Dragon (DML)

[Thorvic]

Now you see why we get a bit miffed by a mark way above any imprort and VAT duty would warrant

[kitnut617]

The UK mark-up hasn't really changed has it, I can remember a few years ago buying some High Planes kits from the big 'H', I later found they were listed in GBP at the same numeral amount as buying them straight from Australia in their dollars, which was about three times less in real price.

[The Wooksta!]

So around £16 here vs. £27 in the UK, that's one hell of a price variation.

That's not a variation, it's outright robbery, if not extortion, and no mistake about it.  And if that's what they can get away with for the Meteor, you'll see their Spitfire mk Ia for CMK prices.  I dread to think what the Vixen will cost but I reckon you'll be able to get a pair of the Airfix 48th ones and still have change from whatever Dragon's price will be. Robbing... (rest of diatribe deleted on legal advice)

[PR19_Kit]

While modellers in the UK keep on buying stuff at these outrageous prices nothing will happen. What it needs is a concerted campaign NOT to buy them, and for the two main magazines to come out against it, instead of posting stupid 'value for money' comments in their reviews. Then the importers wil feel some pain in the same place that we are, in our pockets.

Until that happens we'll continue to be ripped off by these thieves. (and I don't give a DAMN about 'legal advice' because that's what they are, so there!)

[frank2056]

That's an amazing "UK tax" - basically they take the price in the US, scratch off the $ sign and put a £ in front? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy it from Sprue Bros. (shipping & customs can't be that expensive) or from HLJ?

[Thorvic]

That's an amazing "UK tax" - basically they take the price in the US, scratch off the $ sign and put a £ in front? Wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy it from Sprue Bros. (shipping & customs can't be that expensive) or from HLJ?

Well goods over £18 in value attract a VAT free from cutoms that the post office apply, so you end up paying VAT, howver for the post office to calculate the VAT based on the value and to send you a card informing you that you parcel is awaiting collection with a VAT charge to be paid, they charge you an £8 flat fee for the privilage !. Therefore the savings have to be real good or the shipper mark the price low (which most won't for legal reasons) or your going to be paying at least an extra £10 on top of kit price & shipping costs.....

I just bought a Type 21 Frigate from Pacific Front models in the US for $49.99, add to that a $12.50 shipping charge, 6 weeks delivery and a £14 VAT surcharge !!!!. However for this kit it was worth it as it was a limited re-issue done for Pacific Front by Pitroad and is not avialable anywhere else.

So you see importing can be quite a gamble as could cost more than the inflated UK price the importers may charge.

[NARSES2]

Drop the price by a tenner and I *might* buy it.  I'm wondering how much their proposed Sea Vixen and Spitfire will be?

The sheer thought of that gives me the shivers Lee 

[Aircav]

The new Hasegawa 1/72 Ju188 is £42, fortytwo sodding quid, I've stopped buy Dragon stuff so I'll now add Hasegawa to the list.

[thedarkmaster]

the UK is such a small market share for these Japanese companies that they will not care about losing the sales if there is a boycott, plus the " snobbery " of some will make it impracticle and unworkable. the kits will always sell at no matter the price so the importers don't care, they will get their pennies.

[frank2056]

Well goods over £18 in value attract a VAT free from cutoms that the post office apply, so you end up paying VAT, howver for the post office to calculate the VAT based on the value and to send you a card informing you that you parcel is awaiting collection with a VAT charge to be paid, they charge you an £8 flat fee for the privilage !.

So the total value is calculated including the postage, or just by the declared value on the import form?  It's almost like you need a degree in math to figure out the price of a model kit!

Do you get charged if you buy from a EU country? Jadar in Poland doesn't have it, but their prices (even for Dragon) are usually very good.

[chrisonord]

We don't get charged for stuff from Europe as it already has VAT slapped on it, they just crucify us with extortionate postage charges instead.
I have bought stuff from Jadar too,reasonable prices but they can sometimes need a kick in the arse to send you the stuff
Chris.

[The Wooksta!]

Drop the price by a tenner and I *might* buy it.  I'm wondering how much their proposed Sea Vixen and Spitfire will be?

The sheer thought of that gives me the shivers Lee 

Simple answer: don't buy it.  Kit's idea of a boycott is a sound one though and well worth trying.

[bluedonkey99]

Would a model boycott work; is it not like the oft called for Fuel Boycotts?
Whilst I find the practice of swapping dollar for pound signs, if only was that simple?
certainly its probably easier/cheaper by a tadge to ship to the US, it is probably that the UK companies need to charge more to eek out a profit over and above the the costs of doing business in the UK (employment costs & Taxes, utilities such as water and energy, wages etc)

now as for UK Import duties

Its a real pain and frustrates me as all others, however

Small (or Reduced) Scale Model under the HMRC guidelines are not subject to Import duty, but are subject to VAT (poss inc postage & handling charges).

see Commodity code 9503 00 95 00, in part it would be easier if suppliers printed this on their those green/white customs slips.
The Tariff Commodity codes are now also harmonised and should be recognised globally in most territories

The one of the real bug bears is that Parcel Force, Royal Mail etc then charge you for paying import duty on your behalf and the admin of sending that off to HMRC and sending the letter to you to tell you the great news.

http://online.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/tariffFootnotes?key.commodityCode=9503009500&r.s=a&export=false&r.lc=en&footnoteCodes=03020&measureType=+VAT+standard+rate&simulationDate=29/8/10&geographicalAreaCode=TOUT

If you can be so enraged you can actually appeal to the HMRC to have any "import tariffs" you disagree with refunded.

I have done this on a number of times as whoever it is that works in the handling centre at Coventry seems to confuse the Yen value with Pounds!! Needless to say, I have received an a number of occasions bills over £100 pounds.

Now, obviously anyone having had dealing with HMRC will now be laughing......

It does take on average 4-6 weeks of ringing and writing to then get them to send the cheque for the refund, which in turn needs a further week to clear.

The import charges strategy seems odd, i have found that
1) 9 out of 10 items from the US will be flagged for additional charges, a cynic would say they target resources as US Imports?
2) Items from China or Hong Kong seem to breeze through; maybe its that green wrapping paper has mystical powers?
3) Items from Japan are 50/50 - if heavily branded (namely HLJ) they seem to incurr charges , nondescript packages tend to slip through
4) Some sources never get charged e.g Brazil

I think after being charged at all, is the inconsistency of the process and application of tariffs.

[NARSES2]

see Commodity code 9503 00 95 00, in part it would be easier if suppliers printed this on their those green/white customs slips.
The Tariff Commodity codes are now also harmonised and should be recognised globally in most territories

Ah the delights of the HCC, brings back many happy memories of delving through Chapters 72 & 73 and then the extended records to try and suss who was bringing something in. Only to find the buggars had used the wrong code in an effort to confuse  Never realised I then worked the "other way" 

Now, obviously anyone having had dealing with HMRC will now be laughing......


The import charges strategy seems odd, i have found that
1) 9 out of 10 items from the US will be flagged for additional charges, a cynic would say they target resources as US Imports?
2) Items from China or Hong Kong seem to breeze through; maybe its that green wrapping paper has mystical powers?
3) Items from Japan are 50/50 - if heavily branded (namely HLJ) they seem to incurr charges , nondescript packages tend to slip through
4) Some sources never get charged e.g Brazil

Experience would bear those statements out

[Aircav]

New Zealand parcels get hammered as well, a friend and I ordered a Wingnut Sopwith Pup each and got nailed by the Post Office.............