Posting a refractor to Poland.

[Chaz2b]

I have a potential buyer who is in Poland, now we are out of the EU what experiences have you had and with which courier?

The box weight is 4.5kg and is under a meter length. I’ve been Googling around and was informed I need to fill out export labels.

I don’t have a printer so q codes can only be printed at the office I use.

I have no qualms posting abroad, but a refractor? It’s well packed, same box as sent to me, bubbled wrapped and padding.

can anyone help in deciding who to use? please.

chaz

[CraigT82]

To be honest I would let the buyer handle the shipping. Get them to arrange their preferred courier to collect from you and email you the shipping labels etc. and arrange their own insurance. Take plenty of pics of the unpacked and packed up scope to show it leaving you undamaged! Sorry I can’t be any more helpful.

[Chaz2b]

I will ask, but I’m of the belief he is no more experienced than I.

chaz

[Dave scutt]

I can't help with deliveries to Poland, but as in Rep Ireland most of it is delivered by DPD.

Does he know he have to pay import duties on the item.

Items with glass won't be insured.

[Bivanus]

I've got items from UK via Royal Post and was happy with them , alas , it was small items (EP's and similarly sized trinkets) Regarding the export labels , I think is about the custom codes you have to declare the goods belongs to , I've used Customs Tariff Number Position 9005 - Optical Instruments and Accessories that has the following categories: 
90058000 - Monoculars, astronomical and other optical telescopes and other astronomical instruments (excl. binoculars, instruments for radio-astronomy and other instruments or apparatus specified elsewhere)
90051000 - Binoculars
90059000 - Parts and accessories for optics (parts and accessories, incl. mountings, for binoculars, monoculars, astronomical and other optical telescopes, and other astronomical instruments, n.e.s.) 

In general I prefer using DHL when possible because they have good interconections with local couriers which know exactly where is what and also have a good custom service (you pay them the tax and they deal with the Customs Service , when using Royal Mail I had to go myself at the dedicated custom enabled postal office and clear the package by paying the fees) I've looked for DPD that @Dave scuttmentions and it seems there is also DPD Polska so that might be an ideea.Regardless the courier , I do think that having glass as an insured package is a must.

[CraigT82]

4 minutes ago, Bivanus said:

I've got items from UK via Royal Post and was happy with them , alas , it was small items (EP's and similarly sized trinkets) Regarding the export labels , I think is about the custom codes you have to declare the goods belongs to , I've used Customs Tariff Number Position 9005 - Optical Instruments and Accessories that has the following categories: 
90058000 - Monoculars, astronomical and other optical telescopes and other astronomical instruments (excl. binoculars, instruments for radio-astronomy and other instruments or apparatus specified elsewhere)
90051000 - Binoculars
90059000 - Parts and accessories for optics (parts and accessories, incl. mountings, for binoculars, monoculars, astronomical and other optical telescopes, and other astronomical instruments, n.e.s.) 

In general I prefer using DHL when possible because they have good interconections with local couriers which know exactly where is what and also have a good custom service (you pay them the tax and they deal with the Customs Service , when using Royal Mail I had to go myself at the dedicated custom enabled postal office and clear the package by paying the fees) I've looked for DPD that @Dave scuttmentions and it seems there is also DPD Polska so that might be an ideea.Regardless the courier , I do think that having glass as an insured package is a must.

Great post 👍🏼

[Bivanus]

Just info , if you need to know a tariif , you can use for UK the Goverments rather good site : Binoculars, monoculars, other optical telescopes, and mountings therefor; other astronomical instruments and mountings therefor, but not including instruments for radio-astronomy - UK Integrated Online Tariff - GOV.UK (trade-tariff.service.gov.uk)

And for EU there's also a dedicated portal : HS Code, Customs Tariff Number, Taric - European Database

Edited August 31 by Bivanus
links added

[Jim Franklin]

If this is not a commercial sale, I would also put it down as a gift as this would avoid customs duties. You can still list the value, but simply declare as a gift. 

[Mr Spock]

1 hour ago, Jim Franklin said:

If this is not a commercial sale, I would also put it down as a gift as this would avoid customs duties. You can still list the value, but simply declare as a gift. 

Incorrect information as well as illegal.

I would never send anything outside UK again. The last time I got absolutely stung for insurance even though the buyer paid for shipping. If you insist on doing it, make sure they pay for shipping, insurance and customs clearance.

[Tiny Clanger]

From https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/106/~/help-with-customs-and-sending-items-abroad

"Since 1 July 2021, most goods to the EU (including gifts) are now subject to VAT and potentially a clearance fee. The taxes and duties applied depend on the individual contents of the parcel, the weight and the value. The thresholds applicable within the EU are as follows:

• Goods up to €150 may be subject to VAT and a clearance fee.
• Gifts with a value over €45 will be subject to VAT and a clearance fee.
• Goods and gifts above €150 may be subject to VAT, customs duties and a clearance fee."

Vastly undervaluing the kit on the customs declaration would lead to the parcel only being insured* for that amount, and there's a chance the suspiciously low declared valued box with 'Fragile' written all over it would attract the attention of Polish customs, and end up in limbo.

Is that worth risking ?

*I never managed to find a delivery company whose insurance included damage to glass within the UK, so chances are you'd struggle even more to find one UK to EU. Apparently there are very expensive couriers who specialise in high value fragile items, but my artist friends who told me this find it cheaper to drive their work to exhibitions themselves.

[Jim Franklin]

7 hours ago, Mr Spock said:

Incorrect information as well as illegal.

I would never send anything outside UK again. The last time I got absolutely stung for insurance even though the buyer paid for shipping. If you insist on doing it, make sure they pay for shipping, insurance and customs clearance.

Sorry, but that is not illegal nor is it incorrect. I took this advice direct from Customs, if the sale is private and not for profit, then it can be marked as a gift as it may otherwise attract a commercial import duty. I have sent numerous items this way, and recieved them this way. If I were sending it as a business, then yes, it would be illegal, but as a private individual selling a second hand item to another private individual then it is perfectly legal as long as the value does not exceed €1500 (£1100). However, marking as a gift does not mean it will not attract importation sales tax (VAT in Europe) that matches the value that you declare if the value exceeds about €45 (£39), so as long as any payments due are paid, there is nothing illegal about it. 

[Jim Franklin]

I forgot to add - you may also be charged clearance fees by the local customs authority. 

[Mr Spock]

5 minutes ago, Jim Franklin said:

Sorry, but that is not illegal nor is it incorrect. I took this advice direct from Customs

Really? I have a professional qualification in exports, I know what is or isn't correct 

[Jim Franklin]

Just now, Mr Spock said:

Really? I have a professional qualification in exports, I know what is or isn't correct 

Michael, I have no desire to debate the matter, but I am basing my comments on personal experience, knowledge and Government published information (I accept that can often be out of date). May I also humbly poiont out you know precious little of my background. But, lets just leave it there, if you believe that I have said something illegal - delete the post. 

[Carbon Brush]

However you handle the shipping....
I fully agree with getting the buyer to arrange all the shipping. But it may not be possible.
Make sure that ONE carrier handles the parcel for the entire journey. It makes tracking so much easier.
Do not use a parcel service or shop who may pass on to an unknown (to you) courier.
If you use (for example) Parcelforce, the goods get passed to their equivalent in Poland.
I would cost in for you taking the parcel to the local UPS/DHL depot, avoiding it bouncing around a van all day.
Your buyer may choose collect from depot.
If you use a proper international carrier, you can track the item from pickup to delivery.
With UPS for example, you can quickly get updates by email on major events, as well as by logging in to their web site.
You know when it is picked up, when it gets to the UK airport, when customs moves, etc.

If I may give two examples of problems at work from several years back.....

Item 1. A repair being sent to Russia. We sent by UPS, with all the records of our import for repair.
It was held at a Moscow airport for a long time for some vague and unspecified reason.
I strongly suspect someone was supposed to hand over some dollars in a plain envelope to someone dodgy.🤥
In the end, UPS returned it to us at no cost. We told the customer to arrange his own carrier.

Item 2. A repair coming from India to us in the UK. We told the customer to use UPS for shipping.
The customer went to a parcel agent,  with 'send by UPS' instructed.
About a month later we received a demand for storage money from some dodgy international shipping agent.
The India shipping agent had used A N Other couriers who had not even bothered to tell us the parcel was in the UK!
Naturally our response was to tell the courier -off (insert whatever you want) and either send to us or return to sender.
He backed down😁.
 

[Chaz2b]

Having now scoured the whole couriers giving the service to Poland, I have chosen Parcel Force, I know what the costs are and the declaration to be added to the parcel. I’ve passed on all the costs including insurance to the potential buyer, he also knows and is willing to accept the import fees.

As  said, I have no problems posting abroad, I have sent expensive model engines to Spain, he was more concerned than I, but it was tracked all the way.

Now, will he buy?

chaz

 

[Mr Spock]

30 minutes ago, Chaz2b said:

Having now scoured the whole couriers giving the service to Poland, I have chosen Parcel Force, I know what the costs are and the declaration to be added to the parcel. I’ve passed on all the costs including insurance to the potential buyer, he also knows and is willing to accept the import fees.

👍 It's always best to let authorised couriers do the work for you.