Whats the deal with VAT and jackets into the US from abroad

[GHT]

The only place that I have found that sells goods tax free are airport departure lounges. I bought a litre bottle of JD at Dallas airport, came to the dollar equivilent of about ten quid. Such a bargain was as irresistable to buy as it was to consume. I got through it so quickly that I thought about topping it up with a smaller bottle bought locally. When I saw the price, now with all the added taxes, I chose the potential arsekicking from my wife.

My first purchase from The Darcy Shirt Company, back when it was called the Vintage Shirt Company, had no VAT added. Not realising that there was tax to be added, I bought and paid for my purchase, which they duly sent me, with a note, to say that I hadn't paid the VAT. My business is VAT registered, I've also had a tax & VAT inspection, these people are draconian. Not wanting Darcy to get into problems, I phoned them and suggested that they credit me the first invoice and re-invoice me with VAT added. To which they replied, "Don't worry, it's only a one off, we've put it down as an overseas sale." That's why I have always thought that foreign buyers were VAT exempt.

 

[Fanch]

The only place that I have found that sells goods tax free are airport departure lounges. I bought a litre bottle of JD at Dallas airport, came to the dollar equivilent of about ten quid. Such a bargain was as irresistable to buy as it was to consume. I got through it so quickly that I thought about topping it up with a smaller bottle bought locally. When I saw the price, now with all the added taxes, I chose the potential arsekicking from my wife.

By JD, I assume you mean Jack Daniels made in Lynchburg Tennessee, about one hour's driving time from my hometown of Chattanooga. I understand that that JD consists of one part methanol and one part kerosene. Not really, but seems that way to me when my poison of choice is either Ardbeg or Laphroaig (Lagavulin is waaay too expensive here).

 

[Doctor Damage]

That's why I have always thought that foreign buyers were VAT exempt.

I'm pretty sure foreign buyers were exempt at one time. I was in the UK twice in the mid-90s and I remember being told I could get the VAT back. They've probably tightened it up now, both to grab hold of every bit of money they can, plus to cut down on terrorist money laundering 'cause it's well known that Barbour jackets are a key element of the international terrorist money laundering conspiracy. Same with those shortbread cookies you can buy in Harrod's tins at Heathrow on your way home to the U.S.

 

[wdw]

So you like the Islay whiskies, Fanch. I used to live on the mainland opposite Islay and would see it each week as I drove to work. It's nice to hear your positive vibes from so far away. Two sheep on the road there is considered a traffic jam.

Our local distillery was Springbank, which has some very expensive bottles, I gather.

 

[Sloan1874]

Can't beat a drop of Leap Frog.

 

[coloradorider]

This has been a much discussed topic in the past. I'm sure a search can yield answers to the question.

Here's a link to the livelier discussion - FYI-Eastman-and-Aero-including-undisclosed-upcharge-on-overseas-sales.

You're probably going to pay the price on the website but it doesn't hurt to ask. Aero, Alexander, and Bill Kelso will charge the price on their website which includes VAT as you noted. They will not remove VAT for US sales. I can't personally speak to any other manufacturers. This was true in ~2013'ish' so maybe they've changed their policy.

I'd buy Aero from Insurrection in Seattle for this reason. You are paying essentially the same price and don't have the overseas shipping issues. If you're looking at another jacket maker larger retailers in the EU will usually exclude VAT for overseas sales so you may have the opportunity to buy from a reseller and avoid the tax. Cheers

 

[LouisBailie]

This is exactly why when one buys from Aero Eastman Alexander etc in the UK from the US, one should send an offer less the 20% of the published price and wait for them to accept it.

I do it all the time and 99.9% of the time I get the full 20% off, sometimes they even give free shipping if they are in a good mood.

 

[Sloan1874]

If I was a maker and I received such an email from anyone, Louis, I'd tell the chancer exactly where to get off.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

If I was a maker and I received such an email from anyone, Louis, I'd tell the chancer exactly where to get off.

Yep..I think most everyone else would be waiting a long time for that 20% discount......lol
HD

 

[LouisBailie]

Both Aero and Alexander have given it to me, you guys can make it up to them paying full retail .. Plus I even got 10GBP off for late delivery

One of the guys at Aero even tipped me to where I got a more than 50% off a new jacket, that I have now.

If you do not ask you will never know....the full retailers never get or have gotten a dime out of me....right now with the dollar being so strong it is a good time to buy...

Tell that to your retail sales staffs......

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Both Aero and Alexander have given it to me, you guys can make it up to them paying full retail .. Plus I even got 10GBP off for late delivery

One of the guys at Aero even tipped me to where I got a more than 50% off a new jacket, that I have now.

If you do not ask you will never know....the full retailers never get or have gotten a dime out of me....right now with the dollar being so strong it is a good time to buy...

Tell that to your retail sales staffs......

Great..!! Can we use your post as a reference for the discount with Aero..??
Thanks
HD

 

[Sloan1874]

Heaven forbid that any maker around here make living, eh? I'm not averse to a bargain, but to hammer and haggle with the small businesses that we tend to deal with here, in my opinion, runs counter to the spirit of The Lounge: to support and encourage artisan companies that pay living wages to skilled workers. These people are not Armani, H&M or whatever.

 

[LouisBailie]

Heaven forbid that any maker around here make living, eh? I'm not averse to a bargain, but to hammer and haggle with the small businesses that we tend to deal with here, in my opinion, runs counter to the spirit of The Lounge: to support and encourage artisan companies that pay living wages to skilled workers. These people are not Armani, H&M or whatever.

Who buys their stuff when their business fails, who buys the stuff when the retailers do not need the stock, who buys the stuff when they change models? Who buys rejected items, who buys returns?

I will buy when you would not, I will tell those companies what I want and what I will pay and they notify my when items are available, then I wait. I buy immediately, with no return privlidge, and will correct minor flaws myself..

When I buy the company keeps production runing and can keep paying their employees vrs laying them off for lack of work.

Retail prices have built in margins to allow for retailers to make their money. If one takes those retailers out of the picture those same companies have a large leeway to reduce prices selling direct and still make their margin or more. They are forced to do it when retailers do not buy enough to keep production lines running or one large retailer goes under with large inventories of their stuff.

All companies work this way, and they stay in business this way.

The "Lounge" has nothing to do with it. Neither do people promoting on the internet.

 

[Peacoat]

heaven forbid that any maker around here make living, eh? I'm not averse to a bargain, but to hammer and haggle with the small businesses that we tend to deal with here, in my opinion, runs counter to the spirit of the lounge: To support and encourage artisan companies that pay living wages to skilled workers. These people are not armani, h&m or whatever.

+1

 

[Otter]

Who buys their stuff when their business fails, who buys the stuff when the retailers do not need the stock, who buys the stuff when they change models? Who buys rejected items, who buys returns?

I will buy when you would not, I will tell those companies what I want and what I will pay and they notify my when items are available, then I wait. I buy immediately, with no return privlidge, and will correct minor flaws myself..

When I buy the company keeps production runing and can keep paying their employees vrs laying them off for lack of work.

Retail prices have built in margins to allow for retailers to make their money. If one takes those retailers out of the picture those same companies have a large leeway to reduce prices selling direct and still make their margin or more. They are forced to do it when retailers do not buy enough to keep production lines running or one large retailer goes under with large inventories of their stuff.

All companies work this way, and they stay in business this way.

The "Lounge" has nothing to do with it. Neither do people promoting on the internet.

Big soulless multinationals and conglomerates, yes, because that is what a lot of them do to their suppliers. I would never do that to a small operation that might be hanging on in there by a thread.

I'll go and put my halo back in its box now.

 

[Fanch]

My take is that LouisBailie is at liberty to do whatever he wishes to do. Frankly, I am not particularly interested in reading about the process in which anyone attempts to barter down vendors' pricing.

 

[jhl1963]

Good info - while it feels like we here in the US are getting ripped off, at least for aero it's probably one of the things protecting Thurston Bros (and keeping them in support of the product) - who seems to provide spectacular service and good people. And given that, for aero, that makes sense to me. I still have a problem with the others charging vat if they don't have to pay it.

 

[IXL]

Big soulless multinationals and conglomerates, yes, because that is what a lot of them do to their suppliers. I would never do that to a small operation that might be hanging on in there by a thread.

I'll go and put my halo back in its box now.

I bought a halo box a few months back, beat-up the manufacturer pretty good on the price, too......

 

[Otter]

I bought a halo box a few months back, beat-up the manufacturer pretty good on the price, too......

But was it an officially certified one? There are a lot of knock offs out there!

 

[Plumbline]

On the basis that " if you don't ask, you don't get !"

I ALWAYS ask ( I never expect ...... but I always ask in a polite and non aggressive manner )

It's got nothing to do with being gentlemanly, or a lack of religious support of the seller .... it's simply the basic rule of commerce ! The profit margin on a premier leather jacket is somewhere between 100 and 150% ( vs the full retail price based on a production cost of average £250-300 - which was worked out on a fairly rigorous formula about 10 years ago with the numbers applied to todays variable and fixed costs - the allowance within that is fairly generous on the side of the manufacturer).

I expect the manufacturer to make money ... but the more money they make the more I have to pay. An item is worth what someone is willing to pay for it .... I'm just perhaps only willing to pay lower prices than others, no-one forces the manufacturer to sell .... as my granny once said " A fair exchange is no robbery !".