This coul be good for us APUG-ers: backpackbang

Hi all,

https://backpackbang.com/home

Some stuff from USA here in Europe are double and more expensive, and vice versa. We can even maybe bypass the page and go directly over APUG messaging...

What do you think?

Regards,

It's a smart idea, and one open to any number of scams and other abuses

But a smart idea nevertheless.

If it takes off, it'll be interesting to see how fast all the various border agencies and tax/excise jurisdictions respond

Sound like a "mule". I'd be careful.

The concept is illegal in the EU (and most probably in the rest of the world).

In a former world that was called smuggling.

That smells not good , I registered to a site , they gave me us address at florida to collect the goods and send in cheapest way.

I'm not aware of the legitimacy of the site above, but it sounds a bit like Borderlinx. Borderlinx is a professional operation that provides you with a US shipping address, and sorta out all of the appropriate shipping and import taxes for you once the goods get into Europe.

It's only smuggling if the item is not declared when it crosses boarders, though there may be various other applicable import or export restrictions.

Free from taxes for travellers here are only certain items you need for your journey.

Taking goods for others and declaring as your own belongings is criminal.
(At least my impression is that the site in question is about that.)

eg in Australia, I'm allowed to import (via carrying or posting) $1000 worth of new goods, tax free. If the value of my goods is $1001, I have to declare the whole lot, then I may* get taxed on all $1001. (*that's what it says, it depends on the mood of whoever you deal with I think).

But if I order from OS and split it into two separate packages it's fine. Even if I come into the country with a friend and have a brand-new $2000 camera, even though the camera is indivisible I can combine my and my friend's $1000 allowances and get away with it.


So if I were to carry something back for someone else, that this someone else has already paid for, there's no problem. If I'm taking it back to sell it on, then I need to pay import tax, but otherwise it's fine.

Then seemingly legislation is more varied than I thought.

darkosaric said:

Hi all,

https://backpackbang.com/home

Some stuff from USA here in Europe are double and more expensive, and vice versa. We can even maybe bypass the page and go directly over APUG messaging...

What do you think?

Regards,

Click to expand...

I think this just screams "SCAM!!!!!"

Also sounds overly complex, convoluted, probably illegal on several levels.

I just have a friend in the US act as a depository for small items until there's enough to ship. It makes sense for things that by themselves would be cumulatively too pricey in postage costs. Of course, I have to bear in mind the small threshold I have for non-declaration of imported goods, but it works ok. In fact, I don't mind paying the legimate excise duties, as they're not too onerous at all, on most things.
What gets me (and what got me to do things this way) was the utterly annoying system the big auction site has put in place for carriage of items, and the cheap shipping options have mostly gone. The auction site has persuaded sellers to sign up to their Global Shipping Scheme, whereby their partners in crim/// enterprise happily load the carriage charges on like there's no tomorrow and very often the seller is unaware just how much is being quoted in shipping cost to their prospective customers abroad.
Enough for me - I just got sick of it and I won't put up with being stitched up and ripped off any longer.

Farside said:

I just have a friend in the US act as a depository for small items until there's enough to ship. It makes sense for things that by themselves would be cumulatively too pricey in postage costs. Of course, I have to bear in mind the small threshold I have for non-declaration of imported goods, but it works ok. In fact, I don't mind paying the legimate excise duties, as they're not too onerous at all, on most things.
What gets me (and what got me to do things this way) was the utterly annoying system the big auction site has put in place for carriage of items, and the cheap shipping options have mostly gone. The auction site has persuaded sellers to sign up to their Global Shipping Scheme, whereby their partners in crim/// enterprise happily load the carriage charges on like there's no tomorrow and very often the seller is unaware just how much is being quoted in shipping cost to their prospective customers abroad.
Enough for me - I just got sick of it and I won't put up with being stitched up and ripped off any longer.

Click to expand...

I absolutely agree - the Ebay global shipping program is a ripoff and shady thing at best and my advice would be to stay clear from it. You will pay much too much, and, worse yet, there have been cases reported where people payed double import taxes, once to GSP and then again to their local tax authorities, AND you assume a lot of unnecessary risks, especially the risk of the item being damaged due to repackaging by the agent (trying to make even more $$ off you), AND end up without any proof of having paid your duties, which will be a major issue in case you ever plan to take the item on a trip abroad and back home again. I would rather duly pay my 19% import tax plus 1% or so duties for photographic items to my country than see half of my money end up in the hands of Ebay or one of its money milking schemes again!

Always better to contact the seller and ask him if he is willing to ship to you directly via UPS, FedEx (or USPS). For UPS, FedEX, DHL and the like you will be charged 10 EUR for the customs clearance service here in Germany, which is absolutely okay if you ask me (it might save you a lot of hassle and valuable time compared to doing the import procedures yourself) and, unlike Ebay's GSP, you WILL obtain a copy of all the proper import papers. If you run a business as a photographer you can even get the import tax (VAT) back. Further, you will be sure the item is not repackaged, the item can be tracked all the way with one tracking number and in the case of loss or damage the responsibilities and the addressee are clear. When importing items of little of small value it can be more reasonable to use USPS (because of their cheaper rates compared to UPS etc.), but unless you are lucky and your parcel is exempted from import duties you will usually have to go to your local customs office and do the procedures yourself. This is the situation for Germany, it might be different elsewhere.

AgX said:

Then seemingly legislation is more varied than I thought.

Click to expand...

You have no idea! I've shipped to countries where there is a flat rate fee for picking up any mail (whether it be a letter or a large package) of say 100 of that currency.

While I prefer to ship directly, I have used the ebay global ship program maybe twice and both times it was fine.

I was refering to a situation of a traveller bringing in goods he does not need for his journey, or exceeding some certain Limit of value, or even on behalf of someone else. But stating the contrary.

That is illegal in the EU.

What could go wrong?

You buy with your own money.
You bring it into a foreign country - apparently declaring it as personal property to avoid import duties.
Someone picks it up from you.
After they pick it up from you, this "Backpack" pays you.

mgb74 said:

What could go wrong?

You buy with your own money.
You bring it into a foreign country - apparently declaring it as personal property to avoid import duties.
Someone picks it up from you.
After they pick it up from you, this "Backpack" pays you.

Click to expand...

Reading the FAQ, it actually sounds decent - but I am sure there will be kinks that need to be worked out.
Expressly targeted for Bangladeshi customers, looks like.

But it is not a bad or illegal thing - they just have made a business of what people have been doing for a long time, isn't it?

Dr Croubie said:

eg in Australia, I'm allowed to import (via carrying or posting) $1000 worth of new goods, tax free. If the value of my goods is $1001, I have to declare the whole lot, then I may* get taxed on all $1001. (*that's what it says, it depends on the mood of whoever you deal with I think).

But if I order from OS and split it into two separate packages it's fine. Even if I come into the country with a friend and have a brand-new $2000 camera, even though the camera is indivisible I can combine my and my friend's $1000 allowances and get away with it.


So if I were to carry something back for someone else, that this someone else has already paid for, there's no problem. If I'm taking it back to sell it on, then I need to pay import tax, but otherwise it's fine.

Click to expand...

(highlighted parts) Similar rules in India, but I think you might be mistaken in reading that one item's duty can be shared between two people. That *might* be used for a family, but I doubt it is allowed otherwise?

For those who like the idea, I've made this whole list of startups offering this kind of service.

Dvdvuy said:

For those who like the idea, I've made this whole list of startups offering this kind of service.

Click to expand...

Welcome to APUG .

That's a good list, Dvdvuy! would be nice for you to mention your interest in it too.
(I'll look up that list from the desktop)

Sent from Tap-a-talk

Tks guys ! (And glad I made my second post on APUG ; )