Amazon.com shipping via Germany. Does that mean no import duty or a red herring? (1 Viewer)

[nlgbbbblth]

Started buying stuff off amazon.com as well as amazon.co.uk recently.

The three packages I have ordered from amazon.com have all been around the $40 - $50 each and I have noticed that all have shipped through Germany. I deliberately kept the orders small as I am conscious of the customs duty threshold of €45 on non-EU items.

I am considering a higher value order next month and was wondering if other people had any experience of packages worth over $100 - $150 (CDs / DVDs - nothing else) getting through as outlined? Are they wise to the Germany thing or could it help?

 

[pete]

Started buying stuff off amazon.com as well as amazon.co.uk recently.

The three packages I have ordered from amazon.com have all been around the $40 - $50 each and I have noticed that all have shipped through Germany. I deliberately kept the orders small as I am conscious of the customs duty threshold of €45 on non-EU items.

I am considering a higher value order next month and was wondering if other people had any experience of packages worth over $100 - $150 (CDs / DVDs - nothing else) getting through as outlined? Are they wise to the Germany thing or could it help?

it definitely helps

i've bought tons of stuff from amazon.com and it's all come through the fatherland, without ever being hit for import duty.

 

[nlgbbbblth]

it definitely helps

i've bought tons of stuff from amazon.com and it's all come through the fatherland, without ever being hit for import duty.

would any of your orders been between say $100 - $200?

Interestingly boards.ie as of yesterday have put a sticky up on their Online buying/auctions forum saying that 'threads about import duty will be locked as they won't want to encourage tax evasion'.

pricks.

 

[pete]

would any of your orders been between say $100 - $200?

Interestingly boards.ie as of yesterday have put a sticky up on their Online buying/auctions forum saying that 'threads about import duty will be locked as they won't want to encourage tax evasion'.

pricks.

yeah a few would have been over the $100 mark - the one's involving the 5 disk LOTR boxsets for starters

anyway shipping via germany is tax avoidance (legal), getting some lad in hong kong to write "gift, $1 value" on an $800 camera is tax evasion (illegal)

 

[snap-apple]

I've made a bunch of orders over €100 from amazon.com over the last few years and never got done for extra. I think they keep an eye out for electronic goods and the likes, not cds/dvds/books anyhoughs. I do remember me da got stung for something but can't remember what...

 

[zebra heart attack]

I have noticed that all have shipped through Germany.

most orders from insound.com arrive with german postage stickers aswell. i've had pretty big orders get through without any customs, even if the front label states the actual cost (6 records and 6 cds->$120).

it must be cheaper for them to bulk send european orders to germany and distribute from there.

 

[IFF]

would any of your orders been between say $100 - $200?

Interestingly boards.ie as of yesterday have put a sticky up on their Online buying/auctions forum saying that 'threads about import duty will be locked as they won't want to encourage tax evasion'.

pricks.

i don't think that's tax evasion in my opinion

i think it's tax avoidance which is very different

anyway is there like now a 1.75% charge on credit card purchases online from other countries?

 

[ratmonkey]

anyway is there like now a 1.75% charge on credit card purchases online from other countries?

I've heard something to that effect alright, a "cross-border charge" or some such. Might depend on the credit card company.

 

[damien]

i started getting that charge out of the blue from withdrawing cash in foreign, didn't know it applied to the standard use of the thing. wankers.

 

[nlgbbbblth]

i started getting that charge out of the blue from withdrawing cash in foreign, didn't know it applied to the standard use of the thing. wankers.

Non credit card withdrawals within the EU are free as far as I know.
Outside that the charge applies.