Curse! Customs And F@£:{~g Excise

[exhaust smoke]

GODDAMN!

I can't believe this! I've been stung by Customs on two consecutive orders from HLJ!

The first was when I ordered a Fujimi BMW 635CSi + Studio 27 decal sheet. That was £9.00.

Now I ordered:

Tamiya Lotus 102B (1/20)
Fujimi ADVAN Altezza (1/24)
Sakatsu GT wheel centre bolts (1/24)
Sakatsu detail wire.

They have charged me another £9.00!!

Thing is I've got another order on it's way to me aswell. It consists of:

Fujimi Golf MkII (1/24)
Studio 27 decal sheet.

If they charge me again, I think I'll have to hold back from ordering from HLJ for a while. C&E are clearly on to me!!

[Focus2000]

By the looks of it they're onto all of us! It wouldn't be so bad if ParcelForce didn't add their charges too

C&E must be reading AF and have decided to put an end to our cheap japanese imports.

Ssh, they may be reading this thread :finger4:

[NikB]

Surely this is because of the way HLJ mark the packages. Every time I have ordered from them I get stung for duty, but never from ToyEast who mark the packet as a gift.

[exhaust smoke]

HLJ would clearly state that they are 'law abiding' and that taxes are a part of life.

It doesn't make paying them any easier. The problem in the UK as Focus 2000 stated, is that Parcel Force whack up their charges aswell!

All I can say is B!"£$%^D'S!

[Mikke]

Interesting.. I've never had to pay any customs when ordering from HLJ.

[Guido]

Originally posted by Mikke
Interesting.. I've never had to pay any customs when ordering from HLJ.

You can order in the future then for the rest of Europe and send it customs free to us all then, right

j/k

[Focus2000]

Originally posted by Mikke
Interesting.. I've never had to pay any customs when ordering from HLJ.

It only seems to be a recent thing in the UK. My first 3 orders managed to come through with no charges, but on my last one I got stung for over £20 (30 euros). I think UK customs have been clamping down on this lately, possibly as a result of increased internet sales and the tax revenue that they're missing out on.

[BaNe]

WOW I am glad I live in America land of GLuttons and obesity! jk But I fell bad for you this hobby can get expensive without crap like that happening!

[primera man]

Sucks dude....glad we dont have to put up with that kind of crap here in NZ

[bah humbug]

Don't think I will ever order from there, I prefer hobby search.

Seems like they're a little cheaper and have more items in stock.

But that does suck.

[exhaust smoke]

I think the UK Customs have caught wind. I've ordered many times in the past without being stung.

Looks like I may have to give it a rest for a bit. Give some business to Hobby Search.

[Focus2000]

Originally posted by bah humbug
Don't think I will ever order from there, I prefer hobby search.

Seems like they're a little cheaper and have more items in stock.

But that does suck.

Unfortunately my last order that got picked out by customs was from HobbySearch. The label on it had lots more information than my previous order from them, such as cost of goods and shipping. Maybe that makes it easier for customs to spot the chargeable parcels.

Also, shipping at HS does seem quite a bit higher than HLJ. I paid nearly as much for shipping as I did for the kits

[exhaust smoke]

I agree. HS tend to have a few kits that are out of production and may be about 70 pence cheaper per kit, but their shipping is high and I finnd their service not as good as HLJ in terms of updates, etc.

[tonioseven]

Does Hobby Search accept PayPal?

[exhaust smoke]

God, I must be the unluckiest modeller here!!

Got home from work last night to find, not my latest HLJ order waiting for me, but another pick up card from the post office. On closer inspection, lo and behold, another Customs bloody charge!

It is so inconvenient that I have to wait until the weekend to enjoy my purchases as it is the only time I can pick them up.