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Author Topic: Advice needed pleeeaaase  (Read 1918 times)

babybetty

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Advice needed pleeeaaase
« on: February 24, 2013, 06:33:40 PM »
Hi all! Just after a bit of advice if anyone can help!

I always buy my balloons from Graham but needed some 12" pink polka dot so ordered them from eBay. The seller is in the US (I'm in the UK) I paid 38.22USD plus 16.75USD for postage for a bag of 100. I've ordered balloons and a couple of Ken Stillmans dvds from the us a few times and everything's always been great! Here's my problem.....I received a card in the post yesterday saying my package couldn't be delivered as there was a customs charge to pay plus a handling fee of £12.82 before the package could be delivered! I've never had this before....have I just been lucky in the past or has the seller not filled the customs form out correctly? Think I was charged way too much postage in the first place and to then to have to pay an extra £12.82.....that's taking my 100 balloons to nearly £50!!!!!  :o

Not sure what to do....or if there's even anything I can do  :?:

Can anyone recommend where to get these from in future?
Any help greatly appreciated!

Thank you! X
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mrwiggle

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Re: Advice needed pleeeaaase
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2013, 08:35:18 PM »
hi,
its does sometimes feel like Russian roulette if you get charge import duties or not.
if you can have your items marked as samples cost £0 and the bill sent separately that can work.

its a shame you could have possibly found some other outlets in the uk although many have a minimum order cost eg. go international
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babybetty

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Re: Advice needed pleeeaaase
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2013, 10:07:33 PM »
Ahhh Kevin.....Thanks so much! I've searched online for I don't now how long and couldn't find these balloons at a half decent price! I can quite easily make the minimum order hehe....once I start I seem to forget to stop!
Thanks so much I really do appreciate it!  :D
Kaeren x
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Graham Lee

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Re: Advice needed pleeeaaase
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2013, 04:08:17 PM »
I saw this post while at Blackpool and wanted to reply but was just on my phone which made things difficult.
I post things abroad to Europe and America and have to sign a customs from that is legally binding, I get asked to mark as a gift when it is not and have to say that I do not do this.
In Europe this is not a problem as we can trade with no import duty but to America it can be a problem as when things are shipped from the US to UK.

If I was to sign as a gift and was found out to be untrue there is a large fine that comes with this as we are de-frauding the goverment so this is possibly why I and others are unable to put down as a gift when we all know it is not a gift. Sometimes things get in OK and others you have a 28% import duty to pay.
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Graham Lee

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Re: Advice needed pleeeaaase
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2013, 04:12:06 PM »
Just re-read the opening thread, I can get any product from the Qualatex catalogue but you may have to pay the retail price as I am unable to get wholesale on some products unless I order in big quantities, I'm sure I would have been cheaper than £50 for a bag of polka dot balloons. Off to check what they would have been with me.
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babybetty

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Re: Advice needed pleeeaaase
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2013, 05:27:39 PM »
Ahhh I didn't realise you could still get them Graham! That's good to know!  
I still need some pale pink polka dot ones!
 :)
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Normski

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Re: Advice needed pleeeaaase
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2013, 12:32:02 AM »
perhaps if send via Usa etc or visa versa  the box be marked as sample(s) rather than gift and the value of £0.01??
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Graham Lee

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Re: Advice needed pleeeaaase
« Reply #7 on: February 28, 2013, 10:33:59 AM »
Quote from: "Normski"
perhaps if send via Usa etc or visa versa  the box be marked as sample(s) rather than gift and the value of £0.01??
But that would not be the case and again someone has to sign a legal document to say that it is,
there are a few ways around it but all seem to involve the person sending product signing a form incorrectly.
Unfortunately when supplying goods to or from the USA to UK you have to factor in the 28% customs/VAT charge, this running a business is difficult at times.
Still keep smiling  :)
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babybetty

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Re: Advice needed pleeeaaase
« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2013, 11:15:21 AM »
Graham....just wondering if you managed to find out how much you could get the pale pink polka dot balloons for? No worries if you haven't had time....I know you are a busy man  ;)
Thanks Kaeren x
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