Pressure Canner

[bazzaboy]

I'm too scared of it to hurry it along lol.

Lol, I know exactly what you mean Ananke, because so few folk do it in UK it seems exceedingly dangerous (I can still recall a physics teacher - at school so
a while ago now... - telling us never to remove the weight prematurely because whatever's in the saucepan will end up on the ceiling).

But many thanks for the wise warning SarzWix.

Haven't used the new pressure gadget yet but in celebration of its arrival opened a kilner jar of pears "canned" September 2011 (using the hot-water method, no pressure involved). Even as I tentatively ate them I thought I'd probably be dead by botulism by the next morning but would die in the cause of DIY fruit and veg.... But still seem to be here so may have worried unduly (and the pears were good, partic as fresh pears only keep a few days...).

[bazzaboy]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news Bazza, I got a bill from FedEx this morning £29.odd for Taxes/Duty. I'm a wee bit miffed at it as I think it should be mentioned somewhere on Amazon during the purchase process.

Noooooooooooooooooooo! That's disgraceful! So are FedEx (an American postal company) claiming they had to pay that to UK Customs and Excise in order to get it into UK and are now seeking re-imbursement? I haven't received anything similar to date which is not to say I won't, will let you know. Certainly an issue to take up with Amazon, and happy to join you in a letter to their Customer Services...

re

Oh, and I pestered Lakeland loads to stock these a few years ago, but got no response whatsoever

I did at least get a response from Lakeland, SW, two from memory, one saying they were investigating it, a subsequent one saying they wouldn't have arrangements in place for 2012 (but hinting still possible at some future date). If I can locate them I'll PM you a copy. At least Lakeland would sort out this Fed-Ex nonsense that Ananke has highlighted...

[veggiechicken]

I'm an ignoramus on this - but what's the difference between your canner and a pressure cooker?
I admit that I haven't done any research to find out the answer - just thought I'd ask you experts

[bazzaboy]

I'm an ignoramus on this - but what's the difference between your canner and a pressure cooker?
I admit that I haven't done any research to find out the answer - just thought I'd ask you experts

Not an expert VC but pressure canning is a different process to pressure cooking and the obvious differences in the equipment are that the canner has a significantly larger capacity/volume than a standard pressure cooker to allow circulation of steam around several jars at once, and secondly canner has a pressure gauge to allow different produce to be canned at different pressures (temperatures) that reflect the acidity level of the contents. So while you could play hit and miss with small quantities in a pressure cooker the canner is going to be easier, safer, more efficient and more economic.

[bazzaboy]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news Bazza, I got a bill from FedEx this morning £29.odd for Taxes/Duty. I'm a wee bit miffed at it as I think it should be mentioned somewhere on Amazon during the purchase process.

Noooooooooooooooooooo! That's disgraceful! So are FedEx (an American postal company) claiming they had to pay that to UK Customs and Excise in order to get it into UK and are now seeking re-imbursement? I haven't received anything similar to date which is not to say I won't, will let you know. Certainly an issue to take up with Amazon, and happy to join you in a letter to their Customer Services...

hi A, My "Commercial Invoice" arrived yesterday..... 4 pages of admin gloop with lots of meaningless reference numbers out of which comes the clear statement "TOTAL AMOUNT DUE GBP 29.03". It appears to be a UK VAT charge of 20% on what is variously called "Customs Value", "Statistical Value" and "Licence Value" of 148.54 USD (dollars) plus something that is called a "Clearance Administration Charge" of £10.50.....

Quite where these figures come from I haven't time to work out this morning, will try to crack the code later....

[bazzaboy]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news Bazza, I got a bill from FedEx this morning £29.odd for Taxes/Duty. I'm a wee bit miffed at it as I think it should be mentioned somewhere on Amazon during the purchase process.

Noooooooooooooooooooo! That's disgraceful! So are FedEx (an American postal company) claiming they had to pay that to UK Customs and Excise in order to get it into UK and are now seeking re-imbursement? I haven't received anything similar to date which is not to say I won't, will let you know. Certainly an issue to take up with Amazon, and happy to join you in a letter to their Customer Services...

hi A, My "Commercial Invoice" arrived yesterday..... 4 pages of admin gloop with lots of meaningless reference numbers out of which comes the clear statement "TOTAL AMOUNT DUE GBP 29.03". It appears to be a UK VAT charge of 20% on what is variously called "Customs Value", "Statistical Value" and "Licence Value" of 148.54 USD (dollars) plus something that is called a "Clearance Administration Charge" of £10.50.....

Quite where these figures come from I haven't time to work out this morning, will try to crack the code later....

It's a busy life, isn't it, wouldn't want it any other way.... so, as 2 a.m. approaches on a Sunday morning I have tried to get to grips with this particular runaround.... Have you complained to Amazon, A, about not being forewarned etc? I contacted Amazon UK and they said I would need to contact the USA suppliers in the first instance but that they would take a copy of points raised for further consideration. So I have sent the note pasted below (in all its grim detail...). I've no complaint about paying VAT (but suspect we're in effect paying it twice...) and even with this extra bill hopefully the gadget is worthwhile, but I do agree with you that Amazon (UK and supplier USA) need to be straight about what's involved and in this instance clearly were not.... Strange that this item is suddenly "no longer available"....
Here's the email I sent, it may put you to sleep. As it's approaching 2 a.m. I'm rather hoping it will me! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

- - -
Email to Amazon and suppliers (precise item details, order numbers etc are automatically listed in the heading of the form):

Very pleased with this item which had previously proved difficult/impossible to obtain, very impressed with order sequence and date of delivery. For some reason it is suddenly unavailable, see Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker - UK Supply: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home
why is that?

Maybe because a dodgy deal, the cause of my concern, as follows. The price on the UK site was quoted as £148.54 plus carriage £3.99, total £152.53 which I paid, but subsequent documentation lists the price as 148.54 United States Dollars and the price as £92.66 pre UK VAT. With UK VAT at 20% that would then total £111.19

I have now received an additional VAT invoice for VAT 20% of £92.66 ( being £18.53 which still doesn't total the amount actually paid) on top of which there is another invoice for £10.50 for what is called (and remains unexplained) "Advancement Fee" (which still doesn't total the amount actually paid!)

So my complaints are three-fold: firstly, having paid the asking price without question I now feel I am being doubly charged; secondly an un-notified and unexplained "Advancement Fee" has appeared out of thin air; thirdly at the point of sale on the UK site none of this additional admin and costs was mentioned or even hinted at, on the contrary it was advertised and I received documentation that this was, quote, "Pressure Canner and Cooker - UK Supply".

If it's "UK Supply" it would include VAT as standard or VAT would be quoted separately as part of a total cost: in this instance only a Total Cost was cited which I paid.

- -

zzzzzzz. Nite! Will post any response received. x

[Ananke]

Bazza, I've been so busy I haven't even paid the bill never mind complained about it. I'll definately try to get on it this week.

I wonder why it has disappeared from amazon, strange.

Look forward to seeing what they have to say.

[ancee]

Have avidly read all of your posts back and forth to each other and can't help but wonder what'd happen if you just didn't pay? What exactly could they/would they do?!!!

[bazzaboy]

Have avidly read all of your posts back and forth to each other and can't help but wonder what'd happen if you just didn't pay? What exactly could they/would they do?!!!

LOL, I have wondered the same thing, Ancee, because it seems mighty strange to carry out a service without any notification of cost (or a service you think you've already paid) and then send a bill.....

Imagine you arrive home from the supermarket having done the weekly shop and three weeks later a bill arrives for Administration £10.50, Charge to supplying Carrier Bag, £15.35, Car-park Fee, £12.50, Light and Heating supplied whilst in supermarket £18.25, Wear and Tear on floor and Trolley Hire £16.75. "Please send a cheque for £73.35 + VAT @ 20% = £14.67 Total £88.02"
Well that was an expensive tin of beans wasn't it....

Alternatively non-payment might lead to us being accused of avoiding VAT and we'll end up in jail (the pressure canner by any other name).

No response from Amazon or U.S. suppliers as yet.... watch this space! Dum di dum-dum daaaaaah!

[ancee]

It's exciting stuff this! I do think they're being a bit cheeky asking you for cash for services already rendered - and paid for! I once bought a gargoyle online from America, it came to the door in the hands of a postie who wouldn't release his grip on it until i'd paid him the customs fee in his hand!! :O I now think i was probably diddled at the door but I wanted that gargoyle!

[bazzaboy]

I once bought a gargoyle online from America, it came to the door in the hands of a postie who wouldn't release his grip on it until i'd paid him the customs fee in his hand!!

Never heard of that one before, A, I'll ask our local postie if she sometimes has to collect VAT.... Key question in your example is had anyone warned you in advance about the need to pay the extra VAT on delivery or was it a surprise?

[ancee]

Nope it was a surprise and usually, I like surprises!

[bazzaboy]

Nope it was a surprise and usually, I like surprises!

And was that order placed through Amazon, Ancee?

I suspect we'll end up having to pay the VAT and I've no particular objection to that, just think like Ananke it should have been clearly stated as part of the original particulars of sale, especially as it stated "UK Supply".....

No further response from suppliers or Amazon as yet though Amazon have sent me a "date stamped" copy of my own letter with various assurances about it being delivered to suppliers etc. It was sent last Sunday so I'll wait a week and if no response received ask Amazon for advice.....

[bazzaboy]

No further response from suppliers or Amazon as yet though Amazon have sent me a "date stamped" copy of my own letter with various assurances about it being delivered to suppliers etc. It was sent last Sunday so I'll wait a week and if no response received ask Amazon for advice.....

No response so far, a week has passed so have written to Amazon to see of they have a policy or can throw any light on this....:

"hi Amazon, Thanks for passing this note on, details below. A week has now passed but I have received no reply or response so am wondering if you feel able to advise on this situation? Many thanks. b."

[bazzaboy]

No response so far, a week has passed so have written to Amazon to see of they have a policy or can throw any light on this....:

"hi Amazon, Thanks for passing this note on, details below. A week has now passed but I have received no reply or response so am wondering if you feel able to advise on this situation? Many thanks. b."

Amazon have replied almost by return and this is now turning into A SAGA!! See below....

Amazon advise: "I understand that you've contacted the seller and the seller has not responded to your e-mail. I can confirm that, you've taken the best action by contacting the seller in this regards. As 3 full business days have passed since you tried to contact the Seller, and you didn't get any response from the Seller, you can file a claim online for full reimbursement of the charge applied on your payment card."

There then follows a step-by-step account of how to do that (will forward a copy to Ananke)....

This should improve Anglo-American relationships....

So do we claim for the VAT and Admin Charge or for the canner and then pay the VAT from the proceeds? Somehow I can't see any of this happening but as Amazon say, bless 'em, "We don't like to see our customers upset and inconvenienced. We always strive to create a positive customer experience."

So what is the Wisdom of Grapes on this Christmas Saga....?

Fee Fi Fo Fum.... It's Panto Time!