Pressure Canner

[Ananke]

Bazzaboy, thank you so much for keeping me in the loop on this. I've just contacted the seller so i'll wait the three business days and if I don't hear from them i'll contact Amazon.

I've asked the seller to reimburse the £29.03.......... hope to hell they don't tell me to send the canner back, my draining board is jam packed with massive amounts of chicken, lamb, beef and pork all defrosting for a canning session of stews, soups etc tomorrow morning.

[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?!!!

Bazzaboy, thank you so much for keeping me in the loop on this. I've just contacted the seller so i'll wait the three business days and if I don't hear from them i'll contact Amazon.

I've asked the seller to reimburse the £29.03..........

47 days later.....

What they actually do, Ancee, is pester you with increasing threats of additional recovery costs and debt collection tactics.... (i.e. put in the hands of the heavy squad etc...). On the grounds that FedEx weren't to know it was a bit of a dodgy deal and carried out their role very efficiently (extraordinarily so, from mid States to north Notts in a few days) I have now paid their £29.03 and like Ananke will ask the seller to reimburse (though hardly likely, so far haven't even got them to reply...!) Will also give Amazon another nudge that some of their arrangements (which they suddenly seem keen to distance themselves from....) might be a bit dodgy. Perversely - for the actual item that hasn't been available in the UK for years (ever?) the cost, even with the additional FedEx charge, isn't particularly excessive - the pity of it is all the admin complications and the fact it now looks as if the item is once again unobtainable, duh!

[Ananke]

I contacted Amazon just after New Year and they wrote to the seller on my behalf, still no response from them. I'm glad you bumped this thread, I got a reminder from FedEx and stuck it into my bag and forgot all about it, I have to pay that tomorrow.

[bazzaboy]

I contacted Amazon just after New Year and they wrote to the seller on my behalf, still no response from them. I'm glad you bumped this thread, I got a reminder from FedEx and stuck it into my bag and forgot all about it, I have to pay that tomorrow.

Yes it's not FedEx's fault (tho I can't say I particularly like their threats...). I'll send you (and anyone else interested) a copy via PM of my complaint to Amazon because (surprise surprise) their recommended action actually countermands their own rules..... - effectively says "You should claim your money back but under our rules you can't claim your money back....".
Fun 'n games....

[ancee]

OOh sending in the heavy squad - how unsporting of them, not cricket at all Wonder if you can no longer get it because of you two - and your problems! lol

[Ananke]

They didn't respond to my email and just as I thought, haven't responded to Amazon's email on my behalf (asking them to contact me to sort it out)

I've contacted Amazon again tonight and asked for them to advise me what to do next...... chapter 2 next week

[bazzaboy]

I've contacted Amazon again tonight and asked for them to advise me what to do next...... chapter 2 next week

I have two addresses for Amazon so sent a complaint to both. I received two responses by return, one thanking me for taking the time to contact Amazon and that my views were highly valued but because they receive so many emails Amazon no longer responds to individuals....

The second was even stranger and started "Our Customer Service department didn't receive the e-mail message below...." Eh? How come they respond then? Answer, a robot received it and decided it should not be read by a human.... Then, after a lot of palaver where said robot pretends to be helpful, there's another contact address so have sent copy of same complaint there. The complaint is that the advice I was previously given by Amazon was inappropriate.

Their response to this complaint has been to reissue the same inappropriate advice again...... So I have sent another complaint that they have now compounded their error and await developments with interest......!

[SarzWix]

Having just read this whole thing, I'd say you probably are liable for the VAT charge. I knew when I got mine that it might have to be paid, but that being sent through the regular mail meant that there was a chance it would get through without the charge as ordinary mail is randomly selected to be checked for duty liability. I was just lucky and mine got through. Fed-Ex automatically deal with customs on everything it imports according to their website, rather than it being a random selection.

From Amazon:
If the country your order is being delivered to isn't covered by the Amazon Global programme then any additional charges for customs clearance must be borne by you; we have no control over these charges and cannot predict what they may be.

Customs policies vary widely from country to country, so you should contact your local customs office for further information. Additionally, please note that when ordering from Amazon.co.uk, you are considered the importer of record and must comply with all laws and regulations of the country in which you are receiving the goods.

Similarly, if new Region 1 DVDs are sold from the USA or Canada, you may be subject to import duties and taxes which are levied once the package reaches your country. Click here for more information on VAT and import duty chargeable on Region 1 DVDs. Again, please note that when ordering new Region 1 DVDs from Marketplace sellers, you are considered the importer of record and must comply with all laws and regulations of the country in which you are receiving the goods.

[bazzaboy]

I'd say you probably are liable for the VAT charge.

From Amazon:
If the country your order is being delivered to isn't covered by the Amazon Global programme then...

Yes probably right SW, Amazon are now "reviewing" the circumstances, a process which evidently takes a fortnight...

But it would seem a little odd if "Amazon Global Programme" doesn't apply in the USA as it's originally an American company.... I've no partic objection to paying VAT (might object to what governments do with it but that's another matter) but think an ad should say (as many do) "plus VAT" if that's the deal.... This ad (which has subsequently disappeared) specifically said "UK Supply" so appeared as a conventional UK purchase.

So (to be topical) another matter of labelling..... Wouldn't it be uncomfortable if companies could have a clause somewhere that the shelf price is not necessarily the price at the till.... mayhem in Tescos! And it's a little disingenuous for Amazon to say in this instance that they "cannot predict" when standard UK VAT is set at 20% nationwide.... But will see what they say.

Meantime have received a strangely worded email from FedEx that "Payment has been applied." Sounds like thumbscrews....

[bazzaboy]

Amazon are now "reviewing" the circumstances, a process which evidently takes a fortnight...

Amazon have now confirmed they are to reimburse the full cost of the original Amazon order (for both Ananke and myself, we both complained separately). We're not currently clear what's happening about the FedEx VAT and admin charges... It now appears you get the item free but pay the VAT... but if the item's free there shouldn't be any VAT, m'lud tee-hee... I think we might rest content with getting the item for £29 rather than £152 and call it a day. (And A to get another birthday prezzie!) A thread with a Happy Ending. Back to growing vegetables....

[veggiechicken]

Well done Both of you! All credit to you for persevering - you deserve to have it at reduced cost.

[Ananke]

To be honest I feel like i've cheated them. I was happy to pay for the canner and a bit miffed that I got a seperate bill from FedEx

I will spend the refund on loads and loads of jars and can lots and lots of stuff lol

[ancee]

RESULT!!!! Hurray! Don't feel bad Ananke, take it as a compensationary gesture from a company who messed you about, confused you, baffled you, didn't listen properly or explain stuff thoroughly! Don't let them take the shine off it!

[veggiechicken]

...and anyway - they can afford it

[SarzWix]

Might make up for a bit of the tax they haven't paid...