Yamatoku-Classic Combined Shipping

[Winniez]

Still very suprised that they abandoned the auction format, end of an era I suppose. Looking at their buy it now prices I think I will not conduct much business with them in the future. Its probably the time to look at the various proxy bidding services in Japan.

Could well be that they will return to the auction format in the future though, due to the kit not moving.

After looking at the prices more closely I take that partially back, some of the Nintendo stuff is pretty cheap actually.

[Ergot_Cholera]

I've bought 3 items from dora_ts. The first didn't arrive so I had to get a refund through ebay, I thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt and bought another item which I did receive, so I thought the first time was a one off and bought another which I didn't receive. Now you know what the negative feedback is about.
 I think they list things for sale that they don't have or have previously sold and then hope that people forget they even bought them.
Importing items into the UK is terrible, the customs duty threshold is £15. No wonder I always get the seller to mark the value down.

[ClodBuster]

Customs duty threshold in Germany is something like €20 for the total price including shipping costs. If you go higher, you've got to pay 19% VAT on the total price.
Once you go over €150, there are additional customs charges depending on the type of item.

If you choose standard shipping, you might or might not receive a customs slip first, for collecting your item from the customs office and paying the fees. Chances of getting stung have been 50/50 for me if an item happens to exceed the €20 threshold.


However, choosing express mail service (EMS, DHL Express, etc.) often stings you with additional handling charges you've got to pay to the mailman.
I bought my girlfriend some Zelda spiritual stone necklaces from Sanshee.com (US) last year, total amount was €60 including DHL express shipping. Dumb me, thanks to the express service, DHL collected the 19% VAT plus the handling charges right at front of my door, which meant spending another €30.

[Gypsy]

Handling charges....what a load of crap lol.

[Necromancer]

Only €20 threshold?  Damn, you gonna get pinched on a lot of stuff, seeing as that little amount won't buy much nowadays.

Those handling charges are crazy.  I could see 'em charging a little for their "effort", but your example works out to them banging you for about 30%.

[ClodBuster]

Agreed. They call it a "service" for the recipient not having to go to the customs office by himself. Even though I didn't even asked for it. Although doing customs stuff by myself would usually add at least one week for the customs slip to be created and posted, and another week to find free time to go there within opening hours. If the parcel isn't an urgent one, I'm fine with having to wait.

Next time, I will just use regular registered shipping without express mail service.

[Winniez]

Agreed. They call it a "service" for the recipient not having to go to the customs office by himself. Even though I didn't even asked for it. Although doing customs stuff by myself would usually add at least one week for the customs slip to be created and posted, and another week to find free time to go there within opening hours. If the parcel isn't an urgent one, I'm fine with having to wait.

Next time, I will just use regular registered shipping without express mail service.

Very similar here in Finland, the threshold used to be 50e but they lowered it to something like 25e. Go above that and a 24% VAT is added. Those are also based on the total price (item+shipping).

Funnily enough Yamatoku-classic has always marked my items of having value of $10-20 without me even asking and almost all of their shipments have dodged the customs.
For customs (and otherwise too) its seems like picking the cheapest shipping is often the best value, unless the item is something really expensive.

Nowadays you can do the customs declaration digitally and it only takes few minutes. I heard that before, when it was done manually the customs system (considering online orders) actually costed more money to run than it generated in tax revenue. Brilliant piece of bureaucracy.

[Winniez]

I've bought 3 items from dora_ts. The first didn't arrive so I had to get a refund through ebay, I thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt and bought another item which I did receive, so I thought the first time was a one off and bought another which I didn't receive. Now you know what the negative feedback is about.
 I think they list things for sale that they don't have or have previously sold and then hope that people forget they even bought them.
Importing items into the UK is terrible, the customs duty threshold is £15. No wonder I always get the seller to mark the value down.

Ah, interesting. I have bought something like 10 cheap Super Famicom and Famicom carts over the years from him. I have received every item but sometimes it takes really long. Like a month.
Same deal here with customs, seems to be in the most of Europe.