[meteorite-list] Another warning re sales to Italy

From: Michael Farmer <mike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2016 08:41:31 -0700
Message-ID: <37E21474-C430-4798-919A-E9ED56382579_at_meteoriteguy.com>

American taxes are nowhere near the highest in the world......
Michael Farmer

Sent from my iPad

> On Jul 24, 2016, at 7:58 AM, Raremeteorites via Meteorite-list <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> wrote:
>
> I have had some overseas buyers ask me to lower the value on the customs declaration form. Some even threatened not to accept the package if I reported the correct amount. I always tell them that I pay more than my fair share of U.S. taxes so why should I assist them on cheating on theirs which is against the law. Some of these overseas buyers tell me that other U.S. vendors do it all of the time for them. U.S. taxes are among the highest in the world, especially when dealing in collectables which have no long-term capital gain advantage and are in the top tax bracket.
>
> Now, I put this clause in my descriptions:
>
> Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.
>
> I hope this helps,
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Blood via Meteorite-list" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> To: "MexicoDoug" <mexicodoug at aol.com>; "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2016 11:31 PM
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Another warning re sales to Italy
>
>
>> Hi Doug,
>> Thanks for the kind words. However, I have saved all
>> The emails and believe me, there was absolutely no confusion
>> Re shipping - -clarified clearly (twice) that if Fed EX were
>> less than $50 I would refund him the difference and if it
>> were more than $50 he would have to agree to paypal me
>> the difference.
>> He stated I should not have put the "real value" on the shipment -
>> AFTER I had sent it - When Fed Ex turned out to be more, then
>> He complained he would have to pay the import fee and wouldn't
>> Pay any more for the shipping.
>> Kind and gentle is always best and I tried that for several
>> Posts to no avail whatever.
>> No, this is a clear cut case of being ripped off. I suspect it is
>> Our old "friend" as his approach is nearly identical and his English
>> Is similarly distorted. But whether it is or not the results are identical.
>> I, too, like to think people are basically honest and live up to
>> Their commitments and I do deal with people that way and the vast
>> Majority of people in the meteorite community are that way.
>> Also, I do not believe for a second this is "typical of Italians" -
>> only two - and possibly only one - have/has acted this way. Every
>> Country has both the saintly and the cur.
>> Good to hear from you, Doug,
>> Michael
>>
>>> On 7/23/16 10:32 PM, "MexicoDoug" <mexicodoug at aol.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Michael,
>>>
>>> How discouraging, as if doing what you love wasn't already a labor of love.
>>> Your customer appears to be a dedicated collector, exhibitor, lecturer, and
>>> dealer (involved with meteorites and as using them as raw materials for
>>> selling trinkets and watch dials, including to school children). You could
>>> double-check if it is not a miscommunication from your message exchange
>>> defining who was supposed to pay for what. The immediate problem was not
>>> Italy, as much as the expensive, secure shipping cost which you understood was
>>> to be paid by him as it sounds like he received the meteorite and you have a
>>> tracking receipt.
>>>
>>> Or, next time you are in Rimini, stop by this hair salon and go collect if the
>>> friendly approach doesn't pan out. Maybe settle for a seafood risotto. I'd
>>> make an appointment first and bring a bottle of wine _at_ (+39)3485447938. He
>>> really doesn't seem like a scammer!
>>>
>>> Kindest wishes
>>> Doug
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Michael Farmer via Meteorite-list <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>>> To: Michael Blood <mlblood at cox.net>; Meteorite Mailing List
>>> <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>>> Sent: Sat, Jul 23, 2016 9:37 pm
>>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Another warning re sales to Italy
>>>
>>> Why do people ignore warnings? Italy is notorious for
>>> scams and stolen packages.
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>
>>>> On Jul 23, 2016, at 6:36 PM, Michael Blood via Meteorite-list
>>>> <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> You all may recall that several years ago multiple
>>>> Dealers warned against sales to Italy. It seams at
>>>> Least one buyer was claiming not to have received
>>>> Shipments that were verified, not to have received
>>>> Money that was sent him, etc.
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately, I failed to head warnings about
>>>> Shipping to Italy. A different Italian contacted me (Or
>>>> At least one using a different name and email) and
>>>> I explained even Registered Mail seems to fail to
>>>> guarantee delivery in Italy but I somehow allowed
>>>> him to talk me into a Fed Ex shipment of a specimen.
>>>> I agreed, providing he send $50 shipping and agree
>>>> to pay any additional amount Fed Ex might charge.
>>>>
>>>> Perhaps it is the same fellow from several years ago
>>>> Using a different name (he was so good at that Art could
>>>> Not keep him off the list because he would just join again
>>>> Using a different name and email). So, beware of:
>>>>
>>>> "Davide Urbinati" <urbinati.davide at gmail.com>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Even though I scanned the receipt and sent it to him
>>>> He refused to pay the $59.79 Fed Ex charged me. So, I am
>>>> Out that $.
>>>>
>>>> Believe me, I will never ship to Italy again.
>>>>
>>>> Better luck to all of you,
>>>> Michael Blood
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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Received on Sun 24 Jul 2016 11:41:31 AM PDT