The Ship Model Forum

Honestly, I think it is now much easier then earlier and easy to understand... especially, if I can pay the VAT already at the seller. Even if I have to pay at the post service, it is easier than earlier, when I had to go to customs.

As far as I know, there are only three components relevant for shipments from outside the EU:
a) VAT (the rate should be easy to know because you pay it likely everyday)
b) the handling fee of the shipping company
c) import taxes (tariffs) for very expensive stuff or a lot of stuff (not really relevant in most cases). Here, you have to check for your country above which amount that is relevant

Only in case of c), the country of the seller is relevant.

If you have to pay b) you know the latest, when you have to pay, because then the website should show if you pay VAT (if you pay VAT in the sellers country then that should be a mistake, because you export; that you could recognize by the rate and maybe the name of the tax, but the latter could be caused by a mistranslation). If you could not pay VAT via the seller, then you have likely pay it and the handling fee to the shipping company.

[quote="maxim"]@ModelFunShipyard: 'Customs fees of around 20 € and VAT of around 5 €' does not equate to an import tax of 25 €. Rather, it is a handling fee of 20 € charged by the Belgian postal service for collecting VAT, plus 5 € VAT. VAT is not an import tax. Handling fees differ between shipping companies/post offices (and therefore the different countries). However, you only have to pay this if a) you do not pay VAT to the seller, or b) the seller fails to add proof (a code) that you have paid VAT to the shipment.[/quote]
I see. Somewhat different depending on the website you buy from and country you import in then. It may be the same here in Italy, but whatever custom handling fees or import taxes there are, I am not told what is what when I have to pay, unless I specifically look for it on the documents that come with it or online. I'm just told I have to pay X and that is it (and to be fair, I don't bother too much with it because it's not like it makes a difference, if I have to pay 10 + 5 or just 15, that still means my pockets are 15-insert currency- lighter at the end of the day).

@PHILIPPE True, everything's so complicated these days that until you try you never know how it's going to go..

[quote="maxim"]
@ModelFunShipyard: 'Customs fees of around 20 € and VAT of around 5 €' does not equate to an import tax of 25 €. Rather, it is a handling fee of 20 € charged by the Belgian postal service for collecting VAT, plus 5 € VAT. VAT is not an import tax. Handling fees differ between shipping companies/post offices (and therefore the different countries). However, you only have to pay this if a) you do not pay VAT to the seller, or b) the seller fails to add proof (a code) that you have paid VAT to the shipment.[/quote]

True. But anyway, the rules are so complicated that it is very difficult to know when you buy first time, what you will get...

In my experience, eBay always automatically charges me VAT for my home country. Some sellers fail to add the corresponding code to the shipment. This means that I have to pay VAT twice (plus a handling fee), and then I have to ask eBay to refund me. In that case, the error lies with the seller.

@ModelFunShipyard: 'Customs fees of around 20 € and VAT of around 5 €' does not equate to an import tax of 25 €. Rather, it is a handling fee of 20 € charged by the Belgian postal service for collecting VAT, plus 5 € VAT. VAT is not an import tax. Handling fees differ between shipping companies/post offices (and therefore the different countries). However, you only have to pay this if a) you do not pay VAT to the seller, or b) the seller fails to add proof (a code) that you have paid VAT to the shipment.

Considering the cost of a 1/350 3D printed kit (even if you discount shipping fees), €25 of import taxes is really not a lot. Probably because they're measured by weight, but I recall paying much more when importing two Akagi and Kaga kits (1 each) directly from Japan a few years ago. It was actually roughly double that (though in the grand scheme of things not a lot considering I bought them both for €350).
But yes, it does depend on which country is being shipped from (some non-EU countries have no fees at all or other times there simply aren't no fees - guess it again depends on value of the packet and shipment weight).

It's not always so easy to deal with the custom fees and taxes when you buy. I usually use ebay. Some suppliers include the custom fees and taxes in their shipping costs. Others do not. Usually when the supplier gives you free shipping, you are sure that the kit will be subject to additional fees when entering the EU. BUT, this is not always the case. I had some good surprizes.

Here however, this is a different case. I do not understand why the kit was separated in two packets as it would have fitted inside one single. And even if the declared value of the second packet was of 10 euros, the custom fee was about 20 € and the VAT around 5 € :Mad_6: :Mad_5: But this, you discover at the last moment : the supplier gave me only one tracking number and I received two orders of payment by the Belgian Post. I thought it was a mistake even if the packet tracking numbers were different, but the supplier admitted that he had used 2 packets...

I just mentioned this question on this forum for potential buyers to be aware of what they may expect. Anyway, I do not regret to have purchased this kit. It will be a nice ship in my collection.

I am too based in the EU - and buying on eBay (or e.g. Amazon, AliExpress etc.), I always pay VAT via the platform and therefore no handling fees. That I have to do, when I order directly at a small dealer, who does not offer the the option to pay the VAT at the seller (and transfer it to my home country). In that case, the shipping company collects the VAT and adds a handling fee (which can be very high in some countries, e.g. Denmark). Import tax (tariffs) I would only have to pay for much more expensive articles. In contrast, I have to pay VAT (of my home country) on all articles - independent from the location of the seller (i.e. both EU-sellers and non EU-sellers).

My guess (assuming he, as me, lives in the EU) is that he's referring to import taxes. I am a regular buyer of items overseas (generally a couple of companies from the USA and Chile), and particularly in the latter case, you always have to pay an additional tax fee when the package is delivered. That's generally an import tax for items that are not produced in the EU, though each country may vary. I'm assuming he's had to pay twice because two packages (even if they are the same shipment) translates into two separate tax fees.

Hmm, did you not paid the VAT directly at the seller? In case of SSModel, that is possible via eBay.

Got mine today at the end !
Same quality as SS Model other kits. Good kit, not disappointing. Some people will not like the hull plating, I fear.
Beware that it was sent to me in two packets, meaning I had to pay custom fees and VAT for 2 packets instead of 1. :frown_2: I don't undersatnd why as I already received bigger kits in 1 single packet...

As of last week the Rodney is "finishing" and will be sent out soon. We shall see.

I would love to see a joint operation by Airfix and Academy...

[quote="rjleake"]I asked them how long and 2-3 weeks before they shipped. I will post when it comes.[/quote]

You got it ?

I have asked a couple of these dealers to resize them for me. I asked Golden Formula to do the Hildebrandt which offered it only in 1/700. It took an extra couple of months but now they are all offering it in 1/350. If you look on MRW-SFY site they list a whole bunch of sized for all their upcoming kits. I messaged them and they responded the next day and two days later it was ready to order which I did. I asked them how long and 2-3 weeks before they shipped. I will post when it comes.

these pages, not "this pages" ! sorry

Ja, Vielen Dank !

In addition, digging inside the site, I found this pages, quite interesting also :

https://mry-sfw.com/collections/warship-model-kits?page=1

Here, the links:

[url]https://mry-sfw.com/products/ss-700706s?_pos=2&_psq=Nelson&_ss=e&_v=1.0[/url]
[url]https://mry-sfw.com/products/ss-700706?_pos=1&_psq=Nelson&_ss=e&_v=1.0[/url]

Got it in the end. Surprisingly, it's not in their ebay shop except at very small scales...

can you send a link ? I don't find it.

I knew it was only a matter of time before one of the Chinese 3d print companies would offer one. So I saw that MRY SFW was doing one so I took the plunge and ordered it, they said it would ship in 2-4 weeks. I have more than a dozen of these 3d printed kits in various scales and they are usually quite nice but they have eccentricities depending on the designer and printer but what the heck. $169 plus shipping and direct from them not Ebay. I still would like to find out who is designing these as the ones that have actual photos and are printed in "pink" resin tend to be better fit and not as brittle and the ones that are CAD images, such as the Rodney tend to have exaggerated deck and hull lines.