Importing and SARS issues?

[BartS]

Hi guys, I have not imported any devices yet, and bought everything locally so far. I did order a Screwdriver Prodigy from TW UK last week, with some juice. I read in quite a few threads that you guys had some issues with SARS. What was the issue’s, and how long was the delays? Did anybody else order from TW UK yet, and how long did it take? I have a M402 and a DSE601, and I am really excited about the Screwdriver. I can not wait.

 

[Aucorium]

They have opened and inspected almost all of my packages as they came through. They should only charge you VAT on the e-cig hardware as they have been classing them as toys with me.

The juices also they should only charge you VAT, however a lot depends on the clearence officers. I've had one trying to charge me Tobacco duty on my juice but I just explained to him that they were tobacco flavoured. However technically there is a tobacco base there somewhere.

They dont quite know what to do with the juice yet I dont think because its not a cigarette so you could probably use that to your advantage. One things for certain, they know of ecigs to a greater / lesser extent.

 

[BartS]

Did they contact you, or did you have to follow up on the package?

 

[Vaporista]

Oh God I should have warned you. For some reason the customs are ripping into anything from the UK and charging excessive duties. But I'm sure they will not make heads or tails of the screwdriver as there are so few of them here. Tell them it's a priest tool for whacking Snoek.

 

[Vaporista]

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The juices also they should only charge you VAT, however a lot depends on the clearence officers. I've had one trying to charge me Tobacco duty on my juice but I just explained to him that they were tobacco flavoured. However technically there is a tobacco base there somewhere.

They dont quite know what to do with the juice yet I dont think because its not a cigarette so you could probably use that to your advantage. One things for certain, they know of ecigs to a greater / lesser extent.

Actually FIGHT them on this. Whatever you do NEVER let them make a tobacco charge/duty stick. Heres why: As you said it's tobacco flavoured, and other juices are not-eg cola, red bull. It's a mixed nicotine liquid. How are they going to determine the tariffs on what are widely differing nic concentrations (0-60) of flavoured PG/VG? Do not let them start now under any circumstances. Let that get to Parliment first. Don't let SARs set the precedents on what is NOT pure tobacco or even tobacco extracts. EVER!
No there is NO tobacco base. Dont let customs make that call. It's not their call to make.

 

[Aucorium]

Did they contact you, or did you have to follow up on the package?

Welcome to the world of importation, sit and wait for the slip to come to your door.

At first I would get a slip from my local postie but after a while they got wise and I now have to travel to the main depot in Epping.

 

[Aucorium]

Actually FIGHT them on this. Whatever you do NEVER let them make a tobacco charge/duty stick. Heres why: As you said it's tobacco flavoured, and other juices are not-eg cola, red bull. It's a mixed nicotine liquid. How are they going to determine the tariffs on what are widely differing nic concentrations (0-60) of flavoured PG/VG? Do not let them start now under any circumstances. Let that get to Parliment first. Don't let SARs set the precedents on what is NOT pure tobacco or even tobacco extracts. EVER!
No there is NO tobacco base. Dont let customs make that call. It's not their call to make.

Yup as soon as it starts to get to a point that 2 brain cells have to get to work to work out how much to charge they give up. It is good advice to fight them on it.

I think the most important thing to remember is to be in the right frame of mind when collecting your stuff and not be intimidated. You are purchasing a product that is perfectly legal to use in SA and there is no reason to stop or charge excesively for the components or juices.

One rule I always kept to when purchasing from overseas is, never order more than R500 worth per order to mitigate loss if the package goes missing and never purchase hardware and juice in the same package. Do a hardware order and then a seperate juice order.

 

[BartS]

Thanks for the advice guys. I had some business tax dealings with SARS in the past, and I kind of understand what you guys are saying. I will defiantly try Vaporista’s advice on the priest tool for whacking Snoek. Maybe that will get me around it.

I will fight them on the Tabco thing. I think I will take my wife with. Boy can she put up a fight if needed. Are there any other places where it is better to Import from than the UK? The only reason I chose TW UK, because I travel there from time to time, and thought, if I like their stuff, I could do the next day order thing with them, next time I go there.

 

[stephenrowley]

Customs can be a pain, they seized our stock in July last year, it turns out that any product that plugs into the wall needs to have NRCS IEC 60950 safety compliance certificate, which cost about R15000 to get per different model plus a levy charged per unit that you import paid to the NRCS every two months, but at least we have it, so touch wood we want be having any problems in the future, regarding the juice we only have ever had to pay VAT, after explaining what the product is they normal do not have an issue, just as long as it is known that it is only a tobacco flavour and used for electronic cigarettes.

 

[Aucorium]

Well, my juice order just popped through my letter box today, now that is a first!

I recently ordered some LorAnn flavourings from TW UK but the postage is hellishly expensive (excuse the pun), thats why I would recommend buying from China if you can.

I'm totally set on the 510, well a stick with a 510 convertor and I purchased 10x attys on a special from TW when I went over and had them sent to my mums house. I think just make sure you get standard parts which are available locally and overseas.

 

[BartS]

stephenrowley from where did you import when you had the issues with the plugs? I hope I do not have to pay R15000 for a Screwdriver. This might be a bit expensive.

Aucorium, very cool news on the juice. The shipping is definitely very expensive. I think next time I am going over; I am not going to take any clothes, stay in the same clothes for days. Go with an empty suitcase and bring much as much stuff as I can.

Maybe I am lucky with my order. Will let you know as soon as I hear anything, whenever I hear anything. I am like a kid awaiting school holidays.

 

[BartS]

Aucorium, I see that the Screwdiver has a DSE901 atty. I have no idea if that is available in SA. With the rebranding here I think things are so much more complicated. What is the 510 atty sold here as? Do you have the version 2 or version 3 stick?

 

[Aucorium]

Aucorium,I see that the Screwdiver has a DSE901 atty. I have no idea if that is available in SA. With the rebranding here I think things are so much more complicated. What is the 510 atty sold here as? Do you have the version 2 or version 3 stick?

You are probably going to struggle to get the 901 atty here without ordering from overseas. I know of no supplier in CT but there might be in JHB. Still thats nothing new, if you want the decent kit at decent prices you aint gonna find it here.

OK as for the 510 it is something as a legend for esmoking, and its the only atty I use now. Its basically used on the following devices:

The standard 510 and batteries:
JOYE 510 (the starting point and the original manufacturer from China)
JANTY DURA C ( UK / US Based Supplier )
TWISP DURA C ( Our infamous Cape Town based supplier)
TW TECC E-NI ( UK / US Based Supplier, not sure of the model name but they sell them)

The attys are used on several mods, bigger batteries are available now for standard models but those batteries become expensive with the buttons and electronics manufactured into them. The new Janty eGo uses the 510 atty, its just a different design with a bigger battery on it.

The JOYE / Janty / Twisp stick is considered a mod, there is NO DIFFERENCE whatsoever between the v2 and v3 other than the design of the body. Batteries, Attys, Cables will all fit in either (a really nice selling point).

 

[stephenrowley]

"stephenrowley from where did you import when you had the issues with the plugs? I hope I do not have to pay R15000 for a Screwdriver. This might be a bit expensive."

You need not worry, I would not think this would apply if you just importing for your own personal reasons, it would only apply if your are importing for commercial reasons

 

[Splat]

The JOYE / Janty / Twisp stick is considered a mod, there is NO DIFFERENCE whatsoever between the v2 and v3 other than the design of the body. Batteries, Attys, Cables will all fit in either (a really nice selling point).

The main difference between the V2 and V3 sticks is the design of the button. The V3 has a more resilient mechanism which "should" last longer than that on the V2.

There is also an issue with some "classic" style (i.e. 801-type) attys working on the V3. The battery connector is shorter and some attys don't make contact without some additional mod (such as the staple mod). I have both V2 and V3 and far prefer the finish on the V3 but my TW attys need to be modified before they work on it.

 

[Splat]

There are a couple of issues that come into play as far as customs are concerned:

1. What is the stated value of the package? I have received orders from the UK and China over the past 6 months - the UK supplier always puts the full value of the goods on the waybill and I then have to pay VAT plus R25 clearance fee. The Chinese suppliers all show a much lower value (usually $5-$10) and state the item is a gift. I have ever only had to pay the R25 clearance charge on those, and sometimes even nothing.

2. How many items (of the same type) are you ordering? This will deterine whether customs deem the package to be for personal use or not.

3. Is it coming from China or elsewhere? Currently, with the Soccer World Cup, customs is opening any parcel from China that may be large enough to contain countereit world cup memorabilia. This is on the request of FIFA since they do not want the market flooded with cheaper goods than they sell.
I received an order from HG last week which had been opened by customs. The wrapping had been torn open and the goods checked but I still had to only pay the R25 clearance charge (no VAT, etc)

Basically, when you order from the UK, you should ask the supplier to deduct VAT from the price at source since you will be required to pay it here. UK VAT is 17.5% so you can save something, including having to pay double the taxes. The UK supplier can deduct the VAT if he send the goods outside the country, so there is no reason that he shouldn't pass that saving on to the buyer.

 

[stephenrowley]

We have had many Chinese supply under state the value of the contents when sending us samples, they seem to think they doing you a favour, however we can not except goods when the PI and CI invoice values are not the same and it ends up costing us R400 to have the invoiced resubmitted to SARS so that we can pay them the correct amount of VAT, the reason is if you get caught accepting goods like this SARS can and will remove your importers licence and stop you from ever improrting another product into SA.

However I do not see this happening if you are importing for personal use and I can not see how they could stop you.

 

[BartS]

Thanks a lot Guys. I got such a wealth of knowledge from this. It has been seven working days now, and no word on my device yet. I wonder if SARS knows how important this device is to me. If they knew, they would definitely stop everything and get my package to me.

 

[BartS]

I saw on bid or buy, there is a Guy selling atty’s for 901’s. http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/18840522/_Atomisers_electronic_cigarettes_eCig_atomizer.html. Not to expensive. Has anybody ordered anything from Bid or buy yet (e.g. E-Juice), and what was your experience? I bought my DSE601 from a guy in Natal there. He did not have any accessories, but the service was good, the device delivered within 5 working days, and everything was cool. I do not see him listing any more devices, though.

 

[Splat]

I saw on bid or buy, there is a Guy selling atty’s for 901’s. http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/18840522/_Atomisers_electronic_cigarettes_eCig_atomizer.html. Not to expensive. Has anybody ordered anything from Bid or buy yet (e.g. E-Juice), and what was your experience? I bought my DSE601 from a guy in Natal there. He did not have any accessories, but the service was good, the device delivered within 5 working days, and everything was cool. I do not see him listing any more devices, though.

I know that "The Dealer" on this forum used to sell 901's. I'll PM you her details and hopefully you can get sorted. I started on the 901 and sometimes still use it with an 801 adaptor on my Screwdriver or my Stick.