vajerzy Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 (edited) I'd like to hear from those in Germany (and other countries) in addition to the US crowd. What is the preferred method to mail a Mosaic to Germany from the US? I chose Airmail Parcel Post. Should I have the set insured?? Estimated cost is about $20.00 with the conditions described above, arrive in 4-10 days. Thoughts?? Comments?? Edited January 30, 2004 by vajerzy Quote
Guest Chaney Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 I've shipped quite a few packages to Europe using your method and all arrived without incident. Delivery time is surprisingly fast. Quote
J.A.W. Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 Delivery time is surprisingly fast. ...but not always. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 If it was me, I'd probably send it by registered mail. I just assume that the post office is more careful with such things, and if I remember right, insurance is included in the cost. Plus, you get the added bonus of being able to track it, having it signed for by the recipient. Less worries... Quote
Guest Chaney Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 ... Less worries... ... but much greater expense, I believe. Quote
Jazzmoose Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 Going by memory, I don't think so. But then for me, going by memory is like believing a politician's promise... Quote
Jazzmoose Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 And, after a quick check at the USPS website, I'll go along Airmail Parcel Post being the right choice. Darn memory! Quote
vajerzy Posted January 30, 2004 Author Report Posted January 30, 2004 Registered Mail?? I didn't know I could track a package that went to another country...... Quote
Claude Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 None of my 50+ CD orders from the US (including a dozen Mosaics) got lost or damaged. All were sent through regular uninsured, unregistered Airmail. Quote
Claude Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 Registered Mail?? I didn't know I could track a package that went to another country...... As far as I know, this only works with Fedex and similar companies, but the price is usually 2 to 3 times higher than airmail. Quote
mikeweil Posted January 30, 2004 Report Posted January 30, 2004 None of my 50+ CD orders from the US (including a dozen Mosaics) got lost or damaged. All were sent through regular uninsured, unregistered Airmail. Same here. Last one was the Blue Mitchell set a few days ago, by air mail parcel. took about 10 days to arrive. I had some sent by air mail who took 6 or 7 days, so it doesn't make that much of a difference. This one was opened for control by the local customs, but no damage occured. For a 60 $ set, I find 20 $ for air mail shipping a little high, although it's not their fault. Quote
John L Posted January 31, 2004 Report Posted January 31, 2004 (edited) When I was living in France, I had to pay a 100% duty on invoice of every Mosaic I bought. So Mosaics were essentially double the price for me. Needless to say, I didn't buy too many Mosaics back then. Do you people in Germany and Luxembourg have it any different? Edited January 31, 2004 by John L Quote
vajerzy Posted January 31, 2004 Author Report Posted January 31, 2004 Yes, I was wondering the same thing myself.......I have to fill out a declaration of statement or something like that explaining what is in the shipment and it's value. Do you in Germany have to pay an additional tax? Quote
Claude Posted January 31, 2004 Report Posted January 31, 2004 (edited) Rules on customs tax are largely harmonized now in the EU. In my country, for goods with a value below 350 Euro, I pay 3,5% import tax and VAT, rounded up to 19% total of the value of the goods. Check the website of your customs administration. You need to make sure the package is shipped through the postal service only. Private mail companies tend to rip you off by charging service fees for the customs declaration (up to $20 !!). With most of the sets I ordered, I paid no customs tax at all, because Mosaic indicated a value of $5 per disc on the customs sticker. In principle, tax has to be paid for all packages which have a value over 22 Euro (44 Euro for private to private shipments), but the customs administration lets through many packages with a value below 50 Euro without charging tax. Edited January 31, 2004 by Claude Quote
king ubu Posted January 31, 2004 Report Posted January 31, 2004 With most of the sets I ordered, I paid no customs tax at all, because Mosaic indicated a value of $5 per disc on the customs sticker. In principle, tax has to be paid for all packages which have a value over 22 Euro (44 Euro for private to private shipments), but the customs administration lets through many packages with a value below 50 Euro without charging tax. Claude, did you ask them to put a value of 5$ per disc, or did they do that by themselves? I'm usually loosing half a fortune lately, on any order of a value above 30 Euros or $$ - swiss customs are no fun! Then, when ordering from Mosaic I usually go the slow and cheap way and let them ship it, you dig? ship! Once they "forgot" to send out an order, and when they finally did (I had to proof that I payed - took a month or so...), they sent it via air-mail, and each and every CD case was broken... which makes me wait for their packages up to two or even three months, but never any damage of problem... ubu Quote
Claude Posted January 31, 2004 Report Posted January 31, 2004 No, I didn't ask them to do that. In fact it is very unusual for a company to declare a value which is lower than the real value, because this is not in conformity with the customs rules. Many US internet stores state in their conditions that they do not accept requests to declare a wrong value or declare the package as a gift (BTW: in the EU, the same customs rule apply to gifts, so that won't help anyway) I ordered most of my Mosaic sets in 2002, when our customs administration was overloaded with shipments coming from overseas, because of the increasing internet ordering activity (mainly US DVDs). They didn't have the time to check if the value indicated on the customs sticker was correct (by opening the package and checking the receipt), but they occasionally do that now. Quote
Clunky Posted February 1, 2004 Report Posted February 1, 2004 They didn't have the time to check if the value indicated on the customs sticker was correct (by opening the package and checking the receipt), but they occasionally do that now. Mosaic boxes have receipts but no value recorded on them. So it doesnt matter if customs open them. I see the $5 per disc as being the Cds replacement cost ( to Mosaic). Any order of 5 or 6 discs is safe from customs (UK) in my extensive experience. Without this policy from Mosaic my purchases would halve. Quote
king ubu Posted February 1, 2004 Report Posted February 1, 2004 You are lucky! It seems swiss customs are checking everything since 2002 - before, they did not, and often orders of a value of 100$ came through without costs, or with postal handling costs only. Tempi passati... the limit seems to be 50CHF (appr. 35$ or 30 Euros, currently), and everything of a higher value creates custom/postal costs of at least 15CHF (or ~10$/Euros)... Which is one reason why I only order Mosaics on the running low list, lately. ubu Quote
Claude Posted February 1, 2004 Report Posted February 1, 2004 (edited) Mosaic boxes have receipts but no value recorded on them. So it doesnt matter if customs open them. I see the $5 per disc as being the Cds replacement cost ( to Mosaic). Yes, I remember now. The value on the receipt inside the package was overwritten in black. But that would not help if the customs insisted on getting a complete receipt. I've had a few shipments (not Mosaic) for which the customs requested to get a copy of my order confirmation (I simply forwarded the email sent by the seller), and tax was calculated on the amount stated on that receipt. Edited February 1, 2004 by Claude Quote
Gary Posted February 2, 2004 Report Posted February 2, 2004 This seems to be inconsistent for me - I have had no problems with deliveries getting here damaged but i have on 3 out of about 10 deliveries been charged for duty buy the couriers. One batch had 2 boxes in (JJ Johnson & AEC ) so it was understandable - but out of the 5 deliveries of Selects (2 boxes in each) i have twice been sent a letter from the courier charging me for the duty they paid for me. The only small problem I had with a delivery was i chose surfacemail for the Chico Hamilton set & it took 8 weeks to arrive - but i did order the Blue Mitchell via surface mail & it arrived within days . Quote
mikeweil Posted February 2, 2004 Report Posted February 2, 2004 It seems swiss customs are checking everything since 2002 - before, they did not, and often orders of a value of 100$ came through without costs, or with postal handling costs only. Tempi passati... the limit seems to be 50CHF (appr. 35$ or 30 Euros, currently), and everything of a higher value creates custom/postal costs of at least 15CHF (or ~10$/Euros)... Which is one reason why I only order Mosaics on the running low list, lately. Same here in Germany. They start charging VAT and stuff at much lower levels than a few years ago. Those were the days ... at least the EURO is high at the time. My next purchase will be the Mobley Blue Notes. Quote
king ubu Posted February 2, 2004 Report Posted February 2, 2004 My next purchase will be the Mobley Blue Notes. A great set, the Mobley! Look forward to it! One of my favorite Mosaic boxes, probably my favorite Blue Note Mosaic (well, not counting the Monk, Powell, and Nichols which I all missed - due to young age - and picked up in their BN CD versions, and should now start to replace by RVGs...) ubu Quote
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