Amazon and customs

[Frode]

We had a thread here a while back where I recommended other people buy from Amazon's BOGO sales, because 2 discs would come under the customs limit then, whereas they normally wouldn't. Other people then countered that Amazon would still write the value of both discs on the packaging, even if the invoice inside would contain the correct amount. The verdict is in: I was wrong.

I just got two packages from Amazon, both of which should have gone through customs scot free, but instead I got hit with extra fees. I wasn't satisfied with that however, so I called up and checked - if I'd called the post office (who do the customs processing here in Norway) before I picked up and paid for the package, I can fax them a copy of the invoice and get the amount fixed, but only if I haven't paid anything yet. What I also did is send off a complaint to amazon because of their mislabeling - this is the first time I've gotten a package from them and the amount on the outside doesn't match the invoice. It took two emails, but I got this response:

I see that has you were incurred an extra cost of $57.74 because of invoice problems.I can understand your concern regarding this issue.I have also passed your message along to our shipping department so that they can look into the matter further.

I've requested a refund of $57.74 to the payment method you used for your original purchase. This refund should go through within 2 to 3 business days. You should see it as a credit on your next statement.

If enough people complain about the mislabeling hopefully they'll change back to their old practice of stating total amount paid for the contents, rather than just the discs' listed price.

[Banjo]

DeepDiscount.com is the worst. I ordered from there a few times and I got nailed at least three times. At least I still saved money compared to buying it here.

[Kirsty_Mc]

I have just ordered off an Amazon BOGO in the last few days... This is disturbing. If they don't put the actual paid value on the front, then I'm screwed... The administration charge by our post office has just gone up to £8.00 (that's over $16 or nearly 90NOK)... without the fee.

They can have them back at that rate!!!

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by Kirsty_Mc

I have just ordered off an Amazon BOGO in the last few days... This is disturbing. If they don't put the actual paid value on the front, then I'm screwed... The administration charge by our post office has just gone up to £8.00 (that's over $16 or nearly 90NOK)... without the fee.

They can have them back at that rate!!!

Wow, we do have it better! It's only $5 for the handling on top of the duty tax.

[Kirsty_Mc]

Originally Posted by Banjo

Wow, we do have it better! It's only $5 for the handling on top of the duty tax.

The UK sucks... The sole purpose of government in this country is to bleed it's citizens dry .

[Matt74uk]

This happened to me with the last Sony BOGOF Amazon did. They put $38.99 on the box.

I even made sure I did two seperate orders so it would be less than the £17.99 import limit. But for some reason I got the second order shipped to my work address (probably not paying attention at the checkout). Luckly the second package didn't get stung for customs so I've still got the 4 blu-rays for less than I could have got in the UK, but just not as cheap as I originally thought I'd be getting them

[HDJK]

It seems like the complaining had an effect: my latest shipment from the FOX deal was labeled correct (17.xx per movie) so I paid no taxes. Sweet

[Living Near Shamu]

Do you guys pay US tax when buying from Amazon.com?

[AikonEnt]

I had the same thing when I ordered the first 2 Pirates movies in the Amazon BOGOF sale. On the outside of the packaging they had put about $57 when I had in fact only paid about $34 (it actually came to £16.77 which is well below the £18 limit). Luckily I managed to avoid any charges with this one, how I don't know but I'm not going to complain.

I also don't like the fact that they include the postage cost in the total on the front. As it costs around $9 (would cost about $12 if sent seperately) when I order 2 discs this doesn't help the situation with customs.

This is what puts me off buying more Blu-ray's from Amazon in their BOGOF offer. If I buy 2 films with postage it would cost me around £15 which is a very good deal (especially compared to UK prices), but if I'm then going to have to pay an extra £13 in customs charges it doesn't seem quite so good.

Amazon should just print the actual value paid for the goods and nothing more, they would certainly get a lot more custom from me.

[Blazinty]

Originally Posted by Living Near Shamu

Do you guys pay US tax when buying from Amazon.com?

God no. I dont order from any place that charges us tax. That usually kills the deal. Our country already gets us coming and going with taxes the less I have to give them the better.

[Seretur]

Just had the same problem occur with my 3-for-2 Warner package. Ended up paying $18 extra, i.e., faulty invoice turned it into a 3-for-3 deal.

Nothing to it -- we should bombard the customer service with requests for them to change their invoices on the packaging.

[Kirsty_Mc]

I ordered 2 discs from an Amazon BOGOF deal. I've been stung for £12.50 customs (that's over $25.00) including the £8.00 (>$16.00) clearance fee. All threough them not declaring the customs value correctly.

I e-mailed Amazon and just got a standard letter back. I've cancelled my existing orders with them .

I am one very pi$$ed off personage indeed!!!!

[CGYBLU]

Originally Posted by Living Near Shamu

Do you guys pay US tax when buying from Amazon.com?

lol, no.

[BluMonkey]

Originally Posted by Kirsty_Mc

The UK sucks... The sole purpose of government in this country is to bleed it's citizens dry .

I agree, however Ive ordered over 40 BD'd from amazon.com the last to arrive was Harry Potter box set ... used expressed delivery and no customes fee's ... a few weeks ago I bought 2 box sets on BOGOF 8 disks + another 8 amazon.com for some reason posted them to me via germany and again no customes...

In the Uk the official bench mark is £18 or $36 ... you pay vat @ 17.5% and duty @ about 25% I think... athough on certain goods you pay only vat.

Over here most shops like HMV charge over £22 per disk $44 a complete rip off ... a lot of what I buy is ordered from US sellers on amazon.co.uk as the postage is only £1.24 $2.44 however if I order from the same seller from amazon.com I pay £6.00 $12.00 postage...