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RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 7:58 am
by danimaning2
ORIGINAL: Gresbeck
ORIGINAL: GoodGuy
That is quite a lot. I think the VAT rate in Italy is 22%, right?
So you'd have to pay 24.68 EUR (= 33.34 USD) VAT, if they apply the calculation (game + shipping costs * 22% = VAT) I posted above. Did they add some weird processing fee?
I'd be interested to get to know their reasoning for that VAT bill.
I'm travelling now and I don't have the bill (which I conserve, and I can scan if you wish). I received the package yesterday (and paid 31,07 Euro). It seems that
1. VAT (22%) is calculated on a presumptive value (apparently, they don't trust the declaration and apply a standard value based on size and weight of package). IIRC it was ca. 20-21 euro.
2. Ca. 10 euro are labeled as "administrative costs". Not sure what that means. It could be a service fee paid to FEDEX to clear the package through customs.
All in all, I don’t like complaining (and I won’t insist on the topic), but I think the matter hasn’t been professionally handled by Matrix, for the following reasons:
1. The announcement about shipping and possible customs tax should have been posted (at least) some days before the release;
2. Customers don’t know the total price they will have to pay to get the game delivered;
3. EU customers are differently treated depending on different custom authorities behavior (which they cannot control and predict); Matrix should take responsibility to guarantee a uniform customer treatment;
4. Even worse, although I’m happy for my EU friends who didn’t pay VAT, packages to which VAT was not applied are technically “smuggled”. Matrix announcement should be read as follows: “C’mon guys, we all know VAT is normally evaded, and the great majority of you will evade it, we’re sorry for the few people to which the law will be applied”;
5. Matrix had alternative ways to handle the problem. The offer of a digital download for the same price (without expedition costs) has been extensively debated, and I won’t insist on it. Let’s assume Matrix cannot accept a “digital only” distribution; but couldn’t delivery into EU be delayed till February / March, when a EU distribution is settled?
I accept the statement that this was an exceptional product released under exceptional circumstances, I believe in Matrix good faith, but I won’t accept such a policy any more.
It's very frustrating for the European players this thinks.
I can´t understand the abuse by Matrix to us with this issue.
We want pay the game, we don´t complain it price, but the other unnecessary costs are priceless. [:-]
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 12:53 pm
by chemkid
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RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 2:34 pm
by philsublime
I just got my package today! Those manuals are extremely well done! Thank you Matrixgames for this superb job!!! Also, shipping was extremely fast. It took only 3 days to Switzerland! Maybe I will receive a customs invoice, but I don't think so (import taxes are only 8% in Switzerland).
I would gladly pay for other game manuals like this. You should publish the same kind of manuals for other games too! I'm thinking about WitE for example...
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:57 pm
by kkinoss
Got mine today in the UK with no associated import duties.
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 6:00 pm
by juopa
To Finland it gets as high cost as 40$ for invoice as posted and 42$ postal costs for FedEx (both are taxable). So when paying 24% as per VAT that costs 14,5€ net. So not that much but still all extra cost that does not go to game developers
If FedEx will do the toll for you (instead of filling up the the internet toll claim for your self) it will cost some 13-14€ more.
So for me it's not an issue anymore but for others it would be nice to have some "warehouse" in EU
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 9:16 pm
by Cataphract88
Received my copy earlier today - incredibly fast delivery by FedEx, and no UK custom's duties to pay - the books are great quality. [&o][&o][&o]
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 11:04 am
by Furbet
Don't be too sure, got a bill from FedEx this morning in the UK, not too bad at £15.44 of which £10.50 is an advancement fee.
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 11:07 am
by warspite1
ORIGINAL: Subeto
Don't be too sure, got a bill from FedEx this morning in the UK, not too bad at £15.44 of which £10.50 is an advancement fee.
warspite1
Snap! - my £15.44 bill also hit the doormat this morning. Oh well done now - the books and maps are still worth it imo.
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 11:16 pm
by Ncore
I would think the customs can't put a very high price for the manuals and backup DVD - it's the game itself (that we have purchased **and downloaded**, or are purchasing in the very near future [;)] ) that carries most of the cost. Matrix could help that by differentiating the cost of each item in the invoice (Digital download, books, backup DVD, shipping). Or are they doing that?
The VAT for books is 10% here in Finland and amounts less than 5 € will not be carried. Too bad the shipping cost is included (33 € in my case) in the calculation, so there is no way the taxable amount stays below that magic 50 euros.
I don't really care that much for the few euros, it's the whole customs hassle that annoys me, having to type all the info into the customs form and mail the automated response to the delivery company. Or paying some 20 euros for the company to do that, plus the delay in delivery because of this hassle...
Could be I'll wait for the European dispatch option, even if it takes a few months. I've waited for 16 years and I really don't have time to play before Christmas anyway.
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 12:48 am
by paulderynck
Matrix includes documents saying the books and back-up CDs are worth $40.
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 9:54 am
by animaluk
got my books on the 18th dec got my £15.44 customs bill from fedex today not happy but there you go we make are choices
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:51 pm
by Dabrion
Got mail from Fedex today. +€22,50 in import duties! Total cost amounts to €135,73.
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 4:44 pm
by tocaff
When I got my Command Modern Air/Naval Operations shipped to me in Brazil the invoice was for a backup disk and a book. Nobody has higher taxes than Brazil and customs loves to collect. It was delivered to me with no extra fees at all. A great system.
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 11:36 am
by Cataphract88
ORIGINAL: cataphract88
Received my copy earlier today - incredibly fast delivery by FedEx, and no UK custom's duties to pay - the books are great quality. [&o][&o][&o]
Looks as though I spoke too soon
I got my bill for £15.44 from FedEx today.
Still, they are great books. [:)]
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 2:07 pm
by nervi
Hmm, damn expensive tax in Germany.
Here in the Netherlands, the bill was 14.49 euro for the tax.
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 5:08 pm
by Dabrion
I think half of it was sacked by fedex for taking care of the papers.
RE: WIF and shipping to EU, my positive experience
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 6:14 am
by ess1
ORIGINAL: cataphract88
ORIGINAL: cataphract88
Received my copy earlier today - incredibly fast delivery by FedEx, and no UK custom's duties to pay - the books are great quality. [&o][&o][&o]
Looks as though I spoke too soon
I got my bill for £15.44 from FedEx today.
Still, they are great books. [:)]
Me too. Received invoice some 10 days after receipt. The dreaded: "DVD backup"[:@].