Randal and the QFG PCBs.

mosc · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:56 am Post subject:

I usually try to underestimate the value on those forms. At least I round down. I sometimes, if I remember, mark the form with "educational material". I've never gotten any feedback from people if any of this helps.

CDs I mark as "music cds".

Any advice from you Europeans that would help?

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:05 am Post subject:

I dunno what helps or not. The Klee + DVD package stirred the monsters. I had to pay approx 35 USD in taxes

mosc · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:17 am Post subject:

Scott Stites · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:19 am Post subject:

Wow. Trying to think here what I've received from overseas - lessee, CGS boards and a package from Piedwagtail once. I never paid customs on any of that stuff. Come to think of it, I've never paid import tax or customs on anything in my life.

Just lucky, I guess.

Scott Stites · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:20 am Post subject:

I've ordered parts from Canada before. If I paid extra for that stuff, I'm unaware of it. I should ask my wife...... Laughing

Scott Stites · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:24 am Post subject:

Hmmmm.....I guess I did import my wife. Laughing

That was a major chunk of dosh there, what with the US State Department, the former INS, the Vietnamese Consulate in DC, and the "tea money" paid in VN. Kind of a different thing, though. And a bargain compared to what the Department of Fatherland Security wants these days.

Thomas Henry · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:37 am Post subject:

fonik · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:41 am Post subject:

Tim Servo · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:50 am Post subject: Randal and the QFG PCBs.

mosc · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Randal and the QFG PCBs.

fonik · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:41 pm Post subject:

howard, old europe is still a bunch of little sovereign states. Wink

the 50$ is just an estimated value depending on my little experience with customs in germany. below 50$ the customs are not worth the effort, so they let it be - just guessing.

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:55 pm Post subject:

In Norway packages containing goods valued at 200 NRK or less will not be taxed.
The amusing thing is that this 200NKR limit has literally been unchanged since 1975. In fact, if this value and been adjusted for inflation and so forth.. we would instead have been looking at something like 1100-1300 NKR.

200 NKR is approx 35 USD. In real life.. something like 30 USD is on the safe side..

Of course, paying taxes and stuff on really expensive goods is less costly than paying the standard minimum fee for umpteen packages valued at say 37,5 USD..

EdisonRex · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:34 pm Post subject:

OK, I'm home now. And I've opened the package.

Yes, the boards are nice, and Thomas' name is on them. There is a marking "UC1 94V-0 43-07" which is apparently the manufacturer and job lot numbers?

I did get 2 13700s, plus 19 capacitors, and 2 little baggies with diodes, socket strips and pin strips in each. I don't recall ordering or paying for them, but I guess I did pay for them, although not to Randal. Not sure that adding in some caps and misc hardware takes us to $72 (the actual number on the customs form) but here was the breakdown:

Declaration: US$ 72

VAT GB £6.13 (about $12.07)

Royal Mail Handling Charge GB£8.00 (as I said, $16 for those thieves)

Might be worth shipping via TNT or DHL or something. This was expensive.

mosc · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:07 pm Post subject:

Royal Mail Handling Charge?

That's obscene. You have to pay to receive mail? Shocked

EdisonRex · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:12 pm Post subject:

yeah, if they have to front any customs, they pay HMCR on your behalf, then hold the merchandise ransom. If you don't pay, they eat the customs, although I don't really know of any instances where that happens. Generally it looks like they have a mandate to suck money out of your pocket.

From what I understand, the charge is arbitrary and regional. Down here in London it's rather steep. Bill's Klee parts had the same charge, but then again, that was about $110 worth of parts.

elektro80 · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject:

I got Bill´s two Klee kits and some other stuff clean through customs. No tax and customs at all.
Customs works a bit like russian roulette with hand grenades: Sometimes you might miss the target. Shocked

Tim Servo · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: Randal and the QFG PCBs.

So has anyone actually BUILT one of these things? I'm just curious, as there is some new "positive feedback" on the QFG forum from someone is Sacramento...

It couldn't be...

I mean, he wouldn't be THAT stupid... right?

BTW, interesting picture on the linked MySpace page.

Tim (I am curious fellow) Servo

frijitz · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Randal and the QFG PCBs.

blue hell · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject: Re: Randal and the QFG PCBs.

fonik · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:39 am Post subject: Re: Randal and the QFG PCBs.

blue hell · Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:41 am Post subject: Re: Randal and the QFG PCBs.

frijitz · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

I'm not seeing GEOM USA on the list of NAMM exhibitors.

Ian

elektro80 · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject:

I reckon he is still in Lorem Ipsum mode.

Tim Servo · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject: Randal and the QFG PCBs.

elektro80 · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject:

Nope...