Can someone translate this into layman's terms (email on customs)

[DES-Lite]

Hi, I sent of an email to check with cd-wow, where a box set would be sent from
Hello, I am interested in this set but just wanted to check if the item would be posted from the states and therefore be subject to customs charges.STARGATE SG-1: COMPLETE SERIES COLLECTION (54PC)

I have ordered boxsets before but they were valued below £18 (It arrived from Hong Kong (I think) but, that was under the previous regime).

Cheers
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And got the following back

Hi

Thank you for your e-mail.

We understand your concern regarding this matter.

The items are packed and dispatched from our warehouse in Hong Kong.

Please be informed that if there are any custom or postal charges, it is completely beyond our control and you should not be charged any duty on the items.

However, if you can collect the items and pay the relevant duty, we will, as a goodwill gesture refund the fee you paid by evoucher, once you have sent us proof of the charges and the order Number.


Kind Regards,

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Sorry but I kinda got lost in all the duties there... any thoughts?
I mean at £120 there its a good official price but if its £120 +vat might as well wait to chrimbo (not to mention its region 1 why is it in hong kong?)

[DES-Lite]

Sorry think i accident ly put this in the wrong area... maybe should be suppliers area?

[Greg]

Aye, moved to suppliers forum.

[stevelup]

In a nutshell they are saying that you may or may not get hit by customs charges here in the UK and that they have no control over it.

They are also saying that if you *do* get hit by the charges, send them proof and they will credit your account with an (unspecified) amount as a goodwill gesture.

Steve

[KevD]

There are no customs on any items from CD-WOW, they are all pre paid at their HK end.

From the site:

Items over the UK HM Customs & Excise VAT Personal Import allowances
Orders containing items over the UK Customs & Excise VAT personal import allowance are sent via Hong Kong Post, our postal agent.

Hong Kong Post arranges the payment of VAT and or any other taxes and duties which may apply to UK H M Customs and Excise on your behalf FROM THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE ALREADY PAID. You will not be asked to pay any additional sums upon delivery / collection.

[DES-Lite]

Have you got a link to the site for that policy? and why didnt he just just say that! :o(

[stevelup]

It's a good point!

Second to last paragraph here...

Steve

[DES-Lite]

Cheers steve (you've no idea how much off their FAQ area I trawled looking for something along those lines) Also makes you wonder how much profit margin they build in too afford to do that

[stevelup]

Loads!

[Paul Moran]

Originally Posted by DES-Lite

Also makes you wonder how much profit margin they build in too afford to do that

I don't think they do any more than cover their costs. It's a competitive business, and they know you can go elsewhere. They don't have to allow as much as you or I would pay for customs, because they don't have to pay Royal Mail admin fees.

I look at the prices from sites like Amazon, DVD Pacific and Deep Discount, add on shipping charges and the potential customs charge, then compare the total cost with the CD Wow price which includes shipping and customs. I often find that CD Wow works out cheaper, or just a little bit more. And with CD Wow, there's no tedious trip to the local sorting office to pay the customs charge.