Salty John
Well-Known Member
Regarding the £145 allowance, you have to physically bring it in yourself. I understood there were moves afoot to substantially increase this figure, but all seems to have gone quiet on that subject.
Rip Off Britain v USA prices
- Thread starter Sailfree
- Start date
Strathglass
Well-Known Member
I came across a soimilar instance of 'rip off britain' Recently in Dunfermline.
We needed a new bed and went to the local branch extremely well advertised 'bed shop' chain.
The young female sales person went through her well rehersed routine of bouncing on various beds and she decided that a particular one would suit us best.
I enquired about delivery and was told about a week (they were in the middle of stock taking) and that delivery would cost £20.
I then asked if I could collect it myself.
Of course I could, if I paid the £20 for their wholesailer to deliver it to their and shop waited a week.
I just walked out.
I went to another longer established local shop and bought a much better bed for 20% less.
When I enquired about delivery.
They apologised and said that they could only deliver the next day and that it would be FOC.
Those days one has to shop on their feet.
Iain
We needed a new bed and went to the local branch extremely well advertised 'bed shop' chain.
The young female sales person went through her well rehersed routine of bouncing on various beds and she decided that a particular one would suit us best.
I enquired about delivery and was told about a week (they were in the middle of stock taking) and that delivery would cost £20.
I then asked if I could collect it myself.
Of course I could, if I paid the £20 for their wholesailer to deliver it to their and shop waited a week.
I just walked out.
I went to another longer established local shop and bought a much better bed for 20% less.
When I enquired about delivery.
They apologised and said that they could only deliver the next day and that it would be FOC.
Those days one has to shop on their feet.
Iain
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
I went through the same crp last month trying to buy a new dishwasher.
Was stood next to model I wanted, sorry sir no stock, sell me this one, can't, can deliver in a few days at standard charge. When I suggested their prices were therefore a lie as you are forced to pay delivery so it costs up to £15 more than advertised. Oh no sir, that is not the case. Every big chain was identical in this approach.
Went to a small shop in Newton-Le-Willows in the end, walked out with a much better brand and quality machine for £20 more than the cheapest in the chains. So after delivery the same. He did um and er, but realised he wanted a sale, I had a top limit and made an offer. Some profit is better than none. I will use him again for white goods, so eventually it should all even out.
As a service industry or a nation of shop keepers we ain't that good at it. Big chain stores do not work at all!
Was stood next to model I wanted, sorry sir no stock, sell me this one, can't, can deliver in a few days at standard charge. When I suggested their prices were therefore a lie as you are forced to pay delivery so it costs up to £15 more than advertised. Oh no sir, that is not the case. Every big chain was identical in this approach.
Went to a small shop in Newton-Le-Willows in the end, walked out with a much better brand and quality machine for £20 more than the cheapest in the chains. So after delivery the same. He did um and er, but realised he wanted a sale, I had a top limit and made an offer. Some profit is better than none. I will use him again for white goods, so eventually it should all even out.
As a service industry or a nation of shop keepers we ain't that good at it. Big chain stores do not work at all!
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
<...Just to add insult to injury, they based their value on US$195 (i.e. value including shipping) rather than just the product value. ..>
Do you not think of transport as part of the product value? Transport costs are factored into everything you buy.
John
Do you not think of transport as part of the product value? Transport costs are factored into everything you buy.
John
Stork_III
Well-Known Member
Not just rip of Britain, Chandlers mainly.
Last week Saloon light bulb goes, G4 Halogen 12V, 20W.
Marinestore Burnham £7.50.
Mailspeed Burnham £4.50
Tescos Ipswich £1.82 for 2.
Last week Saloon light bulb goes, G4 Halogen 12V, 20W.
Marinestore Burnham £7.50.
Mailspeed Burnham £4.50
Tescos Ipswich £1.82 for 2.
wingdiver
Well-Known Member
OK, just to clarify (in part from experience). AFAIK if you buy from the USA you only pay sales tax if you are in that state. With a deal from the USA to the UK, yhey agree a price, add on delivery and send it to you. It arrives in the UK and goes into Customs. They decide what duty rate is added (there is a book on the HMRC site with details) and then VAT at 17.5%. You generally get a card saying your package is ready for collection with the duty on it and you go off and pay that and collect.
So, to sum up, take the price of the goods, add the shipping, add the duty to that combined figure and then add VAT to the duty inclusive figure, then adjust for exchange rates.
On this last point, remember that you will struggle to get anywhere near the spot rate (the one on the TV etc - ie $2 = £1) unless you buy currency from a specialist foreign exchange dealer.
So, to sum up, take the price of the goods, add the shipping, add the duty to that combined figure and then add VAT to the duty inclusive figure, then adjust for exchange rates.
On this last point, remember that you will struggle to get anywhere near the spot rate (the one on the TV etc - ie $2 = £1) unless you buy currency from a specialist foreign exchange dealer.
MikeBz
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Do you not think of transport as part of the product value?
[/ QUOTE ]
Transport from manufacturer to distributor, distributor to retailer yes. But from retailer to customer? If I buy a £10 product I may be able to choose whether to have it sent by 2nd class post for e.g. £2.00 (if I'm passing the shop maybe I collect it for free), or have it biked over immediately for e.g. £50. If I choose the latter option is the product I receive worth £48-£50 more? An extreme example just to illustrate the point.
Mike
Do you not think of transport as part of the product value?
[/ QUOTE ]
Transport from manufacturer to distributor, distributor to retailer yes. But from retailer to customer? If I buy a £10 product I may be able to choose whether to have it sent by 2nd class post for e.g. £2.00 (if I'm passing the shop maybe I collect it for free), or have it biked over immediately for e.g. £50. If I choose the latter option is the product I receive worth £48-£50 more? An extreme example just to illustrate the point.
Mike
MikeBz
Well-Known Member
Re. import duty, the table link on this page provides a guide to internet shoppers:
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPorta...tyType=document
I'm struggling a bit with the logic of the duty amounts. E.g.
Digital still cameras - 0%
Film cameras - 4.9%
Camcorders - 4.9-14% (who decides?)
Laptop & desktop PCs - 0%
Palmtops with calculator function - 3.7%
Massage equipment - 0%
Mixing desks - 3.7%
Mobile phones - 0%
Monitors able to play video - 14%
Monitors not able to play video - 0%
Etc. It seems bizarre and arbitrary. Who makes this stuff up and how and why?
Mike
PS - and does anyone know what duty you should pay on a GPS plotter?
http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPorta...tyType=document
I'm struggling a bit with the logic of the duty amounts. E.g.
Digital still cameras - 0%
Film cameras - 4.9%
Camcorders - 4.9-14% (who decides?)
Laptop & desktop PCs - 0%
Palmtops with calculator function - 3.7%
Massage equipment - 0%
Mixing desks - 3.7%
Mobile phones - 0%
Monitors able to play video - 14%
Monitors not able to play video - 0%
Etc. It seems bizarre and arbitrary. Who makes this stuff up and how and why?
Mike
PS - and does anyone know what duty you should pay on a GPS plotter?
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
>Who makes this stuff up and how and why?<
There is very little rhyme or reason. I believe once upon a time the duties were supposed to protect home production, which may be why a digital camera is 0% but a fim camera (UK used to make them) is 4.9%. Also, at some point, 'anti-dumping' duties may have been added and left, but it is a mess.
I was once involved (don't laugh) in importing paint-by-numbers products from the USA. As there was no customs category for paint-by-numbers there was a choice of classifications that they might have fallen into - artist's materals, toys and games, paint and probably one or two more. I managed to 'negotiate' with Customs and Excise to get them permitted under the lowest duty rate. My boss was so pleased I got quite a nice bonus for that one!
I've just googled them (Craft Master) to see if they still exist and was amused to see they are now being offered on ebay as 'classics'!
There is very little rhyme or reason. I believe once upon a time the duties were supposed to protect home production, which may be why a digital camera is 0% but a fim camera (UK used to make them) is 4.9%. Also, at some point, 'anti-dumping' duties may have been added and left, but it is a mess.
I was once involved (don't laugh) in importing paint-by-numbers products from the USA. As there was no customs category for paint-by-numbers there was a choice of classifications that they might have fallen into - artist's materals, toys and games, paint and probably one or two more. I managed to 'negotiate' with Customs and Excise to get them permitted under the lowest duty rate. My boss was so pleased I got quite a nice bonus for that one!
I've just googled them (Craft Master) to see if they still exist and was amused to see they are now being offered on ebay as 'classics'!