to point of purchase),so back it goes to the distributor and bang goes the profit margin in postage.If you buy an OS engine from the states and it is faulty what do you do send it back?.NO chuck it in the bin and buy another it was cheap enough!.Consider this Irvine/Ripmax import AND retail through their own chain of shops.Not only that but appeared at public shows during last year retailing goods cheaper than they supply to model shops.Now that's profit. > > I am thinking of buying some LiPo batteries from CheapBatteryPacks.com. > > Mainly because they are fitted with cell taps for their charge guards, but [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > lots of luck.. and wish me luck with the stuka.. > zieg heil hahaha Being in the retail hobby business for the last 15 years, I can safely say that you are a little off the mark. Most all major brands of hobby supplies (radios, engines, etc) are only available in each country through exclusive distributors. OS in the US is only available from Hobbico/Tower. Hobby shops that want to sell OS in the US have to get them from Hobbico/Tower. Same situation in the UK. One area that isn't so cosely held is the kit market. Many kit makers sell direct to hobby shops. Some have sold out exclusive deals with the larger distributors, though. The main reason prices are so much lower in the US is the major difference it the tax systems. SignaturePaul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > The main reason modelling (and many other) items are cheaper in the states > than the UK is quite simply down to buying power.The US buy in much larger [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] >> lots of luck.. and wish me luck with the stuka.. >> zieg heil hahaha > Being in the retail hobby business for the last 15 years, I can safely say > that you are a little off the mark. Most all major brands of hobby supplies [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > The main reason prices are so much lower in the US is the major difference > it the tax systems. This isn't so any more in europe. Some brands stick to their territorial distributors, others sell to anybody that show up with money. You can get OS from Irvine in the UK or Graupner in Germany, or more likely some distributor in the far east. JR and Hitec likewise. Futaba and Saito are harder to come by. I have to agree with you on the tax issue. US retail prices are always quoted withtout the local sales tax, which varies from 5% to 8%. In europe, retail prices always includes the VAT or whatever name the different countries has on the evil. The rates varies from 15% to 25%, a major difference. Kjell Aa Oslo, Norway Kjell, Like I said, you have to get your OS engines from Irvine. No one else can import them for sale into the UK without Irving getting real pissed. Same with Graupner in Germany. If you buy from outside these distributors, you will not get the locals to honor the OS warranty. You have send it back to where you bought it from. Anything that Ripmax has will be the same way. Exact same situation in the US. SignaturePaul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > >> Being in the retail hobby business for the last 15 years, I can safely [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Kjell Aa > Oslo, Norway > I am thinking of buying some LiPo batteries from CheapBatteryPacks.com. > Mainly because they are fitted with cell taps for their charge guards, but [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Colin I don't know about batteries or, for that matter any imported modelling goods. For my money I always support the local model shop even if it means paying more than"illegally" imported goods. If we don't support "our" suppliers there will come a time when the only source of the supplies we need WILL be other countries and then what will happen to our hobby/sport? Malcolm > > I am thinking of buying some LiPo batteries from CheapBatteryPacks.com. > > Mainly because they are fitted with cell taps for their charge guards, but [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > For my money I always support the local model shop even if it means paying > more than"illegally" imported goods. Are we any worse off when supermarkets took over from corner shops? Buying abroad is not illegal, customs will charge duty if they think it appropriatte. If something slips through the net, are we guilty of a crime? The next time you exceed the speed limit, will you go to the police station to pay your fine? > If we don't support "our" suppliers there will come a time when the only > source of the supplies we need WILL be other countries and then what will > happen to our hobby/sport? "Our" suppliers are businesses, they need to make money and therefore need to be competetive. Is that bad for our hobby/sport? I don't see any problems for us with internet buying, and overseas competition. Most of the items we buy come from the far east anyway, and small innative UK companies will always survive. Colin >If something slips through the net, are we guilty of a crime? Well let's see, if we don't bother declaring some income on our tax return and the tax man never finds out are we guilty?, if a tree falls and no one is there does it make a sound, and other assorted cobblers 8-). > The next time you exceed the speed limit, will you go to the police station > to pay your fine? No, nor will I claim that it's not illegal so long as they don't find out... Greg I have just been caught for import duty for a helicopter helicopter £110.35 delivery £18.96 import duty £7.21 VAT £7.67 Parcel force clearance £13.50 Total £157.69 http://www.rchobby.co.uk/3d_collective_rtf_heli_esky_3d.html has it on sale for £260 with out the training undercarriage & 1800MAH LiPo & training lead for a sim which I got for the £160 still making it £100 cheaper Kevin > >If something slips through the net, are we guilty of a crime? > > Well let's see, if we don't bother declaring some income on our tax return > and the tax man never finds out are we guilty?, if a tree falls and no one > is there does it make a sound, and other assorted cobblers 8-). By not declaring income, you are deliberately evading paying tax. It is the choice of the customs whether or not they choose to charge. If they do, you pay! > > The next time you exceed the speed limit, will you go to the police > station > > to pay your fine? > > No, nor will I claim that it's not illegal so long as they don't find out... So you are happy to perform an illegal act if you think you can get away with it! > It is the > choice of the customs whether or not they choose to charge. If they do, > you > pay! This is popular folke lore and quite simply not true, ask them yourself if you don't believe me. YOU are responsible for declaring any goods you import that incure duty, just as YOU are responsible for declaring any income to the inland revenue. As an example, the last time I came into Newcastle the customs consisted of a red telephone and a sign telling you to pickup the phone if YOU have anything to declare, so don't try to tell people that they aren't due to pay duty unless it's actually taken from them. Greg > > It is the > > choice of the customs whether or not they choose to charge. If they do, [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Greg I am quite happy to believe you, and I am not telling people that they are not due to pay duty. But if a parcel was delivered to your door without any request to pay, would you insist on paying the postman? Even after payment the goods are usually cheaper, so it is just a question of whether you gain a little or a lot. When I consider the vast amount I have paid in taxes over the years, I don't think I would lose any sleep over depriving the customs of a few pounds. > I am quite happy to believe you, and I am not telling people that they are > not due to pay duty. But if a parcel was delivered to your door without > any > request to pay, would you insist on paying the postman? No, and he wouldn't take it, but technically I should inform the Customs and Excise if there was duty to pay and not doing so would be illegal. > When I consider the vast amount I have paid in taxes over the years, I > don't > think I would lose any sleep over depriving the customs of a few pounds. Nor would I, my only argument is that people on public forums like this shouldn't tell others that something is legal when it is not, after that it's up to the individual. Greg The law and the practice are entirely different things. Items coming in through parcel delivery ALL have to clear customs before they can be delivered. If you have a package coming in from outside the EU, customs will have to pass it before it can be delivered. You will not have any contact with it before then. You will not have to call them to say it is coming in. SignaturePaul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com >> It is the >> choice of the customs whether or not they choose to charge. If they do, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Greg > The law and the practice are entirely different things. Items coming in > through parcel delivery ALL have to clear customs before they can be > delivered. If you have a package coming in from outside the EU, customs > will have to pass it before it can be delivered. You will not have any > contact with it before then. You will not have to call them to say it is > coming in. As I have said before, if you don't believe me then simply phone them and ask, they will tell you that if the duty is due on the goods it is YOUR responsibility to ensure it is paid. Ideally you should make sure the sender properly labels the goods so that customs can deduct the duty, or YOU should do the paperwork and submit it to customs which is exactly why big importers employ agents to sort out all this paperwork and submit it to customs before it comes in. Customs have the right to open any package and assess the value and duty rate of the contents, either because they suspect the declaration is incorrect or because there isn't one. However, they have very limited resources so most small packages that are not labelled are simply passed, only a few are opened and that's when you get stung. Any large consignment that had no paperwork would very likely be opened, that's why importers do the paperwork Greg AS I said, the LAW and the PRACTICE are two different things. If parcels come into the country without the proper declaration forms, they will either be refused at customs or inspected. If they are inspected and duty is assessed, you will be notified either before delivery, or at your doorstep. If the parcels, when presented to customs by the carrier, have all the legal declarations they need, you do NOT have to do anything else. You are not breaking the law. Your items were legally declared and customs made their decision. Remember, we are talking about hobby products, not containerloads. SignaturePaul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com >> The law and the practice are entirely different things. Items coming in >> through parcel delivery ALL have to clear customs before they can be [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Greg Maybe they will get a clue and stop ripping you off! If you can get identical goods, from the same far-east suppliers, for less cost EVEN with the VAT and customes by buying it from another continent, you are getting ripped off! Example: OS .46AX UK price: PS109.00 = $207.00 US price: $119.00 plus VAT $ 21.20 plus customs (20%?) $23.80 Plus shipping $20.00 Total: $184.00 Of course, the shipping and customs were guesses on the high end. SignaturePaul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > >> I am thinking of buying some LiPo batteries from CheapBatteryPacks.com. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Malcolm Paul I think you will find it works like this cost $119.00 + shipping $20.00 @ 1.85 Dollars to the Pound=75.15 +(Duty@20% = 15.02)=90.17 +(VAT@17.5%=15.78)=105.95 + whatever the delivery company decide to charge for customs clearance and collecting the charge from you. But I could be wrong. Regards Brian > Maybe they will get a clue and stop ripping you off! If you can get > identical goods, from the same far-east suppliers, for less cost EVEN with [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] >> >> Malcolm > Maybe they will get a clue and stop ripping you off! If you can get > identical goods, from the same far-east suppliers, for less cost EVEN with [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > plus VAT $ 21.20 > plus customs (20%?) $23.80 AIUI the import duty rate is 3% not 20%. And VAT anyway (idk about import duty) is payable on the shipping as well. so the figures for an import are US Price : $119.00 Shipping : $ 25.00 airmail Total cost : $144 ~= £78.26 allowing for a VISA exchange rate of 1.84 USS to the GBP Import Duty @ 3% of £78.26 = £2.35 VAT on total of price + duty = £14.11 Grand total : £94.71 _Except_ that the shipping Co. may try to fine you, say, £15-£20 ish for taking some money off you at the door, so possible total is a bit higher at aroung £115 But Inwoods currently advertise the OS 46AX at £77.50 ;-) So in this case I'd go there :-) (Actually I've put the best part of £300 Inwoods' way this week - for some things they're really pretty cheap). A different example gives a different decision : YS63-S (new type YS63) Price at HobbyBarn : $234.99 Shipping : $ 25.00 airmail Total cost before VAT and duty : $259.99 ~= £141.30 Total cost inc duty/Vat as before : £171.01 + £20 extorted by Parcelfarce gives : £191.01 Price at Pro-thieves : £224.88 Which is a saving of £33.87. And this is the saving that applies even if the UK carrier (over which you excercise no choice) stitches you up for £20 as the price for filling in a form. If they don't charge you anything then the saving is better than £50. And also note that this is completely legitimate : no taxes or duties are being evaded whatsoever. So it pays to shop wisely and my experience is that worthwhile savings are there for the picking. Cordially, SignatureBoo That said, there are some pretty good deals on some items in the UK. GWS products are a fairly good buy here. SignaturePaul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com >> Maybe they will get a clue and stop ripping you off! If you can get >> identical goods, from the same far-east suppliers, for less cost EVEN [quoted text clipped - 59 lines] > > Cordially, I just got a belt drive system for my zoom 400 heli from the states and it cost me in total £43, to buy a poorer belt drive conversion in this country is double that. I think the UK is becoming a joke, we get ripped off left right and centre, we are made criminals because of thousands of petty new crappy laws which none of us voted for, we pay far far far too much tax, we see a shambles in return, filthy hospitals, the country is overcrowded and in debt and our gas reserves are running out, half the world hates us (2nd in line to the US) and the weather is always crap, who knows what the future for this place holds, esp in the hands of the evil Blair dictatorship lol <rant finished> > I think the UK is becoming a joke, we get ripped off left right and > centre, we are made criminals because of thousands of petty new crappy [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > the future for this place holds, esp in the hands of the evil Blair > dictatorship lol <rant finished> I would agree with everything you said, though blaming Blair for the weather is perhaps going a tad too far 8-) Greg >> I think the UK is becoming a joke, we get ripped off left right and >> centre, we are made criminals because of thousands of petty new crappy [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Greg Blair is a tad better than some... though I think he lost the plot some time back... hell lets blame the weather on him as well. First we had the Global Village Then the Yanks go and elect (then re-elect) George W Bush Now, as a consequence, we have the Global Village Idiot >:-) Reg Gee, you sound almost like the colonists in 1776! SignaturePaul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com >I just got a belt drive system for my zoom 400 heli from the states and it >cost me in total £43, to buy a poorer belt drive conversion in this country [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > for this place holds, esp in the hands of the evil Blair dictatorship lol > <rant finished> > AIUI the import duty rate is 3% not 20%. Well I talked to them directly last year the last time (?) this all came up and they told me in no uncertain terms that the 3% rate was for wooden goods only, so could only be applied legally to kits that were "predominantly" wood. If the consignment contained significant amounts of plastic, metal or electronics then other codes applied with rates as high as 25%. So the way people are getting round the duty is either by the sender falsely stating that the goods are predominantly wood, or not making a declaration at all and hoping the customs think it is of insignificant value and can't be bothered to open up and allocate a code themselves. It was made crystal clear to me that either was punishable under the law, if only by a stiff bill at the doorstep. Greg Can't agree with that remark.I can buy Futaba,OS and JR from at least 5 different suppliers outside of the UK and at least 3 more on Ebay that sell below distibutors prices . Macgregor have dropped the current PCM9X because of this and will soon be selling a new version with the JR MacGregor badge on it.Where do you think Probuild get their JR stuff from? not Macgregor !.3 UK model shops have already folded since the appaling Xmas in the trade.The retail outlet I work in only survived because of an aggresive mail order campaign.4 days of counter sales instead of the usual 5-6 weeks !. 80% of turnover on the internet.This is happening in just about every section of the retail trade.Just think when you run out of cyano on a Friday night you can sit in the comfort of your house and order a bottle from America !. > > I am thinking of buying some LiPo batteries from CheapBatteryPacks.com. > > Mainly because they are fitted with cell taps for their charge guards, but [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Malcolm If you buy from these other sources and the thing breaks, will you get it fixed under warranty at the local warranty station? If McGregor has the exclusive distrubutorship of those products, they will also control the warranty. SignaturePaul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > Can't agree with that remark.I can buy Futaba,OS and JR from at least 5 > different suppliers outside of the UK and at least 3 more on Ebay that [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >> >> Malcolm The answer to that is no,this is one of the problems and the exact reason that Macgregor are having their own logo on the new PCM9X V2.They can tell quite easily which radio is a grey import and charge for the repair or refuse to repair it.Unless you return your radio, engine etc via the model shop it was purchased from then you should be asked to provide the stamped warranty card and purchase receipt. > If you buy from these other sources and the thing breaks, will you get it > fixed under warranty at the local warranty station? If McGregor has the [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > >> > >> Malcolm You just confirmed what I have been saying. You CAN get products through other sources but you will not be afforded the same service or protections. Same thing in the US. So, explain to me why prices are so much higher here? SignaturePaul McIntosh http://www.rc-bearings.com > The answer to that is no,this is one of the problems and the exact reason > that Macgregor are having their own logo on the new PCM9X V2.They can tell [quoted text clipped - 57 lines] >> >> >> >> Malcolm |
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