James,

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 22:44:53 -0800, James Newton, Host wrote:

> Watch out for PayPal... I don't know how it works for you shipping into the
> US, but for me shipping out of the US, I've been burned more than once by
> product that got "lost" in the mail. No amount of documentation will
> convince PayPal that I really did send the stuff or that the customer did
> receive it.

Surely if you can prove that the customer received it, they have no claim against you in the first place?

> And you are right about the customs fee confusion... I really don't
> understand how that works: I just fill out all the paper work. Usually that
> is three different forms, to be filled out by hand (can't print them from a
> computer) each with my address, the customer address and the value of the
> item.

As others have said, a CN22 ("green sticker") is fine for small / inexpensive stuff.  I have a package here
from Peter Anderson that has "Electronic parts  $118" on it, and there was no problem.

> But I do wish I could know what happens at the other end.

Well Her Majesty's Customs & Excise will inspect it, and decide whether to:  (a) pass it on without further
ado  (b) levy a VAT charge based on what it says on the CN22  or (c) open it up and have a look.  If they find
an Invoice/Receipt/Whatever they will use the total on that to decide the VAT, and that includes the shipping
cost, handling charges, anything else - they charge 17.5% of the "bottom line".  If there is no documentation
but the contents clearly aren't as described, they can decide what it's worth and charge accordingly.

I've had people think they were helping by ticking the "gift" box (which doubles the tax-exempt floor) and
write a ridiculously low value, and then put an invoice inside with the real figures - if the parcel doesn't
look right, they'll open it up.  If a lot of things like that start arriving addressed to me, it will attract
their attention and if I am suspected of conspiring with the sender to defraud the Customs, I could end up
with free bed and board at Her Majesty's Pleasure!

Cheers,

Howard Winter
St.Albans, England

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