Post Brexit import experiences

[Rich22]

I think it's a bridge too far to say Eastman's offering is inferior to Thedi's just because they only offer OTR.

Following your logic, one could argue Aero makes better jackets than Freewheelers

Following my logic, yes, precisely. Freewheelers jackets I've seen wouldn't fit a muscular frame well, so unless I intended to display their jacket as an ornament then it has no value to me at all.

 

[3.14nche]

Hello everyone,

First post after lurking on and off for a while.

I guess it has to do with the fact that 99% of the British webshops either remove the 20% British VAT or cover the EU VAT (I can give you a list with at least 20 webshops that do that), while Aero (and as far as I have read here also the other 2 Scottish leather jacket manufacturers, @their customers: please correct me if I'm wrong, this is only based on what I've read on this thread) do not, resulting in a much more expensive product.
But as you say: customers are free to turn to other makers.

I'm in the process of ordering a jacket from Simmons Bilt.
When asked about the VAT this is what Deborah replied:
"we pay the duty for all new jackets bought, not ones purchased from our outlet section".
So I'm confident I won't end up paying more than the price I was quoted.
I had the same experience with SJC, everything paid upfront and no surprises.

Regarding the new Aero website teased since last April I fail to see what difference it would make.
I mean they're not Amazon, from the orders I placed with them I'm under the impression that someone processes orders and takes care of invoicing.
If that person were told to drop the VAT for EU customers that would be it.
Almost a year to build a site is a pretty long time, it should be done by now but I have the feeling that we won't see it anytime soon.
I hope I'm wrong and if it is about to launch and it takes care of EU customers (and maybe even the rest of the world?) I'll be eating my words.
That being said I own 3 of their jackets and enjoy them very much.
But at around 1200€ there are a few other options available...

 

[Rich22]

Taking care of DUTY as well as the VAT is going above and beyond, unless the shipping cost is really high? If they pay duty and fees as well as VAT that's really taking a chunk out of their profit margin.

 

[born113]

But at around 1200€ there are a few other options available...

At this price and this quality, there are only a few options that are not available

 

[3.14nche]

Taking care of DUTY as well as the VAT is going above and beyond, unless the shipping cost is really fucking high? If they pay duty and fees as well as VAT that's really taking a chunk out of their profit margin.

Shipping is only 20 pounds so not expensive either.
It probably costs them money but how much I have no Idea.

 

[Rich22]

Shipping is only 20 pounds so not expensive either.
It probably costs them money but how much I have no Idea.

I think Belgium doesn't charge duty, so they wouldn't have to swallow too much added cost. Maybe £10 extra for shipping, 1%/£7 for the fractionally higher VAT, and £0-20 for customs/fees.

 

[3.14nche]

If it's the case I'm glad for them it's not too much overhead.
From my selfish customer point of view it makes a few hundreds euros difference though.

I believe it has something to do with this but as stated many times before it's waaaay too complicated...

OSS

One Stop Shop

ec.europa.eu

 

[Harris HTM]

I'm in the process of ordering a jacket from Simmons Bilt.
When asked about the VAT this is what Deborah replied:
"we pay the duty for all new jackets bought, not ones purchased from our outlet section".

Thanks for clarification regarding SB, this means that they do the same as Aero regarding VAT?

Regarding the new Aero website

The first time I heard about the new Aero website was in the summer... of 2016 if I am not mistaken.

 

[3.14nche]

Thanks for clarification regarding SB, this means that they do the same as Aero regarding VAT?

That's not how I understood her sentence.
I don't expect to have to pay any extra duties, fees, taxes or whatever upon delivery.
In either cases I will report back in a few weeks.

 

[Wildhorses]

Here is the cost of some HWMN on Aero.com, shipped to EEU, during the last decade :

In 2010 (Anniversary edition) : 540£ (including 87£ VAT)
In 2013 (stock) : 605£ (including 101£ VAT)
In 2015 (stock) : 650£ (including 105£ VAT)
In 2020 (Premier, stock) : 680£ (including 113£ VAT)
Post Brexit (stock/order) : around 670-710£ (VAT 00,00), french tax based on a recent order : around 245£,
for a total around 915£.
In the near future, that probably will be :
In 2023 (stock/order) : around 570-610£ (No VAT included), french tax around 200£,
for a total around 770£.

That's the way il will work for France, and eventually with less custom fees if you are in an other EU country...

 

[Rich22]

Here is the cost of some HWMN on Aero.com, shipped to EEU, during the last decade :

In 2010 (Anniversary edition) : 540£ (including 87£ VAT)
In 2013 (stock) : 605£ (including 101£ VAT)
In 2015 (stock) : 650£ (including 105£ VAT)
In 2020 (Premier, stock) : 680£ (including 113£ VAT)
Post Brexit (stock/order) : around 670-710£ (VAT 00,00), french tax based on a recent order : around 245£,
for a total around 915£.
In the near future, that probably will be :
In 2023 (stock/order) : around 570-610£ (No VAT included), french tax around 200£,
for a total around 770£.

That's the way il will work for France, and eventually with less custom fees if you are in an other EU country...

Holidays to Edinburgh are the way forward. Especially considering you should be able to claim most of the VAT back on departure...

 

[Wildhorses]

Aero asked me if I could clarify with customs why this is being charged at such a high rate, in France. I sent them the answer I got from the french customs. An example was given, showing clearly that in any case, the whole tax would be around 35%. That may help them to decide what is the best choice in the future. Aero sent me the refund of this atrocious tax, that's nice.

 

[nattevagten]

That's not how I understood her sentence.
I don't expect to have to pay any extra duties, fees, taxes or whatever upon delivery.
In either cases I will report back in a few weeks.

Even though I was prepared to do it, I had to pay nothing extra upon delivery (located in the EU), but I'm not sure if it was intended or I simply got lucky. On the other hand, with an Aero jacket that I ended up returning, I paid almost 300 euros extra (VAT/customs).

If it turns out to be true that you can avoid paying VAT twice when ordering from SB, the price difference with Aero is over 500 euros for a similar jacket. No future dilemmas.

 

[Rich22]

Aero asked me if I could clarify with customs why this is being charged at such a high rate, in France. I sent them the answer I got from the french customs. An example was given, showing clearly that in any case, the whole tax would be around 35%. That may help them to decide what is the best choice in the future. Aero sent me the refund of this atrocious tax, that's nice.

That's excellent customer service. Well done Aero!

 

[3.14nche]

Forgot to follow up on that.
I ended up placing 2 orders with SB.
The first one went smoothly no duties / taxes whatsoever as expected.
The second not so much.
UPS required me to pay import and VAT for an amount that makes no sense to me.
Not enough to cover the VAT but too much for duties. Feels like a cash grab.
Anyway I paid it upon delivery and still they sent another invoice for late payment.
Not the easiest people to get in touch with but it turned out the late payment was a 'mistake' on their side.

So it remains a bit of a gamble...

 

[Edward]

Forgot to follow up on that.
I ended up placing 2 orders with SB.
The first one went smoothly no duties / taxes whatsoever as expected.
The second not so much.
UPS required me to pay import and VAT for an amount that makes no sense to me.
Not enough to cover the VAT but too much for duties. Feels like a cash grab.
Anyway I paid it upon delivery and still they sent another invoice for late payment.
Not the easiest people to get in touch with but it turned out the late payment was a 'mistake' on their side.

So it remains a bit of a gamble...

New Aero site launched this week, at the same address. When you open the website, a dialogue box now appears with an option of UK / non-UK links to click. The 'rest of the world' link states: "REST OF WORLD(prices shown exc UK VAT with local tax payable at customs)" - this will also of course apply to EU countries now that the UK is no longer part of the internal market. Might well work out in your favour if VAT is lower where you are than the current UK rate of 20%.

 

[3.14nche]

Might well work out in your favour if VAT is lower where you are than the current UK rate of 20%.

Oh it did work out especially with the 10% discount on top

I was referring to my experience with Simmons Bilt.

 

[Edward]

Oh it did work out especially with the 10% discount on top

I was referring to my experience with Simmons Bilt.

Ah, yes - I get that you bought from SB. Just posted the above link as may be useful for those in ROTW looking to buy from Aero.

 

[Wildhorses]

Ah, yes - I get that you bought from SB. Just posted the above link as may be useful for those in ROTW looking to buy from Aero.

I did order a BL from the Aero sales page, with the 10% on the new site, it's really nice.
There was no VAT included to Europe, and when I had to pay the tax to DHL, the amount was just a bit over 20%, that works.

 

[Tom71]

Forgot to follow up on that.
I ended up placing 2 orders with SB.
The first one went smoothly no duties / taxes whatsoever as expected.
The second not so much.
UPS required me to pay import and VAT for an amount that makes no sense to me.
Not enough to cover the VAT but too much for duties. Feels like a cash grab.
Anyway I paid it upon delivery and still they sent another invoice for late payment.
Not the easiest people to get in touch with but it turned out the late payment was a 'mistake' on their side.

So it remains a bit of a gamble...

"Not the easiest to get in touch with" is quite the understatement. Would pay extra for DHL-delivery any time...