06-03-2020, 04:02 PM
Cheers Daniel, that's a really great answer. I sort of knew it was likely just beyond threshold and the taxes should be low, but you're right... it's the handling charge that makes it expensive. Thanks for taking the time to separate those two - explaining it in the way you did really helps to see it in a clearer light.
This is going off-topic, but as far as I previously understood it the handling charges are applied if the tax has not been declared or paid before import; however, I have always struggled to understand how it might be possible to do that.
I've previously paid $25 (appropriately enough) for an item off ebay, sent from the US, which was part of their 'global shipping programme' (which takes care of the item clearing customs). $8 postage turned into $26, along with import charges of $14, though I'm not sure how much the actual custom charges really were as ebay's T&C state they include: 'Third party brokerage fees (including advancement and disbursement charges and customs brokers handling and filing fee'. And nowhere in the T&C's do they break down what those fees are.
If I were ordering the Pine Phone or a Pinebook Pro handling charges become a minor percentage of the overal cost; however, with an item that costs $36 inc. p&p I wouldn't be surprised to find out that undeclared duties basically doubled that cost. Especially as it would be reasonable to assume their'd be even higher than those ebay paid in advance on my behalf.
Anyhow, really appreciate everyone that has chimed in with answers so far. Thank you. I'd like to try my hand at developing for Pinetime and it's just unfortunate that something so completely extraneous is an obstacle to following that urge.
This is going off-topic, but as far as I previously understood it the handling charges are applied if the tax has not been declared or paid before import; however, I have always struggled to understand how it might be possible to do that.
I've previously paid $25 (appropriately enough) for an item off ebay, sent from the US, which was part of their 'global shipping programme' (which takes care of the item clearing customs). $8 postage turned into $26, along with import charges of $14, though I'm not sure how much the actual custom charges really were as ebay's T&C state they include: 'Third party brokerage fees (including advancement and disbursement charges and customs brokers handling and filing fee'. And nowhere in the T&C's do they break down what those fees are.
If I were ordering the Pine Phone or a Pinebook Pro handling charges become a minor percentage of the overal cost; however, with an item that costs $36 inc. p&p I wouldn't be surprised to find out that undeclared duties basically doubled that cost. Especially as it would be reasonable to assume their'd be even higher than those ebay paid in advance on my behalf.
Anyhow, really appreciate everyone that has chimed in with answers so far. Thank you. I'd like to try my hand at developing for Pinetime and it's just unfortunate that something so completely extraneous is an obstacle to following that urge.