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Conference vmszoo::rc

Title:Welcome To The Radio Control Conference
Notice:dir's in 11, who's who in 4, sales in 6, auctions 19
Moderator:VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS
Created:Tue Jan 13 1987
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1706
Total number of notes:27193

1547.0. "Import/Export tip" by BAHTAT::EATON_N (I w'daft t'build castle in't swamp) Wed Aug 11 1993 13:32

    
    There was a discussion recently on importing and exporting modelling
    goodies to and from the States. Unfortunately I can't find it! 
    
    There is, however a tip I'd like to pass on, so I'll create a topic,
    and if you want to move it Mr Mod, feel free!
    
    A guy in my club (Gary Relton) has been competing in the Nats for a
    couple of years now, and buys a lot of specialist gear, often from the
    States. He's found out that if you declare the gear as "Toy aeroplane
    parts" on the customs form, then it attracts no import duty!
    
    Now, OK, this is going to hurt. You've got to swallow your pride, not
    call them "precision miniature aeronautical engineering equipment" or
    somesuch, but it may save you *money*  8^)
    
    As far as I know this is perfectly legal (at least in the UK), and may
    be worth checking out in other countries. 
    
    Gawd, imagine one of those gorgeous German gliders being called a
    "toy aeroplane"........
    
    Cheers
    
    Nigel.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1547.1So far, so goodUNYEM::BLUMJWed Aug 11 1993 14:1625
    I have made 3 purchases from England as follows:
    
    1) 4 meter Algebra for Dick Edmunds
    
    2) Trabi F3E fuselage from Modellhaus
    
    3) Mega R7 motor and 3 props from Modellhaus
    
    All items were received within 2 weeks of ordering, and no duty was
    paid.  Probably I have been lucky, but so far it has been real easy.
    
    
    I would love to get an EXTASE pylon racer from Germany, this has a 
    short wingspan(800 mm) so it might be easy fore someone to bring
    (hoping some of German contributors are listening :^).
    
    With all the "Glasnost" that results from R/C it should all be duty
    free!
    
    
                                                     Regards,
    
                                                     Jim
1547.2importing into the US from germanyFRUST::HERMANNSiempre Ch�vereThu Aug 12 1993 03:2932
hi jim,

>    I would love to get an EXTASE pylon racer from Germany, this has a 
>    short wingspan(800 mm) so it might be easy fore someone to bring
>    (hoping some of German contributors are listening :^).
    
if you pay the trip i will happily get you a extase....

now for the serious part:

i did import a long time ago from singapore. the problem was to have 
them make me a fake bill, where the value was less than the amount i
really paid. this will always be a problem if ordering from official
sources. this includes the problems with labeling the box as toy
airplanes and so on.

it is less of a problem if you let ship items by a friend, who could even
declare the box as a "gift without value". on the other hand, he can NOT
deduct the sales tax, soaring at 15% in germany nowadays...

the remaining problem will be your local customs officer, you might get along
with this explanation and he might as well estimate the value of your goodies.
i think the best solution would be to have a bill with an amount, that is
still reasonable. getting a high tech kevlar/carbon fuselage/composite wings
for free might astonish (an make angry) any customs officer.

anyhow, i know somebody who did import into the US once, i will ask him how
he proceeded and let you know. maybe there is a simple way to get your
extase.

cheers
joe t.
1547.3try SAMPLES with no commercial valueCOWBOY::DUFRESNEWed Sep 01 1993 13:388
I have order small parts (for my ANTHEM) and the HP40). I have the package 
labeled "SAMPLES WITH NO COMMERCIAL VALUE". Works fines. Arrives in my Mail box.

I've also brought RC Stuff in my suitcase into France without a itch. The 
customs folks at ORLY are remarkebly lax. I usually pick my suitcase and just 
walk out, as if it was a internal flight..

md
1547.4COWBOY::DUFRESNEMon Apr 25 1994 09:395
update: Since Jan 1, 1994, everything bought in the EC gets ship anywhere else
in the EC duty free, with no customs procedures. VAT is paid at the point of
purchase (15% in Gy, 17% in the Uk, 18.6% in France).

md
1547.5CSTEAM::HENDERSONCompetition is Fun: Dtn 297-6180, MRO4Mon Apr 25 1994 10:279
    That sounds very nice. I wish Canada/USA was like that.
    
    For the non European readers, VAT is not where we make wine, but is
    actally a misnomer. It stands for Value Added Tax. If you sell
    something and add value you pay sales tax. A big joke to most of us.
    
    Regards, 
    
    E.