DVD boxsets from play.com (customs charges)

Yes, it always has been hit or miss. The larger the package the more likely you are to get hit. Also, if you use a courier you will *always* get hit - they pay the fees for you. If it stumbles it's way through the standard mail then you take your chances. Although given the growth of such imports, you're more likely to get hit now than you were a few years ago. Customs twigged how much stuff was getting through that way....sadly
 
I ordered a boxed set (Malcolm in the Middle) from Playusa before Christmas, expecting to pay an import duty fee. I was out when the post man came he just popped it through the letter box even though it was clearly labelled that there was a charge of
 
I'm in France and have bought a few dvRAB recently from CD Wow!
The packages have been sent from Hong Kong (even though they're R2 discs) with correct customs info on the label. I just wonder if anyone outside the UK but inside Europe has been hit by duty demanRAB.
In particular, I notice they've written 'Declared Value GBP 7.99' on the package. I assume I would be unlikely to get clobbered as it would probably be a hassle for a French postie to calculate pounRAB to euros.
 
No but we would have to pay some sort of sales and services tax, so whether we were in the EU or not, we would still have to pay tax on it.
 
I emailed play.com about it and this is their reply:

Thank you for your email.

Due to Customs regulations certain Region 1 items that are shipped from North America are liable for customs charges upon their arrival in the EU. This charge is occasionally levied on items over
 
Hi,

Are Movietyme a reliable service in terms of delivery time? I am looking to get Buffy & Angel boxsets without paying any import/handling charges, but I still need to recieve them relatively quickly (within a week). Surprisingly, they sell them cheaper than play & cdwow - I just need to know if they are reliable.

Thanks,

DG
 
Not true. Play is based in Jersey (does this tecnically make it part of the UK?), and they say you will NEVER be charged import tax on a R2 DVD.
 
You may have simply got lucky. Other than that, it makes no difference thatit's from Canada. However, quite a few places seem to be making the point of entry into the EU Brussels Airport, maybe the authorities there are simply lax! Oonce it;s in the EU it should be taxed at point.
 
I work in a postal delivery office and can confirm the procedure for charging customers for items from outside the EU is very hit-and-miss.

Basically, the items arrive with the normal mail and if they have a 'customs charge' sticker on you have three options -
1) knock on the person's door and inform them of the charge. BTW they are not obliged to pay it, but if they don't they will not get the item!
2) leave a 'notice left' with the amount they need to pay and where it can be collected.
3) post it - ignoring the charge.

Apparently, Royal Mail pay the tax before it is collected, and with Royal Mail's current financial situation, all pennies have to be collected!

Personally, I have never ordered a DVD from abroad, so am unable to say whether I have been charged an import tax.

Or whether I'd pay it! ;)
 
True, but if we are talking about play.com (as we are) you should never get charged import tax on any R2 purchase.

If we were talking about playusa.com, then thats a different matter...
 
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