The cod piece Steve, what does your cod piece say?

Mike

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There is nothing more impressive than a bloody big Alien wiggling on the end of a sharp stick!

Nothing at the moment.

Was looking at some sort of 'No Entry' logo, but haven't had the time to source one or paint one yet.

_________________
Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

ok my paint job on my armour should be done tomorrow so hopefully ill get a pic done tomorrow to. ive kept the spataflage pattern except ive hand painted over the airbrushed parts, although i havent painted over the main green base colour.

ive never painted on a large scale before so my paint job isnt great but its good enough for me.

Rick

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Cpl. Rick "Dangerous" Butler
A04/TQ2.0.62158E1
UKCM
______________________


"All right. Now listen up! I want this thing to go smooth and by the numbers. I want DCS and tactical database assimilation by Oh-Eight-Thirty. Ordinance loading, weapons strip, and dropship prep details will have seven hours! Now move it people!"

Look forward to seeing the armour Rick

Jason

_________________
What ya gonna do when I TECKNO HUG Youuuuu!!



Pvt.
STEAD,J "TECKNO VIKING"
A06/TQ1.0.22140E1

Skype: ulthur1

Looks like mine has been hit with the effing customs charges.
Used the USPS tracking and it said it was a failed delivery to me this morning.
Strange as I was at home and my 2 dogs usually go daft if there's someone at the door.

After reading on here, I checked the Parcelfarce website tracking and it's being held at the depot awaiting payment of charges.

Was stuck in customs for 5 days too.

Don't know how much yet, tried phoning a few times to see and possibly pay, but they just kept me on hold waiting for ages.

So looks like I'll be getting the letter soon.

_________________
Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

That sucks! Be sure to post what the final charge is. Not that it will help, but I'm always curious as to the VAT charges you guys get hit with.

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-Spat

Although most of the extra cost is 'admin/handling charges' levied by the courier firm.

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Steve
Corporal in 69th Regt. 1st Batt. Homer’s Heroes.

"I'd like to die at the age of 80 in my own bed, with a belly full of wine and a girl's mouth around my c**k."

I'm presuming the amount I get hit for depends on the value of the item Spat states on the form + shipping cost?

Seems different totals for the customs, vat, handling and whatever else they can think of charges have been posted on here by other unfortunates.

I'll let you know.

_________________
Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Letter arrived, I honestly can't believe it.

Import duty £34.42
VAT £56.22
Clearance fee £8.00

Total £98.64

I could cry.

On a positive note, should be delivered tomorrow.

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Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Import duty and Clearance fee £42.42 . Fucking robbing bastards to be honest. At least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a shagging mask. Pretty soon in this country you'll sit on the khazi to take a dump and a tax bill will be on the end of the bog roll.

Cant wait to see the import fees i'm gonna get hit with soon when my box of goodies from the U.S arrives

It's so hit and miss mate, so I really wish you all the luck in the world and you don't get hit.

Puzzles me too in the different charges people have had to pay?

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Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Holy crap! Damn, that's horrible. Sorry. And I only value the armor at like $500 or so to try and help you guys out.

That's Highway robbery. Is the Sheriff of Nottingham still in charge over there?

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-Spat

It hit or miss at to you get hit with charges... i got my spat armour , no charge , impoted 3 airsoft guns a while back..got caught once, imported hot toy powerloader, no charge....in total with over stuff i imported over £2000 worth of stuff and only got charged on 2 things.... i dont think it the size of the item ... i think customs just pick one at random.... then hit you with a big bill... still it does piss you off when the item customes slap a bill on you only cost £20 and you have to pay almost that in charges....

_________________
Pfc Glenn Allen ,
1st Batt. 69th Regiment,
Homers Hero's..
Drops so Far.... 29 and counting

Sorry but $500 ain't no where close!

From our friends at HM Revnue & Customs

If you purchase goods through the Internet you should be aware that customs duty and VAT will be payable, as follows:

* Customs duty - if the amount of duty is £7 and over.
* Import VAT - if the value of the goods is £18 and over.

That's about $14 and $36 respectively.

_________________
"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water."

So that means I have to list the value of the armor as $12 to save you guys the VAT, huh?

_________________
-Spat

No apologies necessary Spat, it's out of your control and I know it's a risk we take. Plus I understand you can't put the value really low as that would make any postal insurance worthless if something happened.

Mole, Spat didn't mean that $500 would get it through customs duty free, (if that's what you meant?).
But if it does get caught that's the value + the postage charges they use to work out the duty and vat.
Even if it's a 'gift' the limit is only something like £38.

Still not sure why it's so high a charge though.
Others have quoted £55 and £80
Been trying to work it out
Duty must have been about 10 f....ing percent or more.

I'll have to wait and see how the charges have been worked out when it arrives, I think they put a label on explaining the charges.

Anyway rant over, time to get on with my life.

_________________
Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

What I was saying that the armor costs $600, but I list it as $500 to help you guys out. But yeah, if the armor goes missing, I have to get enough back from the Post Office to afford to make a new suit for you. Otherwise, I would list it as $50.

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-Spat

I understood what Spat meant. I wouldn't expect him to mark down the value. I was just letting people see how ridiculous our import laws are. Don't they realise that it works both ways? I might be spending $600 which is leaving the UK economy but what about all the stuff I've sold on Ebay to people in the US bringing money back (plus they get VAT of me twice for the privilege - once on my Ebay fees and again when I spend that money). It's complete bollocks, to put it bluntly.

I've been lucky and have only been caught out with import duties once. It was more than the item was worth though and I didn't bother paying the fees - no idea what happened to my item after that.

_________________
"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water."

Just worked out the import duty was 12% this is then added to the total value (goods+postage) and then vat is applied at 17.5%.

Now I tried to find the different customs rates for imported items and it seems the armour has probably been classed as clothing, which at 12% is much higher than most other items.

Not sure what Spat labels it as, but I'm wondering if the armour could be described in some other way on the package to get a lower rate?

Seems clothing comes under fabrics which have the 12% rate, but 'Plastics and articles thereof - (Articles of apparel and clothing accessories)' only have 6.5%.

Superlong link to the EU rates calculator for importing goods.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dd ... &Year=2008

Right that's it honest!!!

_________________
Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

Well, I'm in Ireland, which isn't the UK (in case some people out there aren't sure ), but it works along similar lines. I had a UPS package from the US once on which the duty requested turned out at FORTY PERCENT.

Needless to say I was unimpressed with that calculation and called UPS with some edgy questions and choice expletives. Took me a while, but eventually I got the buggers to admit that they (or possibly Irish Customs, can't remember now) had calculated the duty/Vat on the listed value in DOLLARS, and written down the number they came up with in EUROS. Boom. Instant 50% increase...

I'd recommend double cheking with th UK's customs and/or the courier, just in case...

_________________

I list it as a Gift, and under the description section, I call it a Halloween Costume.

Is there something else I can call it that would still describe it, but put it in a cheaper category?

_________________
-Spat

Not sure Spat, but 'costume' probably puts it into the fabric/clothing rates.

Maybe you could try something like 'Plastic armour' and see.?

I think 'Gift' doesn't count for much on items over £35/38.


Charges would have been £80 in total at the lower rate of 6.5%

_________________
Martin 'Victim' Victory
A86/TQ3.4.49421E3
UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. Freebooters


you can't take the PUNK outa Spunkmeyer

What about "armor replica" or some such? Maybe Spat can get it classified as some sort of museum display!

_________________
"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

I would worry that the word "Armor" (or "Armour") would raise more eyebrows and risk the box getting searched first.

_________________
-Spat

Im fairly certain that items are tax exempt if

1) they are a gift under £35/£36 value
2) they are merchandise under £18 value.

If merchandise is valued at above £18 or a gift over £36 then they can be liable for import duties. That's the impression i got anyway.

Not sure what you would class a complete alien suit as on a customs label as though