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Monday, December 8, 2003 |
Globalization, free trade, deregulation? Well, actually, that only holds for the money market, the wealthy and the most powerful countries. Just an example:
I bought an iTrip ($ 35) from Griffin (US). Shipping via UPS: $ 30. What did they think they were shipping, the crown jewels? UPS gives Griffin a discount of 30%, so the 'actual' administrative cost for shipping is around $ 47 (according to UPS). This amount of $ 47 + goods $ 35 is the basis for calculating the VAT by the Dutch customs. You call that Dutch (now European?) arithmetics (grab as grab can).
After delivery UPS sends you an additional invoice for euro 21.49 (of which euro 8 go to their handling of the customs papers). All in all I paid about $ 85 for goods worth $ 35 (a small parcel).
You have no options in this, Griffin does not allow an other shipping option, Dutch customs charge as much as they can and UPS is glad with the express shipment. All of them try to increase the costs for the customers as much as possible.
Lesson: don't buy computer goods or software in the US.
2:49:07 PM 
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© Copyright 2004 Hetty Litjens.
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