Expansys - SONY Xperia

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sbiddle

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#2002231 25-Apr-2018 12:34

weera2500: Apparently I am not the only one...there seems to be quite a few users caught out by their hidden costs.

A little clarification is needed here. They are not "their" hidden costs. They are costs passed on by customs in NZ who charge GST and/or duty on all imports where the value exceeds the de minimis value.

If you were not aware that importing goods into NZ meant you were liable for GST and/or duty I think you just need to flag it as a life experience rather than trying to blame anybody for it. I'm not sure what else customs can do to educate people about these charges, but as you were obviously unaware maybe you could offer them some advice on how they can help people.

You'd paid these charges to the NZ government, not Expansys. The only way you'll get your money back is to return the goods, and for you to lodge a claim with customs with proof from Expansys once they have received the goods.

weera2500

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#2002242 25-Apr-2018 12:51

sbiddle:

weera2500: Apparently I am not the only one...there seems to be quite a few users caught out by their hidden costs.

A little clarification is needed here. They are not "their" hidden costs. They are costs passed on by customs in NZ who charge GST and/or duty on all imports where the value exceeds the de minimis value.

If you were not aware that importing goods into NZ meant you were liable for GST and/or duty I think you just need to flag it as a life experience rather than trying to blame anybody for it. I'm not sure what else customs can do to educate people about these charges, but as you were obviously unaware maybe you could offer them some advice on how they can help people.

You'd paid these charges to the NZ government, not Expansys. The only way you'll get your money back is to return the goods, and for you to lodge a claim with customs with proof from Expansys once they have received the goods.

The seller knows very well that the purchaser would have to make an as-yet-unable-to-be-determined amount later down the line in addition to the initial payment. This kind of two step payment process is a little unusual and cumbersome! Having a simple warning in red font or a pop up prompting the user would be greatly appreciated. Customs can't possibly make everyone aware of this to be effective, but ethically, it falls upon the seller to issue adequate warning at the point-of-sale. That is my gripe. There is NO adequate warning that captures user attention. Had there been enough warning of this two step payment process, I would not have completed the sale. May be that IS why Expansys does not issue a warning perhaps!

The item has arrived in the country but I have not received the item nor have I paid the import tax yet.

sbiddle

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#2002253 25-Apr-2018 12:59

weera2500:

The seller knows very well that the purchaser would have to make an as-yet-unable-to-be-determined amount later down the line in addition to the initial payment. This kind of two step payment process is a little unusual and cumbersome! Having a simple warning in red font or a pop up prompting the user would be greatly appreciated. Customs can't possibly make everyone aware of this to be effective, but ethically, it falls upon the seller to issue adequate warning at the point-of-sale. That is my gripe. There is NO adequate warning that captures user attention. Had there been enough warning of this two step payment process, I would not have completed the sale. May be that IS why Expansys does not issue a warning perhaps!

The item has arrived in the country but I have not received the item nor have I paid the import tax yet.

On that checkout page I see a warning message and a separate graphic that tells me goods under $400 are GST free. I'm really not sure what else realistically they can be expected to do.

As for paying the GST and/or duty in a "two step payment process" this is exactly what thousands of people do every week who import goods into NZ. Very few foreign retailers collect GST and/or duty on goods shipped to NZ - one of the only ones I can name off the top of my head is Amazon.

I still think you're looking for a conspiracy that doesn't exist. You obviously weren't aware that importing goods into NZ incurred GST and/or duty - and as I mentioned above you simply have to mark that up as a life lesson.

That's why I see some responsibility for customs to try and better get the message out to people like you that don't realise there are costs incurred in importing goods. Customs have spent up big on campaigns and the whatsmydutypage but maybe they could be doing things better.

weera2500

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#2002258 25-Apr-2018 13:09

sbiddle:

weera2500:

The seller knows very well that the purchaser would have to make an as-yet-unable-to-be-determined amount later down the line in addition to the initial payment. This kind of two step payment process is a little unusual and cumbersome! Having a simple warning in red font or a pop up prompting the user would be greatly appreciated. Customs can't possibly make everyone aware of this to be effective, but ethically, it falls upon the seller to issue adequate warning at the point-of-sale. That is my gripe. There is NO adequate warning that captures user attention. Had there been enough warning of this two step payment process, I would not have completed the sale. May be that IS why Expansys does not issue a warning perhaps!

The item has arrived in the country but I have not received the item nor have I paid the import tax yet.

On that checkout page I see a warning message and a separate graphic that tells me goods under $400 are GST free. I'm really not sure what else realistically they can be expected to do.

As for paying the GST and/or duty in a "two step payment process" this is exactly what thousands of people do every week who import goods into NZ. Very few foreign retailers collect GST and/or duty on goods shipped to NZ - one of the only ones I can name off the top of my head is Amazon.

I still think you're looking for a conspiracy that doesn't exist. You obviously weren't aware that importing goods into NZ incurred GST and/or duty - and as I mentioned above you simply have to mark that up as a learning curve.

That's why I see some responsibility for customs to try and better get the message out to people like you that don't realise there are costs incurred in importing goods. Customs have spent up big on campaigns and the whatsmydutypage but maybe they could be doing things better.

I am not in the thousands of people who buy goods from overseas websites regularly. I have only ever bought 4 or 5 items in my entire life from foreign websites. So I don't listen to Customs radio station to see what silly new rule is imposed every so often.

The item I bought was priced at NZ $396. Technically it should not incur an import tax then. How am I supposed to know that $400 limit is just for goods only or goods + shipping. What a frustrating and a convoluted process.

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#2002268 25-Apr-2018 13:21

weera2500:

I am not in the thousands of people who buy goods from overseas websites regularly. I have only ever bought 4 or 5 items in my entire life from foreign websites. So I don't listen to Customs radio station to see what silly new rule is imposed every so often.

The item I bought was priced at NZ $396. Technically it should not incur an import tax then. How am I supposed to know that $400 limit is just for goods only or goods + shipping. What a frustrating and a convoluted process.

These rules are not new. They have always existed. That's why I'm suggesting you should maybe give customs some ideas as to how they can reach people like you and help you understand the law, because their advertising campaigns obviously haven't reached you.

Shipping is included in the total so if the total including shipping is over NZ$400 (a de minimus figure of $60) then you'll have to pay GST and/or duty. This is very clearly detailed on the customs main homepage that Expansys link to and their whatsmyduty page that allows you to calculate your liability when you import goods.

If your goods totalled NZ$396 including shipping you shouldn't need to pay anything as a phone doesn't incur duty. If the total was NZ$396 + shipping then you need to pay as you will be over the $60 de minimis figure.

weera2500

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#2002271 25-Apr-2018 13:25

Oh I get charged GST for the shipping component as well? So nice!

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#2002275 25-Apr-2018 13:34

weera2500:

Oh I get charged GST for the shipping component as well? So nice!

It's the law. It's not new. Sorry you didn't know it but as mentioned now you do and you will consider this when buying from overseas next time. You will probably find out that even with GST the item is still cheaper so I'd say this is a good moment to drop the topic.

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#2002280 25-Apr-2018 13:37

Hope you don't have to do a warranty claim on the handset and send it away back to the supplier

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weera2500

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#2002284 25-Apr-2018 13:42

freitasm:

weera2500:

Oh I get charged GST for the shipping component as well? So nice!

It's the law. It's not new. Sorry you didn't know it but as mentioned now you do and you will consider this when buying from overseas next time. You will probably find out that even with GST the item is still cheaper so I'd say this is a good moment to drop the topic.

No it is not cheaper. There were 3 or 4 other NZ based suppliers from whom I could have bought it for cheaper than with Expansys and their hidden costs. Absolutely sucks!

freitasm

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#2002291 25-Apr-2018 13:49

weera2500:

freitasm:

weera2500:

Oh I get charged GST for the shipping component as well? So nice!

It's the law. It's not new. Sorry you didn't know it but as mentioned now you do and you will consider this when buying from overseas next time. You will probably find out that even with GST the item is still cheaper so I'd say this is a good moment to drop the topic.

No it is not cheaper. There were 3 or 4 other NZ based suppliers from whom I could have bought it for cheaper than with Expansys and their hidden costs. Absolutely sucks!

There was no "Expansys hidden costs". This is the NZ Custom GST, not Expansys. Separate entities. The difference is that NZ-based companies include GST in the price.

As mentioned before, let it go. You vented, lesson learnt.

sbiddle

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#2002293 25-Apr-2018 13:50

weera2500:

freitasm:

weera2500:

Oh I get charged GST for the shipping component as well? So nice!

It's the law. It's not new. Sorry you didn't know it but as mentioned now you do and you will consider this when buying from overseas next time. You will probably find out that even with GST the item is still cheaper so I'd say this is a good moment to drop the topic.

No it is not cheaper. There were 3 or 4 other NZ based suppliers from whom I could have bought it for cheaper than with Expansys and their hidden costs. Absolutely sucks!

Are they in stock and shipping from NZ though?

As I've already mentioned there are many NZ based sellers and retailers who unlike Expansys don't warn of GST or where the product is shipping from, and people end up getting stung when their phone is dropped shipped from somewhere like Hong Kong and they find themselves liable for GST. There have been a number of such threads on here over the years from people who have been caught out.

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#2002294 25-Apr-2018 13:51

I'm locking this thread as there's nothing else to discuss.

Expansys sold, warning ignored, Customs will charge GST. Life lessons.

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