Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Lewis]

I bought one of these torches back in the summer to take to Glastonbury, expecting it to be a bit rubbish but I was really impressed with it and got another one to hang by the back door for going out and doing the chickens.

 

Mini 300 Lumen Torch

 

The price has been reduced again to £1.84 with free delivery so may be an ideal stocking filler or something. They just take AA batteries.

 

It did take about 3 weeks to arrive but for that price, you can't complain!

[Olly]

I have never got a torch in the right place at the right time - thanks for the recommendation, I think I might order a couple of those.

[bluekarin]

I bought a few similar ones for camping for the kids. They were about £4 each and are brilliant! I now use them for dog walking in the dark or for finding her in the garden when she is doing her bedtime wees The are such a handy size.

[Purplemaniacs]

Thanks Lewis I think

 

6 seemed to have slipped into my basket. They will make good stocking fillers. It is always useful to have a torch.

 

Chrissie

[patsylabrador]

Thanks. Those are perfect. I make up little tins of cheap but quality gifts for OH's family and those are perfect.

[Purplemaniacs]

Some of mine have been dispatched from Hong Kong. by Hong Kong post

 

Chrissie

[redbug]

Just about to say.....dispatched from Hong Kong! probably why they took 3 weeks

 

But very good price!

[Purplemaniacs]

OH has just said that I may have to pay tax on it, does anyone know if this is true.

 

Chrissie

[patsylabrador]

One of the best things for me of using Amazon is getting parcels from all over the world, covered in exotic stamps, labels and writing. I get quite possibly quite sadly excited. I have never had to pay anything extra. The parcels have all sorts of labels which I assume declare that tax and so on have already been sorted.

[Purplemaniacs]

Thank you, that is a relief I will look forward to receiving my parcel with exotic stamps

 

Chrissie

[Cat tails]

Sometimes you do need to pay tax, depending on the total value and how they declared it. The lens I bought on ebay from China was declared as gift. Which is one way to prevent paying taxes.

But in the past I have been confronted with paying around 30 euro tax on something only worth 50 euro...

[Purplemaniacs]

OH buys electrical components from around the world when he can't find them in this country and sometimes has to pay tax on them.

 

I hope I don't, having bought it from Amazon, I didn't see that it was from Hong Kong or I probably wouldn't have bought 6 of them. Perhaps it was in the small print but I had had a glass of wine or two

 

Chrissie

[WitchHazel]

It's unlikely you will have to pay import duty and VAT on these torches, unless you've gone mad and ordered loads.

I can't remember the amount allowed, I think its something like £30 (or £50).

 

For background infomation:

 

When calculating whether - and how much - import duty you have to pay, the total cost of the goods (including postage) is counted. The amount of import duty varies depending on exactly what the item is, HMRC has huge look-up tables of types of goods to tell them what the percentage is. Some items don't have any import duty.

 

Once import duty has been calculated, VAT is then added. VAT is payable on the total amount, i.e. goods+postage+import duty. Yes, you pay VAT on the Duty as well.

 

If the total of all of this comes to less than £9, the whole thing is waived.

 

Finally, companies like Royal Mail slap on a collection fee.

 

That's why it's possible to pay £30 import duty on an item that only cost £50.

[Cat tails]

Remember, my example came from the Netherlands. With us they just look at the value the sender has put on the package and calculate accordingly. Some item categories carry more tax than others.

It was kind of a bummer. Because of the tax I also needed to collect the package myself (at some ridiculously remote location). Won't order at that company again.

[Lavenders_Blue]

I was about to order a couple of bits from Amazon. I might just have to drop one of those into my basket. It would be useful to keep in the car for emergencies.

[The Dogmother]

I have two of these

 

 

One by the back door for trips up the garden, and t'other in my car. They have a hook and a magnet on the back and are very bright.

 

Just noticed the spelling error in the image

[Lewis]

I didn't pay any tax on the two I ordered

[WitchHazel]

They are so cheap, and postage is free, that you won't have to pay any duty or tax..unless you ordered loads of them.

[patsylabrador]

I got mine today. I ordered 10 for Christmas tins and there was no tax type issues. They are nice and sturdy and well packaged.

[Purplemaniacs]

I hope mine come soon. It is encouraging that you did not need to pay any tax.

 

Chrissie

[WitchHazel]

My 5 torches came yesterday. Very pleased with them, so thank you for posting about them,

 

As a time check for others who are waiting for theirs, I ordered them on 15th November and they arrived on the 3rd December,

[Purplemaniacs]

Thank you WitchHazel.

 

I ordered mine the day before you and I am still waiting. Hopefully they will appear soon.

 

Chrissie

[Lavenders_Blue]

Mine arrived on Wednesday. Now just need to pop some batteries in them

[Purplemaniacs]

I have got mine but instead of sending two silver ones they have just sent one. I have sent them an email so we will see what they reply, or if they reply!

 

And I didn't need to pay any tax.

 

Chrissie

[kissinuk]

Customs rules are complicated, but in a nutshell for items outside of EU:

 

You only pay Customs Duty on items over £135

You only pay VAT on gifts worth more than £36 or goods worth more than £15 (ie not gifts)

There's generally a fee from the courier on top of this (around £10)

 

VAT is charged on the entire price including any customs duty and the postage cost!

 

So basically if you order more than £15 worth of torches and they don't mark it as a gift you may end up paying VAT.