"A tale of things to come" Topic

Maybe it's time to take a step back before things get really acrimonious.

Brexit appears to me (sitting here in the USA) to be a very complex issue, with a great many competing interests and economic and political moving parts. It surely has not been a mutually amicable parting and I think this has a lot to do with the prevailing stresses that are leaking down to street level.

Strictly my opinion, of course.

B

There is a lot more to the problem with shipping from overseas than Brexit alas.

It has made it far worse from the Continent of Europe of course. I am waiting to see if my Prussian Hussars from Germany get nabbed, duty imposed and a Post Office "handling fee" (ie they failed to deliver it).

There is more to the continuing acrimony over Brexit than the problem that wargamers or collectors face. But let us stick to that topic, or face the Dawghouse yet again.

Hi deadhead,
A suggestion from someone who has worked in the import/export business-

Check how your figures are being described in the shipper's export paperwork and the transport document. Duty rates are applied from a huge tariff schedule database based upon classification of the imported goods by the customs administrative clerk that appears to best match the description given in the shipper's (exporter's) documents. (Note – origin of goods may also be a factor). By my experience, document clerks and government administrative cubicle dwellers in general are not terribly concerned about doing the best possible job; they are interested in doing the easiest possible job, even if it comes at the public's ultimate expense. There MAY be better classifications with a lesser duty rate.

Classification can be an 'art' as much as a science, as a given item may legitimately/arguably qualify under more than one classification. For example, if there is no explicit tariff classification for "lead wargame figures" they might be reasonably described as "models" or "toys" or perhaps even "game pieces" (OK, I might be stretching things there). Worth a try.

It is worth doing a bit of investigation; perhaps the UK has its official import tariff schedule available on the internet. You might find a more favorable classification, then provide it to the seller/shipper and request that he use the more favorable commodity description on his commercial invoice – get the tariff item reference number as well (lazy clerks love them) if you can. Perhaps you can put the word about in the UK wargaming community and find someone who works for an import brokerage house and can provide some expertise in exploring this for you. Sometimes, just knowing the "right" people at customs works to advantage.

Re freight costs, we can discuss later.

Good luck.

B

Nice one

Genius actually. I had heard about the "Gift" and "No Commercial value" labelling, when I have sent things overseas years ago. I bought the figures and paid UK tax then on purchase, I painted them, I made a carriage and painted it. I posted them all to OZ, as a total freebie (I am weird like that. I like making things and painting figures, but, once they are done……..the attic)

OZ customs intercepted, you can guess the rest.

In Germany – a gift labeling, you have to state by declaration outside of the parcel the content and the value, is mustn't exceed 45 € and you should get those gift only occasionally and those goods must be for your own use, like a pair of shoes in your shoe size.

This won't prevent custom officers to open those parcels (as it was done with my books from Helion) and delay the delivery, also they could reject that is was a gift.

What makes matters worse, in my view – that this seemed to be applied by random and sometimes parcels get through without any duty, namely small ones, like 18 mm miniatures whereas a big parcel will always draw attention, so this is a nuisance, and isn't doing any good.

Great input.

Thank you

Saying something's a gift is a bit dodgy though if it's something you bought off a business. It's telling a porky pie.

Saying commercial value = 0 is probably a better way to go because it's quite likely true.

Just received a bunch of stuff from Black Hussar – around £50.00 GBP worth including about £8.00 GBP
p&p tracked. No significant delays, no additional taxes, no handling charges. And the problem is……?

I admit it. You were right all along….

I got my figures from Art Miniaturen in the end. So far so good.

Never had problems selling our figures to customers in more than twenty different countries, except Germany. Their customs people held up a "lost" package for about four weeks. That was the only time we had an issue with packages to Germany and it ultimately was sorted out.

Cheers, Tumbleweed – The Viking Forge

For more than 30 years Brit companies have put 'toy models' on Customs decl. and unless worth more than £100.00 GBP they usually got shunted through. Being precious about 'artistic or precision models' can backfire.
~d