So I was checking out all the new Portal 2 stuff they have in the Valve Store and saw this track jacket I had to have. Although the price plus shipping is pretty steep at around $69, I decided to do it anyway due to favorable exchange rates ($70 is about €50) and fast shipping with DHL.
This morning I was rudely awakened by the DHL guy and guess what, I had to pay €23 import tax, f'ing great!

If it makes you feel any better. DHL delivered my Valve package to the wrong address, I phoned to say "You've delivered my package to an address that wasn't on the package and had it signed by someone who's name wasn't on the package". So they promised to pick it up the next day. Next day rolls around and I get a call from DHL saying the package is no longer at the address they delivered it to. Infact, they don't know where it is anymore, so they'll "Call me back" when they know more.

" If it makes you feel any better. DHL delivered my Valve package to the wrong address, I phoned to say "You've delivered my package to an address that wasn't on the package and had it signed by someone who's name wasn't on the package". So they promised to pick it up the next day. Next day rolls around and I get a call from DHL saying the package is no longer at the address they delivered it to. Infact, they don't know where it is anymore, so they'll "Call me back" when they know more. "

I feel for you - the whole EU import taxes are incredibly unjustified and boil down to nothing other than simple extortion. A similar thing happened to me when I had bought a bunch of shirts off thinkGeek - I picked it up at DHL, and had to pay $30 fee as well (when the shirts totaled like 60-70 dollars).

There are some "tricks" to getting around... ehr, I should say *avoiding* those fees. One is always avoid anyone using DHL. DHL will always hit it on you if the value of the item exceeds something like 30 Euro. If you have a friend/family member state-side, you could have it sent to them and they could send it over as a "gift" which would prevent you from having to pay extra.

I read a long while ago that Ebay was on a quest to finally reform these archaic EU customs laws since it dramatically cuts into their business.. I wish they had done more about it than talk about it, because I'd be all for doing anything to get those EU import laws changed. For too long companies have used Europe as a way to exploit differences in currency-exchange and the presence of an import barrier to keep you in place.

/end political rant

" I feel for you - the whole EU import taxes are incredibly unjustified and boil down to nothing other than simple extortion. A similar thing happened to me when I had bought a bunch of shirts off thinkGeek - I picked it up at DHL, and had to pay $30 fee as well (when the shirts totaled like 60-70 dollars).There are some "tricks" to getting around... ehr, I should say *avoiding* those fees. One is always avoid anyone using DHL. DHL will always hit it on you if the value of the item exceeds something like 30 Euro. If you have a friend/family member state-side, you could have it sent to them and they could send it over as a "gift" which would prevent you from having to pay extra.I read a long while ago that Ebay was on a quest to finally reform these archaic EU customs laws since it dramatically cuts into their business.. I wish they had done more about it than talk about it, because I'd be all for doing anything to get those EU import laws changed. For too long companies have used Europe as a way to exploit differences in currency-exchange and the presence of an import barrier to keep you in place./end political rant "

@blalala

I live in canada. Just above the states....

I got hit with 50$ duties plus the 30$ shipping.

Shitty ass service man.... I feel your pain.

Ah, I was thinking about importing some stuff from the Steam Store too but this is putting me off.
I'm in the UK, so does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to import it here? Just for like for a few T-Shirts?

" Ah, I was thinking about importing some stuff from the Steam Store too but this is putting me off. I'm in the UK, so does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to import it here? Just for like for a few T-Shirts? "

"

@blalala

 

I live in canada. Just above the states....

 

I got hit with 50$ duties plus the 30$ shipping.

 

Shitty ass service man.... I feel your pain.

"

The bad thing is usually not the tax, but the absurd fees the delivery company is charging. Once paid 3 CHF tax + 20 CHF handling charge (1.3 CHF = 1 EUR)

" The bad thing is usually not the tax, but the absurd fees the delivery company is charging. Once paid 3 CHF tax + 20 CHF handling charge (1.3 CHF = 1 EUR) "

I'm in the UK and I bought the 'I hope you like text' hoody from penny arcade last year, it took about forever to get here and I had to pay about £12 to get it from the post office. Alternately The two-shirts and mug I've ordered from Whiskey Media have arrived in fairly timely fashion with no extra charges.

I tried to buy a $12 mug in Canada from the Valve store but the shipping was $20 (cheapest option) :/. I buy stuff from the US on Amazon and eBay all the time and the shipping is either free or not exceeding $5, so I don't know what Valve's deal is. 

" I tried to buy a $12 mug in Canada from the Valve store but the shipping was $20 (cheapest option) :/. I buy stuff from the US on Amazon and eBay all the time and the shipping is either free or not exceeding $5, so I don't know what Valve's deal is.  "

All the DHL packages I've been sent have a tear-strip.

" All the DHL packages I've been sent have a tear-strip. "

Now you have a punk Valve jacket.

" Ah, I was thinking about importing some stuff from the Steam Store too but this is putting me off. I'm in the UK, so does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to import it here? Just for like for a few T-Shirts? "

@blalala said:

" @Contro said:

" All the DHL packages I've been sent have a tear-strip. "

That may or may not have been the case, but it was early in the morning and I had a pair of scissors in my heads, so yeah.. "