Club Obi Wan

I am in the market for an A-2 but all online shops think they should ship the jacket express. Leaving aside the fact that express is more expensive, as soon as the jacket will arrive here I will have to pay 150% in taxes and custom duties.

I am asking them to ship by regular airmail and declare only a fraction of the price on the customs form.

They refuse.

Any remedies?

Have someone in the US order the jacket for you, have it shipped to THEM, then have THEM ship it to YOU!

They have issues on the shipping, I understand, but asking them to lie on the custom forms about the worth of the jacket is illegal for them to do. That's one objection I'm not surprised to hear.

Regards! Michaelson

That sounds good.
I don't have anyone else in the US except you guys....

Get your measurements down-pat, and have someone you can trust in the U.S. order what you want...

Then it can be shipped to you as a "gift" That is the only way I can think of... I'm not sure how much $$ you would actually save though.....

EDIT: Dang, that Michaelson is quick on the draw...

Technonut wrote: EDIT: Dang, that Michaelson is quick on the draw...

Only by two minutes.

Regards! Michaelson

I've done these dirty deeds for folks here before. Let me know if I can help.

TR

I was planning to ask _, but thanks for volunteering.

I will be in touch.

Platton, if you need help in odering things let me know, also here is the english link to FLIEGER JACKEN: http://original-fliegerjacken.de/en/fliegerjacken.php

Hi everyone, very interesting topic! I've also had the occasional frustration over shipping and customs charges. I don't mind the customs so much, but sometimes the postage charges are far higher than they need to be. The recent US Wings offer looked great until I realised they would charge $160.00 postage to the UK!

I'm happy to lend a hand if anyone needs anything from the UK!

Michael.

Michael, for what it's worth, a couple years back I engaged Sgt. Hack on this topic on behalf of someone living in the UK at the time. I recall that Sgt. Hack was astutely aware of the problem and mentioned that he was looking into possible remedies. But, even at that time he seemed pessimistic as to whether a solution could be arrived at; and, it appears now after all this while that whatever plans those were obviously did not pan out.

I've been on both sides of the problem, both buying from and shipping to somewhere overseas. I really can't fault anyone for wanting to use express mail, and it is the only way I'd ship overseas myself. The flipside to that is that when I buy something I request the exact same shipping for myself, in spite of the additional costs, including the currently weak $ exchange rate.

The best reason is that it's insured, trackable, and with only two or three days in the mail carrier's hands they have less chance to mess up or lose the package.

That, to me, is worth the added expense.

That, to me, is worth the added expense.

Let's see...

If I buy a G&B expedition it will cost me $468 plus say $65 equals $533.
When it gets here I will pay 150% charges so $702 plus $533 equals $1,235

Good deal huh?

PLATON wrote:

That, to me, is worth the added expense.

Let's see...

If I buy a G&B expedition it will cost me $468 plus say $65 equals $533.
When it gets here I will pay 150% charges so $702 plus $533 equals $1,235

Good deal huh?

What if someone declares it as a gift and sends it to you?

Yeah that's what I plan to do.
If _ refuses I will ask Texas Raider.

Rixter wrote:Michael, for what it's worth, a couple years back I engaged Sgt. Hack on this topic on behalf of someone living in the UK at the time. I recall that Sgt. Hack was astutely aware of the problem and mentioned that he was looking into possible remedies. But, even at that time he seemed pessimistic as to whether a solution could be arrived at; and, it appears now after all this while that whatever plans those were obviously did not pan out.

Yeah, it's a shame and, although I understand the realities of the shipping costs, it seems odd that they don't offer one of the slightly slower but much cheaper options - I've bought goods from Eddie Bauer and L.L. Bean and they offer a range of delivery options that are, on average, much cheaper than US Wings.

I think the main reason it seems odd with US Wings is that they do go to a certain amount of trouble to advertise their European ordering sub-site, then ask for eight times the US postage rates! Still, we've got Wested over here so all's fair in love and gear purchasing!

PLATON wrote:

That, to me, is worth the added expense.

Let's see...

If I buy a G&B expedition it will cost me $468 plus say $65 equals $533.
When it gets here I will pay 150% charges so $702 plus $533 equals $1,235

Good deal huh?

Wow, 150% charges is pretty bad. Over here we pay 17.5% VAT and a Customs charge - I'm not sure what that is at the moment but I'm pretty sure it's lower than the VAT. Usually the carrier charges you about £10 'handling' fee as they pay the customs then make you pay them the costs. Personally I think that's a bit shady but what can you do?

Like I said earlier though, I understand the customs charges as it's not only the law but a reasonably sound economic principle for most countries (lets face it, they'd rather we spent the money here than there), it's just a shame when postage rates are so much higher than they need to be!

Sorry I can't help you out from this side of the Atlantic Platon but, like I said earlier, if anyone is having problems with getting hold of UK stuff, let me know.

I've had one jacket via the Wings sale and have a second on the way. Both with the help of friends on the boards.

It can't hurt to ask.

PLATON wrote:

That, to me, is worth the added expense.

Let's see...

If I buy a G&B expedition it will cost me $468 plus say $65 equals $533.
When it gets here I will pay 150% charges so $702 plus $533 equals $1,235

Good deal huh?

AHHHHH-Socialism at it's best! But look at all that free health care you all get. Considering what you do get for the money, the TAX should be about 500%