Good (& bad) news for UK Red Buyers

[Kevin Halverson]

The company that I work for exports high end hi fi equipment all the time. Our products are modular (like the RED) and the verbiage we use in the accompanying paper work (SLI and Commercial Invoice) is "accessory for above". This keeps duties for the options and accessories at the same rate as the base product. This is pretty standard commercial practice and something that any customs broker will be very familiar with. I would suggest that anyone planning on purchasing the RED speak with a customs broker first and let them earn their fee and hopefully reduce the associated duties to the lowest possible rate.

 

[Columbus]

Do you think that means it has to be physically attached to the camera during shipping (not sensible or even possible I suspect) or just boxed with it?

Just checked with customs again, viewfinder comes under camera accessories
code 9006 9100 90 which is 3.7%. Therefore everything else for red should comes under same code. Maybe the next time I ring it will come under a different code, along as the percentage keeps getting lower i don't mind.

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

Man am ignoramous hastam..
I didn't know we could pay less than VAT! Bonus! Or am I misunderstanding? Is this Import Duty in addition to the 17.5% VAT tax?

 

[Stephen Williams]

Man am ignoramous hastam..
I didn't know we could pay less than VAT! Bonus! Or am I misunderstanding? Is this Import Duty in addition to the 17.5% VAT tax?

Hi,

Import Duty plus 17.5% VAT:wink:

Stephen

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

thanks stephen..

customs charges maaaaaan........:ranting2:

would it be useful to make sure RED spec the shipment using the right language: "professional camera plus accessories" or whatever is right?

 

[Stephen Williams]

thanks stephen..

customs charges maaaaaan........:ranting2:

would it be useful to make sure RED spec the shipment using the right language: "professional camera plus accessories" or whatever is right?

Hi Fergus,

Idealy RED will quote the correct customs code, then there is a 95% chance the customs will accept it, so you will pay the correct amount!

Stephen

 

[PaulClements]

Well Rory's first, we'll let him do the all the arguing

 

[Fergus Meiklejohn]

yeah he can keep them occupied while we slip though

 

[Michael Brennan]

I would consider going to the states and checking out the camera. Get a free lesson from the guys who made it. Turn it on to make sure it works!

Bring it back to the UK as checked baggage and declare all of it and anything else you bought in the USA at customs. Dont try and hide anything.
Have a list of what you think particular duty rates are but don't be argumentative if they dont agree.
Make sure you have a invoice copy of what you paid not photocopies.
You may need to consider buying a flight case so it can be configured for lowest duty.

I have found that the custom guys at LHR can be quite reasonable about things and err on the side of saftey if they are unsure about which duty to charge. They need to understand that it is a new model and you have to hand deliver it asap to an important movie.

I dont think there are quotas for cameras (where duty rate is low for first X million £ worth of imports) like there is for persian rugs


One of the reasons Red is cheaper than other cameras is that there are no distributorships and local resellers to do all of this for you and who charge you for it.

Flights from USA work on piece rate for excess baggage so stuff as much as you can up to the weight limit in each case.

If you look sweaty or nervous they will go for you and search all of your baggage and have been known to ask for reciepts for anything that looks new, from your watch to your ipod. And if you can't prove you bought your ipod in Europe they will charge you duty!



Mike Brennan