Customs and Duties?

[NYC XYZ]

Hi, All:

Just wondering -- I'm getting charged $200 in import taxes for the
SMGTe. Would it have been any different if I ordered the thing myself
from HP Velotechnik direct, or gone to Germany to pick it up and schlep
it over the plane??


TIA!

 

[NYC XYZ]

Hi, All:

Just wondering -- I'm getting charged $200 in import taxes for the
SMGTe. Would it have been any different if I ordered the thing myself
from HP Velotechnik direct, or gone to Germany to pick it up and schlep
it over the plane??


TIA!

 

[Jon Meinecke]

"NYC XYZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Hi, All:
>
> Just wondering -- I'm getting charged $200 in import taxes for the
> SMGTe. Would it have been any different if I ordered the thing myself
> from HP Velotechnik direct, or gone to Germany to pick it up and schlep
> it over the plane??

Someone previously mentioned having a bike sent in pieces
being classified for import duty as "bicycle parts". For instance,
buy the wheels separately. Also someone mentioned if you
import a bike as "used", it may be taxed less.

The personal exemption for returning US citizens is $800.
Family members residing at the same address may combine
their exemptions.

So, take two or three family members with you, buy the
bike, ride is around Germany for a week or so and then
bring it back free of import duties!

Then if you could arrange to sell it at a loss on ebay
a few weeks later, I'm sure a number of people would
be happy to take it off your hands! %^P

Jon Meinecke

 

[Jon Meinecke]

"NYC XYZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Hi, All:
>
> Just wondering -- I'm getting charged $200 in import taxes for the
> SMGTe. Would it have been any different if I ordered the thing myself
> from HP Velotechnik direct, or gone to Germany to pick it up and schlep
> it over the plane??

Someone previously mentioned having a bike sent in pieces
being classified for import duty as "bicycle parts". For instance,
buy the wheels separately. Also someone mentioned if you
import a bike as "used", it may be taxed less.

The personal exemption for returning US citizens is $800.
Family members residing at the same address may combine
their exemptions.

So, take two or three family members with you, buy the
bike, ride is around Germany for a week or so and then
bring it back free of import duties!

Then if you could arrange to sell it at a loss on ebay
a few weeks later, I'm sure a number of people would
be happy to take it off your hands! %^P

Jon Meinecke

 

[NYC XYZ]

LOL!

That reminds me...do you know how come newspapers like the Times (of
London, New York, etc.) came to be so big?

Apparently there had been a tax on each page of a newspaper over a
hundred years ago, so newspapers started printing on larger-sized
paper!

It's amazing the things they can think of to tax....



Jon Meinecke wrote:
>
>
> Someone previously mentioned having a bike sent in pieces
> being classified for import duty as "bicycle parts". For instance,
> buy the wheels separately. Also someone mentioned if you
> import a bike as "used", it may be taxed less.
>
> The personal exemption for returning US citizens is $800.
> Family members residing at the same address may combine
> their exemptions.
>
> So, take two or three family members with you, buy the
> bike, ride is around Germany for a week or so and then
> bring it back free of import duties!
>
> Then if you could arrange to sell it at a loss on ebay
> a few weeks later, I'm sure a number of people would
> be happy to take it off your hands! %^P
>
> Jon Meinecke