European customers beware! AKA: Why is nobody talking about this?

Eviler · 07-17-2018, 02:24 AM

Regarding a mail I recently got from Sideshow:

Quote:

Dear Collector,

We wanted to inform you that Belgium customs has recently updated the commodity code for our polystone statues and figures from 9703.00.0000 to 3926.40.00. The commodity code sets the tax rate for the import duty on items and determines what you will owe to your government on your shipment. The harmonized commodity code 3926.40.00 has a 21% rate in Belgium.

We understand that this can be a cause for concern and wanted to be proactive about letting you know what to expect before taking delivery of your Sideshow collectible.

Sideshow sincerely appreciates your business. To offset the costs associated with buying internationally, we discount shipping costs up to 50%, provide $25 promo codes after each eligible purchase, and offer a loyalty program that gives 5% back in rewards towards your next purchase with us. We hope that these unique benefits help show our commitment and appreciation to you and assist you with growing your collection.

Best,

The Sideshow Team

This means that for us European customers, all statue automatically become 21% more expensive!
The mail says Belgium, but if one customs office decides, then all other customs offices in Europe have to follow this too, since it's Europeanly decided.

Current situation:
€100 statue + shipping => €106 (0% IR + 6% VAT).
Now, €100 statue + shipping => €128,26 (6% IR + 21% VAT).

and let's face it, the times for €100 statues is long behind us ...

built2shred · 07-17-2018, 03:00 AM

Yowsers… That's pretty brutal...

I and I · 07-17-2018, 03:12 AM

This has been in effect for a long while you know... Why do you think I'm against buying SSC products. If only they would open up a warehouse again in the EU. When I asked why they didn't, they brushed it off as 'we have had some difficulties' which I find hard to believe. If small fish like First 4 Figures and Gaming Heads can have multiple warehouses around the world, why can't they?

Gekon · 07-17-2018, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eviler

Regarding a mail I recently got from Sideshow:

This means that for us European customers, all statue automatically become 21% more expensive!
The mail says Belgium, but if one customs office decides, then all other customs offices in Europe have to follow this too, since it's Europeanly decided.

Current situation:
€100 statue + shipping => €106 (0% IR + 6% VAT).
Now, €100 statue + shipping => €128,26 (6% IR + 21% VAT).

and let's face it, the times for €100 statues is long behind us ...

I don't know what algoritm customs use in Belgium but in Poland it;s something like [("Statue cost"+"Shipping cost")*x% Custom Fee + ("Statue cost"+"Shipping cost"))]*xx% VAT] - and it is the additional cost for the statue.
For example 500$ statue + 100$ shipping will be
((600)*5%+600)*23% - 144,9$ additional costs. It is literally 30% cost of the statue.
Hope my math and knowledge is right

Quote:

Originally Posted by I and I

This has been in effect for a long while you know... Why do you think I'm against buying SSC products. If only they would open up a warehouse again in the EU. When I asked why they didn't, they brushed it off as 'we have had some difficulties' which I find hard to believe. If small fish like First 4 Figures and Gaming Heads can have multiple warehouses around the world, why can't they?

I don't know it will be a solution to a problem. The statues will be imported to EU anyway from China (mostly) and it's SSC duty to pay taxes and custom fee for import them to their warehouse in Europe. And they will transfer this costs to You. Correct me if I'm wrong.

I and I · 07-17-2018, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gekon

I don't know it will be a solution to a problem. The statues will be imported to EU anyway from China (mostly) and it's SSC duty to pay taxes and custom fee for import them to their warehouse in Europe. And they will transfer this costs to You. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Let's see, if we order something like, let's say, the Banjo-Kazooie statue from F4F, we pay the following:
- statue price: $429.99
- shipping and handling: $45.00
- total: $474.99
- ... and that's it.

Their shipping price is higher because they are a small company and don't get the discounts SSC gets from couriers. Still, it's a hell of a lot cheaper this way.

----------
For reference:
-Statue including base-
Height - 20 inches (51cm)
Width - 18 inches (46cm)
Depth - 16 inches (41cm)
Weight: 5.43KG

-Gold Jiggy-
Height - 3 inches (7.6cm)
Width - 3 inches (7.6cm)
Depth - 0.4 inches (1cm)
Weight: 0.302KG

-Gold Musical Note-
Height - 2.5 inches (6.4cm)
Width - 3.5 inches (8.9cm)
Depth - 0.4 inches (1cm)
Weight: 0.19KG

Eviler · 07-17-2018, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gekon

I don't know it will be a solution to a problem. The statues will be imported to EU anyway from China (mostly) and it's SSC duty to pay taxes and custom fee for import them to their warehouse in Europe. And they will transfer this costs to You. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Would work. Now we need to pay import CN to US and then import US to EU.
A EU warehouse would mean only import CN to EU.

I and I · 07-17-2018, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gekon

I don't know what algoritm customs use in Belgium

Custom officers don't even know it themselves... Mafia, the whole lot of them.

Gekon · 07-17-2018, 05:13 AM

Ok. Thanks for clarification. So SSC had a warehouse in Europe some time ago. Someone know what was the difference in prices in EU and US? The difficulties someone mention above was probably not enough profit

silentwinter92 · 07-17-2018, 05:16 AM

Opening a warehouse doesn’t absolve you of import taxes. It just allows for bulk shipping ahead of time and cheaper shipping costs.

The shipping you save will offset any taxes you might be paying.

I and I · 07-17-2018, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silentwinter92

Opening a warehouse doesn’t absolve you of import taxes. It just allows for bulk shipping ahead of time and cheaper shipping costs.

The shipping you save will offset any taxes you might be paying.

So, if they'd open a warehouse here, I would pay 80€-+120€ in shipping for a 1/5th scale statue? Because that's what we had to pay on import fees alone (!) for each of their Avengers 1/5th scale line from them. Sorry, but I don't buy that...
And it's not like their shipping is so cheap either.