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One of the worst problems associated with this is the exchange rate. Not many years ago, the British pound was worth something like £1:53 to the U.S. dollar. But ever since the Brexit referendum in 2016, the value of the pound against the U.S. dollar has gone down and down until it's now £1:29 to the U.S. Dollar and sometimes even £1:28 and that makes a big difference. There was a time when you could send for a CD or DVD costing over $20 and you wouldn't have to pay duty on it, but those days have gone now.
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Due to postage and various shipping charges i've stopped buying CDs online. As much as i'd love to. And i'm missing out on ace stuff but the cost is too high, i can't justify it. I do buy CDs in stores where i see them. It's a shame but.
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It's difficult to avoid.
Going to European retailers doesn't help that much because they have to add the same costs.
I made the point that Superman the Movie and Archer was going to cost me close to $100 after shipping and customs.
Someone pointed me to get them from a European store where, after shipping, it was going to come to ... guess what, about $100.
Cheers
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Posted: |
Feb 24, 2019 - 10:16 AM
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By: |
litefoot
(Member)
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It's difficult to avoid.
Going to European retailers doesn't help that much because they have to add the same costs.
I made the point that Superman the Movie and Archer was going to cost me close to $100 after shipping and customs.
Someone pointed me to get them from a European store where, after shipping, it was going to come to ... guess what, about $100.
Cheers
I can't agree with you here. Ordering direct from Varese and SAE is a no for me because the UK customer is guaranteed to be taxed. That boosts the costs up, way beyond what you would pay if you bought them from a European supplier. So I simply don't check the Varese and SAE sites anymore.
For LLL, Intrada, Moviemusic and Kritzerland, I will compare the total price with the likes of Chris' Soundtrack Corner, Arksquare, and Music Box. It is surprising how often Arksquare wins out. The shipping is ridiculously low.
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It's difficult to avoid.
Going to European retailers doesn't help that much because they have to add the same costs.
I made the point that Superman the Movie and Archer was going to cost me close to $100 after shipping and customs.
Someone pointed me to get them from a European store where, after shipping, it was going to come to ... guess what, about $100.
Cheers
I can't agree with you here.
Err, okay, but it wasn't an opinion, it was a fact. If you check out the price of ordering Superman the Movie and Archer from Music Box Records, it comes to about $100, the same as it's going to be after duties if ordering it from La-La Land.
I guess the reason is that people like Music Box have to pay duties too and load that on their price.
My repeated experience is that ordering from a European store doesn't make it cheaper.
Cheers
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Posted: |
Feb 24, 2019 - 10:58 AM
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By: |
JB Fan
(Member)
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I have no problems with customs or postal services.
Right now we can buy for 1000 euro (or not more than 30 kg., if I remember correctly) per month without any payment. Yes, right now they plan to reduce it to 100-200 (or in worst variant - for 20) euro per month, but this is not the main problem!
The problem is that our national currency fall down twice since 2014. So while most people still get same payments in our currency as in 2014, people could buy much less, than 5 years ago.
For example, in 2014 my hobby budget was about $225. Right now, with the same sum in rubles, it's just $122.
That's why I buy only important CDs at release time, and for most titles I'm waiting for sales or when they appear in "Danger Zone" (and even in this case I missed some titles, as they gone TOO quickly - yesterday last copies was on stock, today all is gone). 
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Posted: |
Feb 25, 2019 - 6:30 AM
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By: |
Doug Raynes
(Member)
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I have no issue paying the VAT on imports. It's the Admin charge I take exception to.
In regards to the UK increasing the personal import allowance - it used to be a lot higher but the UK got forced by the EU to reduce it as it was "unfair". Whether after Brexit it will be looked at again, who knows but I doubt it....
I don't think we have to wait until after Brexit (although, of course, as with all things, we won't know for sure until it happens ) as I refer you to this HM Government guidance:
Impact assessment
HMRC impact assessment for the VAT treatment of low value parcels
Published 25 February 2019
which states, inter alia:
The changes being introduced: ... It also removes Low Value Consignment Relief (LVCR) which relieves import VAT on commercial imports of goods valued at £15 or less.
whereas:
Before 29 March 2019: ... Low Value Consignment Relief (LVCR) relieves import VAT on commercial imports of goods valued at £15 or less. ...
The document gives details of the reasoning ("level playing-field") but apart from mentioning the likely increase in administration, not too much detail is provided on how, e.g. the Royal Mail is supposed to handle the probable significant increase in taxable parcels - other than indicating that the intention is for the overseas seller to register with HMRC and pay the VAT up-front. I can't see that being a universal solution.
Buy now ... or gamble this won't happen 
Mitch
Thank you for that but in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, the prospect of paying import charges on every CD sent from overseas irrespective of value, will be the least of our worries!
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There should be a Compact Disc record producing plant in Europe. All the major American labels would send their liner notes, album cover art et cetera to that plant digitally. The record plant would then press those discs in limited quantities. Thus, more Europeans can afford to buy these releases. Everybody wins.
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