After searching this forum for hours, I concluded that Andy might be losing potential customers. And that it would be helpful to have some FAQ about ordering importing from Andy (by location). Let me elaborate briefly:
I've searched countless threads in this forum regarding shipment to europe today. I found many threads with enquiries and some fragmented answers by members or Andy.
The problem is, that a potential customer will like to know what this product will cost him in the end. And this is actually rather complicated to figure out atm.
Assume I use his Aliexpress store. Aliexpress charges me a price that includes free shipment and VAT. So when it reaches Europe, it should just go straight to the buyer without trouble UNLESS it is an item requiring cutoms duty. (Remember, Vat should already be paid through the seller)
The items will have a customs reference number which will decide if it is duty free (ipads would be such) or if they require tax-duty (some photographic lenses would). I actually got in touch with customs but the guy I talked to told me, that without the item customs-number he can't tell me if and how much duty there will be on top of VAT. But only if the parcel exceeds 150€ incl VAT and shipment. For the US readers: VAT is around 20% in europe. And duty could be as much as 17% iirc. This percentage (0%? to 17%?) is probably the same for all security cams. It could be communicated perhaps in form of an "import experience thread". Andy's items will likely fall into only a few categories.
When I searched european websites, there are several reports that people buying from Andy-Aliexpress were charged VAT again at the door when the package arrived, despite the statement that it was already included in the initial payment. Some then claim that they got the extra payment back from Aliexpress. Actually, the customs officer I talked to told me the same. Sounds acceptable, but wait...
The mail delivery charges extra for charging. So if they think they should collect 20% VAT again, they charge you another lump of cash for their collection service. Various sources talk of $8-$40, depending who knocks at your door. Another information that would be useful: What to ship with and what not?
When I contact Andy for a price, he replies quickly, friendly, patiently and is very helpful. But I still don't understand exactly if or if not his prices already includes the VAT for importing the article. In other words, does he create an IOSS number for import to europe? This would have to be done by the seller if I'd place an order to him through Aliexpress.
In most threads, when people enquired about all this, they get the quick answer from members that Andy is reliable, that he ships quickly, that his stuff works and all. But that isn't really the issue I am after. These are the reasons why people would consider trying Andy in the first place and not another store. The question now is not so much how quickly it gets here but how the deal it set up and what will happen when it gets here? If I pay him $100 for a cam & shipment, will it cost me $100 in the end? Or $100+$20+$17$+$15 = $153? That adds up...
I found several threads that tried to inquire and then suddenly ended. I am not sure as to why. All might have gone well but the buyer never reported back? He never made the purchase, gave up, too uncertain?
My suggestion is this: The problem could be tackled from both ends. Andy could provide some information. (in some forum sticky perhaps?) Does he create an IOSS number if europeans buy from him? So we know if this ~20% VAT is included or not and if we should expect this cam to arrive at our door without extra cost or not. Does it matter if he ships from EU stores or from Hong Kong?
And as customers we should provide some feedback about the import. How did it work? Did I pay only $100 or did it get more expensive? What was the actual problem? And this should be easy to find, so other new customers will have an idea what to expect and not go elsewhere and buy Reolink. If such information already exists, it should be more visible.
Thank you for reading.
I've searched countless threads in this forum regarding shipment to europe today. I found many threads with enquiries and some fragmented answers by members or Andy.
The problem is, that a potential customer will like to know what this product will cost him in the end. And this is actually rather complicated to figure out atm.
Assume I use his Aliexpress store. Aliexpress charges me a price that includes free shipment and VAT. So when it reaches Europe, it should just go straight to the buyer without trouble UNLESS it is an item requiring cutoms duty. (Remember, Vat should already be paid through the seller)
The items will have a customs reference number which will decide if it is duty free (ipads would be such) or if they require tax-duty (some photographic lenses would). I actually got in touch with customs but the guy I talked to told me, that without the item customs-number he can't tell me if and how much duty there will be on top of VAT. But only if the parcel exceeds 150€ incl VAT and shipment. For the US readers: VAT is around 20% in europe. And duty could be as much as 17% iirc. This percentage (0%? to 17%?) is probably the same for all security cams. It could be communicated perhaps in form of an "import experience thread". Andy's items will likely fall into only a few categories.
When I searched european websites, there are several reports that people buying from Andy-Aliexpress were charged VAT again at the door when the package arrived, despite the statement that it was already included in the initial payment. Some then claim that they got the extra payment back from Aliexpress. Actually, the customs officer I talked to told me the same. Sounds acceptable, but wait...
The mail delivery charges extra for charging. So if they think they should collect 20% VAT again, they charge you another lump of cash for their collection service. Various sources talk of $8-$40, depending who knocks at your door. Another information that would be useful: What to ship with and what not?
When I contact Andy for a price, he replies quickly, friendly, patiently and is very helpful. But I still don't understand exactly if or if not his prices already includes the VAT for importing the article. In other words, does he create an IOSS number for import to europe? This would have to be done by the seller if I'd place an order to him through Aliexpress.
In most threads, when people enquired about all this, they get the quick answer from members that Andy is reliable, that he ships quickly, that his stuff works and all. But that isn't really the issue I am after. These are the reasons why people would consider trying Andy in the first place and not another store. The question now is not so much how quickly it gets here but how the deal it set up and what will happen when it gets here? If I pay him $100 for a cam & shipment, will it cost me $100 in the end? Or $100+$20+$17$+$15 = $153? That adds up...
I found several threads that tried to inquire and then suddenly ended. I am not sure as to why. All might have gone well but the buyer never reported back? He never made the purchase, gave up, too uncertain?
My suggestion is this: The problem could be tackled from both ends. Andy could provide some information. (in some forum sticky perhaps?) Does he create an IOSS number if europeans buy from him? So we know if this ~20% VAT is included or not and if we should expect this cam to arrive at our door without extra cost or not. Does it matter if he ships from EU stores or from Hong Kong?
And as customers we should provide some feedback about the import. How did it work? Did I pay only $100 or did it get more expensive? What was the actual problem? And this should be easy to find, so other new customers will have an idea what to expect and not go elsewhere and buy Reolink. If such information already exists, it should be more visible.
Thank you for reading.
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