D*A*M Forum

long story short - found the switches i need on AES (never used then before, but they were cheaper than anywhere in UK or EU even with VAT + fees)
put in order for $150 + $45 DHL shipping.
5 days later I checked on the order status and get this:

....the amount that was purchased is under the required amount for UK customs. Unfortunately, the UK instilled a new customs requirement for all packages incoming to be over 200$. Our website should have notified you of this but it appears the function wasn't working at the time. We just need to make the total value of the parts on this order equal 200$ Considering this, we would need you to add more parts to this order to equal that, would you have other parts you might need?

WTF? This is total bullshit, no? I cancelled the order. Any idea what's going on, apart from them just trying to rip me off? Strange!

Under the required amount for customs??
Sounds like BS for sure.
So basically U.K. customs didn’t get enough tax out if this import.... buy more.
Then again U.K. customs suck

i think they just thought, 'let's get some more $$ out of this guy, he must be desperate' but you'd think they'd welcome the $150...

Even if there was a minimum amount, it wouldn't be a round figure in dollars. At first thought that if there was any chance it was real (and AES just didn't understand it) it was something to do with brexit and DHL being based in Germany, but that doesn't make any sense either, unless I'm missing something.

It's the result of an EU directive. From Jan 1st (July 1st for the EU - deferred due to the pandemic), overseas businesses are required to register with HMRC (VAT MOSS for the EU) and charge supply VAT on goods valued at less than 150 Euros / £135. Anything over that value is assessed for import VAT as before, so many businesses are just refusing to accept orders below the threshold.

if you need a middleman i can help out!

Stu wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 11:40 am It's the result of an EU directive. From Jan 1st (July 1st for the EU - deferred due to the pandemic), overseas businesses are required to register with HMRC (VAT MOSS for the EU) and charge supply VAT on goods valued at less than 150 Euros / £135. Anything over that value is assessed for import VAT as before, so many businesses are just refusing to accept orders below the threshold.

Thought that was just part of the EU/UK trade agreement, been hit a few times with the VAT charged on delivery on orders over £135 from EU (and a brokerage charge for the courier) but VAT added at the point of sale for EU items sub £135. But have had no change with goods from outside EU, just the normal VAT charge.

Damn! I hope my router bits arrive from the US. I’ve already paid the customs charge. I’d hoped that buying from the US would actually be more straightforward now.

Stu wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 11:40 am It's the result of an EU directive. From Jan 1st (July 1st for the EU - deferred due to the pandemic), overseas businesses are required to register with HMRC (VAT MOSS for the EU) and charge supply VAT on goods valued at less than 150 Euros / £135. Anything over that value is assessed for import VAT as before, so many businesses are just refusing to accept orders below the threshold.

sounds like a terrible idea, but i assume the point is to avoid lower value things evading tax, boo :(

jerms wrote: ↑Sat Jan 30, 2021 11:45 am if you need a middleman i can help out!

that's very generous of you, thanks!
will make contact on Insta

Brexit, eh? How's that working out so far?