Well....after looking up some things on the internet and reading a lot on ebayforum i guess i dont buy nothing anymore wich is outside the EU.I got 2 packets wich are in customs authorities(voodoo cards)
Actually...a voodoo 5 secondhand is like maybe 30 euro or smt worth maybe less/more dunno.On ebay collectors are giving more cos they want the item badly,like 90 euro or more excluding the shippincosts.
The customs authorities says when an item is less then 45 euro you dont have too pay them.But when we buy smt on ebay like voodoo 5,lets say as example you pay 90 euro for the card and 30 euro shipping costs wich is a total off 120 euro(174 dollar).The customs authorities aks for a invoice wich can be only printed by ebay/paypal.
So im wondering if it isnt possible that the seller of the object can make 2 invoices with a at low possible value of the card/cards wich is actually right.Dont tell me that the customs authorities know how much a voodoocard is worth.We pay that much cos we wanne pay for it.
I wanne pay the price for what i have bidded for but the invoice most be lower for the customs authorities.
(The customs authorities told me computerparts new or 2ndhand=21 % btw)
I heard too if u put a very low value on the packet and the packet is big and heavy or smt they open the box too look if its really that low value.I guess they dont know value of 2ndhand videocards?
Im wondering if its the same from USA too UK ?If not then perhaps its better that the seller send too UK and from UK too me so i dont have this bullshit.
Today i faxed the invoices too customs authorities,im very curious what i have too pay them....
Its just that i am pissed,im not in the mood too pay 80 dollars at customs authorities for a product wich is in fact worth like 20 dollars.Thats the hole thing

So how is the policy in UK when you buy items in USA or overseas?

update:i called customs authorities...i have too pay 21% tax on the whole invoice + 25 euro(=36 dollar)
so on an item from 109 dollars inc shippingcosts i pay +-60 dollars

This is what is now in customs authorities:
1 voodoo 3 2000 boxed
1 voodoo 3 3000 boxed
1 packet =>invoice = 109 dollars

1 voodoo 5 5500
invoice 122 dollars

Update:i paid for each packet 10 Euro !!!!!!!!!!!!!wich is much better then i expected...
Update:They opend both packets too look inside....

yeah,I'm facing the same issues over here..asking the seller to write down a low value on the package and splitting the invoice in two payments is a bulletproof method how to avoid the customs tax,but ebay sellers are rarely willing to do this (especially the two payments part).faking the paypal invoice (editing the total price to get below 45e) is another option (bit on the edge,but I don't feel any regrets about it-my alignment is chaotic good,so I have no problems with "robbing the thieves"),there is no way the customs guy can force you to open your paypal/bank account on his computer and make you show him the transaction (even the cops need a judges approval for that).this way,you can keep the hungry parasites at bay,but note that (at least over here) the customs guy has the authority to estimate the value of the goods himself,should he get the suspicion that the goods have a (much) greater value than proclaimed (basically,it is not a good idea trying to tell him that "this 10kg package of 6 q3d graphic cards was just $20 including shipping",they are dumb,but not that dumb)..

I had to take another approach when receiving such a big shipments-customs guys all over the world share some basic characteristics: 1) they are not very smart, 2) they suffer from inferiority complex, 3) they hate lots of paperwork, 4) they looove the moneeyz.

that means a bit of sweettalk,a bit of playing dumb,and a some pocketmoney can work wonders,and with a bit of luck you are walking home with your hardware sooner than you can say "corrupted government official"..

did this with a big 500euro worth q3d shipment,first the two customs guys were like "we will have to send it back",but all I had to say was "I have no idea what to,please tell me how can I fix this so it will make as little annoyance for you as possible" (playingdumb+sweettalk+gentle reminder of the possibility of avoiding the paperwork).they just looked at each other and 5 minutes and 35euro later I was walking away with the package.. 


edit: yup,its 21% over here as well,probably the same for all eu countries..

In Europe it is the same for all countries, I think...

In order to avoid custom fees, total price (shipping included) should not be bigger than 45 euro, if seller declare item as "gift"...otherwise, if not, limit get down to 22 euro, shipping included...

Package size, shipping method....it does not matter, because we are speaking of random sample scanning. You need to be lucky...

razrx wrote on 11.01.10 at 18:31:03:


Thanks for the post, saves me writing the exact same thing. It's pretty much identical here in the United Kingdom. But hey, everything in the EU is free of charge, which is great.

As a general rule, I always list the value as about $20 and mark it as being a gift. No matter what it is. I hate taxes no matter who will have to pay it.   

Not to mention the added delay.