Ordering question

[S.R. Krol]

Yeah, I think it's mostly a European issue. I've ordered miniatures, model kits, software from England, Australia, and Hong Kong and have never been slapped with a custom charge or any kind of fee whatsoever. But those European nations sure love to tax everything and anything.

[Wdll]

Originally Posted by S.R. Krol

But those European nations sure love to tax everything and anything.

That is the basic reason.

I don't remember anymore how much I paid for this game. Surprisingly enough I remember for an older purchase from a different publisher.

When I was in Plymouth England a few years ago, I ordered Strategic Command (or was it Galactic Civilizations...lol don't remember). I don't remember the exact price but let's say it was $50. I paid something like $25 for shipping and another $35 for customs and vat tax when it arrived here/there or else I couldn't pick it up.
That was the last time (apart from winSPMBT) that I bought a game from the USA.

It is not 100% guaranteed you will pay those taxes, it depends on the customs officer in charge in the day it arrives lol and if you are lucky to not have your parcel chosen in random.


For many products (most?) imported from the USA, you have to pay the price for the product (obviously), the shipping (obviously, which is higher due to the distance), a 15% to 25% (depending on the EU country) VAT on top, plus a customs tax as mentioned earlier. You might get lucky and avoid them, but don't confuse that with how things are done.

I don't know the specifics for other countries but an australian guy I know told me he would end up paying nearly double the amount of the game if he ordered it.

[Cross]

Originally Posted by Wdll

I don't know the specifics for other countries but an australian guy I know told me he would end up paying nearly double the amount of the game if he ordered it.

You have to take into account that you're paying a US price for the game, which is a lot less than you'd pay in the UK for example.

Yes, your credit card company will get you for a couple of percent on the exchange rate, you will pay a little more for shipping, the government may charge you an Import Duty and handling fee, but it still may only come to a little more than we pay in the US.

The game is currently on sale for 34.95 USD
Not sure but shipping may be 9.99 USD in the US

At the current UK exchange rate the game would be 23.86 GBP
Duty Tax is 17.5% that's now 28.04 GBP
Post Office handling fee of 4 GBP bring us to 32.04 GBP
If shipping is 20 USD that's 13.65 GBP
Brings us to a total approx price of 45.69 GBP

My experience from living in the UK and the US, is that you usually pay in pounds in the UK, what you pay in dollars in the US, and that includes games.

There's exceptions, like petrol is more expensive in the UK and food (from a store not restaurant) is more expensive in the US.

So in the US you may pay 45.00 USD to get the game, but in the UK (because of the great US price) you may end up paying 45.00 GBP, which is about the same relative price.


Cheers,
Cross