[meteorite-list] Another warning re sales to Italy

From: Raremeteorites <raremeteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2016 09:03:02 -0700
Message-ID: <A2FCF9B37DA6472FBE85490229C0BA46_at_HPDESKTOP>

When you add in FICA, Self-employment tax, Medicaid, Inventory, ObamaCare,
Sales and other taxes, they are the highest in the world.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Farmer" <mike at meteoriteguy.com>
To: "Raremeteorites" <raremeteorites at centurylink.net>; "Meteorite Mailing
List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2016 8:41 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Another warning re sales to Italy


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 12:03:02 PM PDT