The "import duty" is not the problem, but the VAT (somewhat similar to the US sales tax), which is exceedingly high in many European countries.
I wonder if anyone tops the Icelandic VAT, 24.5%, which is added on the total package value: Content price + shipping + insurance. Additionally, I may be charged for the paperwork ($10-20), and to top it all they may occasionally request a permit from the Post and Telegraph Authorities for "radio components". This is what I had to go through when ordering my K2 a couple of months ago. Last week I received a notice from the customs, which had in its custody an envelope with a transistor and five ceramic capacitors from Elecraft, marked with the value of $1. I managed to convince the customs that these were replacement parts and I had already paid for the original kit earlier, but I was lucky this time. 73 - Kristinn, TF3KX Ken Kopp-3 wrote: > > I've always written "Amateur (Ham) radio item" on the > customs form. Never had an item questioned. > > 73! Ken Kopp - K0PP > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: [email protected] > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > > -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/-OT--Importing-low-cost-items-to-Europe-tp16550503p16569684.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
