You might remember that, a while ago, I was rather pleased to report that I'd bought a blogging t-shirt from Google (I can't link the post, but it's in the September archive under "Blogging With Pride"). Yesterday, those really nice - and, you have to say, thoughtful - guys from Customer Services sent me the following email:Thanks very much for your order! We appreciate the opportunity to serve you.
The first thing we wish to caution you about is the high relative expense of shipping promotional products internationally. Often times freight, customs and duties can add up to a total that is significantly higher than the cost of the products you wish to purchase.
We apologize to you in advance for the shock you will receive when you review the shipping and handling quote. Please be aware that these charges are not a profit center for us and are due to the various duties and taxes charged by countries around the globe.
The total shipping charges listed below includes any duties and/or taxes or customs fees that your country charges for imports. With those words of caution, please see our freight estimate, below, for your review:
GO0126 L 1 $10.95 BLOGGER RINGNECKED T
Net Amount of Your Order: $10.95
Shipping Charges: $56.17
Total Amount Due: $67.12
I politely advised them that they should carefully insert the t-shirt into the orifice ususally reserved for poshing during trips to NYC. F*ck duties and taxes, therefore, is my message of the day.
Breakfast Update: 63 naffing raisins removed this morning!
15 comments:
I was nodding in agreement until I reached the last sentence, Sher :-)
If you loved me you'd make me one.
I dont think its exactly googles fault, its more taxes to both export from the US and import into the UK. This price is not unusual. My brother bought some ties from america. They came to 60 pounds and the tax was 90 on them, he didnt find out until the guy was at the door with them!
You might be right, Claire, but I feel better for venting. And I always thought that tax and duty had a direct correlation to the value of the item. This seems like madness.
I saw on Brit Blog that they do some too, but I just liked the retro styling of the Google one. Shame.
that's out of control.
i ordered a CD from Scotland and it was 8 pounds all in.
maybe have someone stateside get it and send it as a gift?
I was thinking along those lines myself.
You're up early/late! Have a quick look at my leg before you go ;-)
still shapely :)
Holy crap....that shirt better be lined with gold.
I told you ...those raisins are good for you...bad bad boy. Now you need spanked. oops sorry...my mind is a wanderin'.
I'm sending you a T-Shirt with a picture of a raisin on it.
God, I'd so love a really good spanking!
(KOW, thanks, mate!)
Well then...come hither my dear...and I'll spank you kindly.
that is absolute nonsence, I sent a book to Albania recently that had to weigh much more then a t-shirt and the entire cost of S&H was a tad over 9.00 usd. 56 bucks.... are they shipping it, for delivery yesterday. I mean come on. If you really want one, Im sure we can arrange something (but only if you say that the austriand will tie england on the 8th ;))
Well, I have to be honest and say that I think we're going to give them a good pasting. But I'm happy to say whatever makes you happy, EJ ;-)
Christ. Is the damn thing made of GOLD?! Will it wash itself at least? Eeesh!
Hell, I'd get it here and send it to you as a gift. Used to do it all the time when I did e-Bay. You learn *real* quick to mark it as a gift so nobody gets "stuck" with huge charges.
I could probably fit it in a USPS global envelope after I crammed it in a bag and used the shopvac to suck all the air out of it. Yeah, that's the ticket!
Let me know if you're interested, we can work out something... for naked pictures of course ;P
K, that would be brilliant - I could pay you through Paypal or whatever... I can't email you, but if you could drop me a line I'd be really grateful. And I'd send you naked pictures.
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