Customs problem with physical goods from Supporter Pack

Hi,

I already messaged the support via email about this but due to the large number of open tickets I have yet to receive an answer. Unfortunately however this case is rather urgent as I need to visit the customs office on thursday afternoon (CET).

I need an invoice for the t-shirt and the hoodie (as I don’t know which one is currently held back at customs – maybe even both?). As read here https://www.reddit.com/r/pathofexile/comments/akyx69/be_careful_with_customs_when_ordering_physical/ using the paypal confirmation could result in problems due to customs assuming the T-Shirt to be worth >200€.

Maybe this post helps getting attention from support.

Many thanks in advance as your help will be much appreciated!

Greetings,
Zimtdrop

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Zimtdrop wrote:

Hi,

I already messaged the support via email about this but due to the large number of open tickets I have yet to receive an answer. Unfortunately however this case is rather urgent as I need to visit the customs office on thursday afternoon (CET).

I need an invoice for the t-shirt and the hoodie (as I don’t know which one is currently held back at customs – maybe even both?). As read here https://www.reddit.com/r/pathofexile/comments/akyx69/be_careful_with_customs_when_ordering_physical/ using the paypal confirmation could result in problems due to customs assuming the T-Shirt to be worth >200€.

Maybe this post helps getting attention from support.

Many thanks in advance as your help will be much appreciated!

Greetings,
Zimtdrop

Thanks for your post, Zimtdrop!

Wasn't aware that getting anything sent from outside EU could become that expensive and also there is no "gift" any more according to information from costumer service as their way to define it today is that a "gift" is only when sent between private persons and then even as a "gift" you would need to calculate worth of each item and when each items sum will go above a certain limit of worth for each item CS will then charge for VAT (25%), costumer service fee (2.4%) and also transport firm might add their own fee for handling package for costumer administration. All that is for a "gift" which is supposedly sent between friends or family members when they live outside of EU. Sending gifts inside of EU do not have the same restriction for a "gift". As for how much an item is worth it is not really clear how they should calculate how much it is "worth".

In this case it would be hard to exactly know how CS would treat a T-shirt as part of a virtual goods package which makes it very random according to how some people report their experience on reddit where some people seem to not getting any duty fees at all to pay and other are charged with a duty fee.

In total it can become much more expensive then what this item (t-shirt) would be worth to purchase in the nearest store or online (in EU).



The "real" worth should be more equal to those 160 coins (listed as another option from store page for Vanguard package, if one do not want T-shirt and choose coins instead). 20 Dollar give you 200 coins (stand alone package for coins), so it would be around 16 Dollars worth of T-shirt which is more reasonable and then VAT, duty fee and administration fee when one import t-shirt as private person from a shop outside of EU.

In conclusion I would not buy Vanguard Support Pack as I had only $60 left to reach that level and get a T-shirt as a reward.

I am a bit disappointed about how EU work regarding this which can add that much more to a purchase when it happens outside of EU and when it is also about a "package" which contains virtual and real goods it just add more uncertainty for how it all will end in VAT and other costs.

GGG could maybe solve this by having another manufacturer inside of EU to get around limitation from EU. If product aren't produced inside of EU it will be the same problem as now.

Good news!
I was able to pick up my parcel at customs today. I opened it right there (it was the hoodie) but they didn't accept the 1$ receipt which was inside the package. They doubted that the hoodie was only 1$. I explained that the hoodie was included in a supporter pack. They did believe me, but said that an exact price for the item was needed, even if it is sold in a package. I suggested checking the price of similiar items on the Jinx website. They agreed and took the cheapest one as a reference which resulted in 8,25€ import VAT.
I'm relieved that I got my hoodie and paying additional 8€ wasn't that bad.

Hopefully the T-Shirt will pass customs like the shirt and the clothes map from the war for the atlas supporter packs last year.

Greetings,
Zimtdrop