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Future Impact now available!! WAS: deep impact reissue!!! interested?

I don't know why UPS seems to be so much worse with customs fees than any other carrier. They are the only ones I have ever had issues with. Man I hope mine gets delivered by FedEx.

Probably lazier brokerage. If they actually submit the customs info the right way, it should get taxed (or not taxed) properly. It's like when they deliver stuff to Canada and try to charge you duties when the description clearly makes the product fall under a NAFTA exemption category. Laziness.
 
I don't want to play the devil's advocate, but as an European who didn't object paying Hungary VAT rates (higher than Croatian's VAT), I don't see why some US members are happy to avoid paying import taxes in your country. VAT was refunded so you wouldn't end up being double taxed.

Trade pacts. Some items are exempt from duties and sales taxes. If they fall under a certain category and in a certain value class.

Brokerage fees are a whole other story where Fedex and UPS try to over charge you for submitting the customs form that the shipper already filled out.
 
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Trade pacts. Some items are exempt from duties and sales taxes. If they fall under a certain category and in a certain value class.

Brokerage fees are a whole other story where Fedex and UPS try to over charge you for submitting the customs form that the shipper already filled out.
This is very true, as long as the forms were correctly filled out.
 
I don't want to play the devil's advocate, but as an European who didn't object paying Hungary VAT rates (higher than Croatian's VAT), I don't see why some US members are happy to avoid paying import taxes in your country. VAT was refunded so you wouldn't end up being double taxed.

People wanting to pay less---yeah, that's weird.

I get your point but I don't think it's some deep moral issue. If we pay less because of negligence or whatever on the part of some other party then I'm happy to do that.
 
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People wanting to pay less---yeah, that's weird.

I get your point but I don't think it's some deep moral issue. If we pay less because of negligence or whatever on the part of some other party then I'm happy to do that.

I guess I'm being a bit jealous because we always get taxed when ordering anything from the US so don't take my rant seriously.
I hope you all enjoy your FI as much as I enjoy mine.
 
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I guess I'm being a bit jealous because we always get taxed when ordering anything from the US so don't take my rant seriously.
I hope you all enjoy your FI as much as I enjoy mine.

Fair enough, I hope my sarcasm wasn't too harsh. I think further I would point that legally we are not required to pay VAT. Whether or not we're required to pay the import fees or whatever---I am not clear on what SHOULD happen, so if it is ambiguous/random/capricious, then I simply hope that it falls in my favor.
 
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Well, that money is passed along to the government, it is taxes/duties after all. But, yes, you can definitely fight it.
Seems like the couriers pay what's owed in taxes. If they over collect, I wonder if that money actually makes it to the government? I think it more likely it sits in their accounts collecting interest. Unlikely anyone will sue over a few bucks, but I bet those few bucks add up.
 
I guess I'm being a bit jealous because we always get taxed when ordering anything from the US so don't take my rant seriously.
I hope you all enjoy your FI as much as I enjoy mine.

This.

Things like electronics and musical equipment are much more expensive in Europe than in the US. I am an American and before I moved to Europe I did not know how good those that live in the US have it until I was exposed to the prices and policies in Europe. If/when I move back, I will not take that for granted.

For sure when I buy stuff from the US for delivery to Spain, I will pay VAT + brokerage fee (+sometimes crazy high transportation fee). Doesn't matter the carrier, they will ask for money on delivery (23% of value including shipping cost + 15-25 EUR brokerage fee). Always.

You guys in the US need to sit back and realize just how good you have it.

And I finally received delivery of my FI today, right at 2 weeks to ship from Hungary to Spain. Of to get funky...
 
This.

Things like electronics and musical equipment are much more expensive in Europe than in the US. I am an American and before I moved to Europe I did not know how good those that live in the US have it until I was exposed to the prices and policies in Europe. If/when I move back, I will not take that for granted.

For sure when I buy stuff from the US for delivery to Spain, I will pay VAT + brokerage fee (+sometimes crazy high transportation fee). Doesn't matter the carrier, they will ask for money on delivery (23% of value including shipping cost + 15-25 EUR brokerage fee). Always.

You guys in the US need to sit back and realize just how good you have it.

And I finally received delivery of my FI today, right at 2 weeks to ship from Hungary to Spain. Of to get funky...

What if you buy in the country of origin? I would totally plan trips around gear purchases, 1) I have had an amazing time in every Euro country visited, 2) I have friends and fam scattered throughout the region 3) there are tons of euro manufacturers with great kit.

More importantly tell me how FUNKY it gets!!!

Is it so funky your neighbors can smell it?
 
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What if you buy in the country of origin? I would totally plan trips around gear purchases, 1) I have had an amazing time in every Euro country visited, 2) I have friends and fam scattered throughout the region 3) there are tons of euro manufacturers with great kit.

More importantly tell me how FUNKY it gets!!!

Is it so funky your neighbors can smell it?

If you buy in a country of origin while visiting, then you'd be allowed whatever the tax free visiting exemption your country of residence allows you upon re-netry. If the country you are purchasing in has a sales tax/VAT refund system for foreigners, you'd also be eligible for that, as long as the item you are purchasing qualifies for it. ;)
 
Fair enough, I hope my sarcasm wasn't too harsh. I think further I would point that legally we are not required to pay VAT. Whether or not we're required to pay the import fees or whatever---I am not clear on what SHOULD happen, so if it is ambiguous/random/capricious, then I simply hope that it falls in my favor.

Hahaha, don't worry. :) As Benevan said, you guys have it good and I wouldn't want you to have less, I would like us to have more ;).
 
Hey guys, I just did a bass demo of 99 stock sounds, some of you asked me... remember all stock just so you can hear what this baby can do... just uploading it

Mine's coming today, but I can't wait for this just to tide me over...
 
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For you in the US, just to feel better let me explain how I buy components for the FI or other products. Whatever I can I try to buy locally, but many of the specific components are not available here, neither in Hungary, nor in the EU at all. I have to buy these from one of the two US giants, DigiKey or Mouser. They are expensive, but they have an incredible stock. When I have to buy from DigiKey, I pay with credit card, and usually within two days I get notification from Fedex or UPS that I got a package that must be cleared by the customs. I have to fill out a few pages of forms, and after a few more days (while the package is already here) I get it. I have to pay 27% VAT, some customs fee, and the fee for the customs clearance. Thankfully, as the importer is a company, Panda-Audio, I get back the VAT at the end of every quarter (as a private person I would not get it back), and the other two fees are usually not high. Whenever I can I prefer to buy from Mouser, since although they deliver just as well from the US, recently they made up a subsidiary in the Czech republic, so I get a European invoice, no customs, no VAT, nothing. No wonder I prefer to pay somewhat more by Mouser. Still I did not mention that I have to calculate my purchases very carefully, since I get free delivery only if the value is >200$, otherwise both DigiKey and Mouser charge 60$ for the freight.
Once I bought a large stock of inductivities with different values, ca. 2000 pieces from another US company, Newark Electronics. I did no recognize at all that from one of the values they delivered 5 pieces less than what I ordered. One month later my credit card was suddenly charged with 110.12$. I had no idea why. It appeared that they sent me the missing five inductors in the value of 0.12$, with a freight charge of 110$! You can imagine that my adrenalin level went high! Finally I sent back the package, and they payed back the money, but I never buy from them since then...

Andras Szalay