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Shipping to France - My Bad Experience

Vincent Luère

November 07, 2015 15:51

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I bought bundle from Hifiberry (87.6 euros)

1/ Shipping cost + tracking to France was 15 euros. (Total = 102,60 euros).

2/ From my bank account, it was removed 105,78 euros without explanation (=> about +3 euros)

3/ When I received my bundle, Taxes from french customs was 29.5 euros (VAT + custom benefit.) The french custom site is absolutely unclear. There are very visible links where you should pay nothing (http://www.douane.gouv.fr/articles/a10798-calcul-des-droits-et-taxes-sur-les-achats-a-l-etranger), and nearly invisible links where they warn you about taxes ONLY in case of goods send by the post office (http://www.douane.gouv.fr/articles/a10753-achats-a-distance-et-envois-entre-particuliers). And NO taxes in other case for low value goods.

Conclusion 1 : For a 87.6 bundle, I paid additionnal 38 euros in shipping + french custom. (43%)

Conclusion 2 : if you want to buy and shipp to France, buy it from european union reseller

Conclusion 3 : I think it could be indicate better in Hifiberry site. For shipping a bundle to France : additionnal 29.5 euros at french custom.

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7 comments

• 0
  
  HiFiBerry team November 07, 2015 16:14

  Dear Vincent:

  we don't know all local customs regulations therefore we can't say when you have to pay customs. These regulations are different in every country and they can change over. Therefore we ask our customers to check with their local customs authorities what additional fees have to be paid.
  We also state that the price does not include VAT.
  
  If you want to order your next HiFiBerry device within the EU, please check our reseller page here:
  https://www.hifiberry.com/about-us/resellers/

  About the additional 3 Euros for the payment: We charged you 102.60 and we pay all transaction fees. Therefore your credit card should be charged by exactly 102.60. Is it possible that your credit card company charges an extra fee for payment from foreign countries? I've never heard about this, but I recommend contacting your credit card company to clarify why you have been charged more. This is very strange.
  
  Best regards
  Daniel
  
  

• 0
  
  Antonin March 03, 2016 10:44

  Hi,

  How are those taxes paid? At the post office? Weeks/months later? How to know whether the shipment will be taxed or not?

  I am angry that HiFiBerry does still not mention that additional custom taxes + VAT are to be paid through the purchasing purchase. If taxes have to be paid, I do not want the package and will ask to reimbursed!

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  Jarno Kurki March 03, 2016 12:30

  First of all: Calm down. Take a deep breath. Now, this is specifically stated in hifiberry.com: (https://www.hifiberry.com/shop/shipping/)

  "Also note that our prices do not include VAT for all shipping addresses outside Switzerland. Depending on your country you may have to pay the VAT and/or additional customs and processing fees on import. Please ask your local local postal provider about these costs."

  Switzerland IS NOT part of EU, so that is the reason why you might have to pay customs. I say "you might" because it all really depends on your country customs, luck, phase of moon and how bad day the customs officer has.

  Usually taxes are paid directly to customs office, before they let the package through. How/when/how much is stated in the message customs send to you. Customs usually won't/can't check all goods, so some get through even thought customs should be paid for them. Don't blame Hifiberry for this, as this is not their fault in any way, then cannot pay customs for you, that is always task for the customer.

  I have ordered goods worth 100€ from China to inside of EU, and I haven't had to pay customs. Guess I was just lucky. Knowing if the items will be taxed or not can be checked from your country customs office webpage. Some times customs cant estimate the value of item and they will ask you for more information. For example in Finland there is minimum amount of value for item before you have to pay customs for it.

• 0
  
  Antonin March 03, 2016 12:41

  Hi,

  Thanks for answering. Indeed, it is written, and in the terms and conditions. Unfortunately one tends not to read those, and also tends to forget about VAT and customs fees as those are bypassed (illegally) with chinese exporters and that most things bought are from within Europe, and therefore not a problem. Also, there is a list of official distributors, but I saw too late. It's frustrating and creates unnecessary aggro that could have been avoided if I had gone through an official european reseller. Regarding HiFiberry, totally agree, customs and VAT are not their fault - just wish the information had been a bit more obvious for stupid users such as myself.

  As for the cost, well, indeed, we'll find out soon enough. I presume the post office will ask me for customs + VAT fees before delivery of the package. Let's hope they don't in which case this could simply not be an issue - to be continued!

  Not to give any specific names, but I just find it ironic that so much chinese crap makes it through to Europe without any customs' fees and VAT, whereas a package coming from such a close-by country, wouldn't !

• 0
  
  Anton (HiFiBerry team) March 03, 2016 12:53

  Hi Antonin and Jarno,

  as explained before, since we ship from Switzerland and not from a country of the European Union, we cannot collect VAT and custom fees for other countries before, as they depend on your country. The only thing we can do and do is letting you this fact know, and we do it multiple times during the ordering process, and give you the possibility to buy from vendors in the European Union (https://www.hifiberry.com/about-us/resellers/).

  How the tax and fees are collected depends as well on your country, mostly it would be through the post, in other cases you might need to get in contact directly with your country's customs office, in all cases the post will let you know.

  Thanks for your understanding,
  Anton

• 0
  
  Antonin March 03, 2016 13:07

  Hi Anton,

  "The only thing we can do and do is letting you this fact know, and we do it multiple times during the ordering process, and give you the possibility to buy from vendors in the European Union"

  Wow, how did I miss that? Well fair enough in that case, sorry for kicking up a fuss, I somehow skipped all of that.

  Thanks for answering, and again my apologies for requesting something that is apparently already in place.

• 0
  
  Marc December 04, 2018 09:05

  I had the same experience and was surprised by the tax amount. Even if the information is provided somehow we are not used to get this kind of tax because most of the time orders come from other EU countries. Also some friends didn't get charge for the same delivery

  What surprised me was that;

  a. The VAT is calculated on the price of the goods + shipment fees. Not just the price of the goods.

  b. An additional tax from the Post Office is charged 9% (of goods+shipment fees)

  HifiBerry doesn't charge for the VAT in Switzerland (at least this is what is mentioned but I haven't tried ordering from Switzerland to see if VAT is added or extracted from the displayed price).

  In the end you need to compare with the price the device is sold by resellers in France (not cheaper) and probably best to order components like the Rasberry Pi and power supply in France.

  Thanks

  Marc