[TenTec] OT: Overseas equipment selling / shipping

[NJ0IP]

When shipping to Germany, guys, please DO NOT ship with the U.S. Postal
service.
Please use UPS or Fedex, etc.

Reason: these other carriers handle the customs and deliver right to the
door.  They collect the money for the customs upon delivery.  The Postal
service delivers through the German postal service which goes through their
customs warehouse and tends to sit for up to a week before notification (by
postcard).  Then the guy on this end has to go there, pay, and pick it up.

Tax: CORRECT, ham gear is import tax free in many countries if you clearly
state that it is amateur radio equipment.  We must pay sales tax, though.
In most countries that's about 15 to 25%.   Please use "Amateur Radio"
instead of "Ham Radio" in the description.

PayPal recently launched in several countries here in Europe and eBay is
huge everywhere, so I think within a year or so, that may very well be the
best international payment method.  The other methods (e.g., international
wire) are terribly expensive from this side of the pond.

Pack stuff in plastic.  I've often observed open trailors full of cardboard
boxes sitting out in the rain at the airport for long periods of time.  I've
once received a parcel totally destroyed by water (I assume it was just
rain).

Bottom Line, the world is rapidly shrinking and we can all benefit from it
if we put out a little effort to understand the challenges others face.

73
Rick (DJ0IP)
Munich, Germany

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Duane A Calvin
Sent: Sunday, June 27, 2004 1:57 PM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: [TenTec] OT: Overseas equipment selling / shipping


Sorry for the off-topic post, but I'm hoping someone here has experience
they can help me with.

I've listed my 2m all-mode ICOM on ebay, and I'm getting a lot of
interest from overseas - guys from both the UK and Ukraine have expressed
interest.  Have any of you done sales and shipment of equipment to EU
countries, and, if so, can you forward me any suggestions for payment and
shipment?  So far, both people appear to be legitimate and well-rated
bidders, but I know nothing of the intricacies of international trade!
(Answers to my email addr please, as I don't want to tie up the reflector
with this topic.)  Many thanks in advance.  I forgot how much interest
there is in EU for VHF.

        73,  Duane   (ebay item number: 5706793555)

--------------------------------------
Duane Calvin, AC5AA
Austin, Texas

http://home.austin.rr.com/ac5aa
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