Importing kilts to European Union

**Azevedo** · 22nd August 07, 10:20 AM

I just got the nottification from the dutch postal service that I can go to the post office nearby and bring my SWK home.

I buy a standard and a thyrfing kilts, a sporran and a pin. Total 122 US Dolars. Good deal I though. But I had to pay 48 for the shippment. Still not bad, in the end it should be less then 130 Euros.

But the postal office note includes a charge of 52,52 Euros!!! 40% of the total amount on taxes... Total 180 euros, or 243 US dollars for a pair of kilts.

I think I will have to concentrate my nexts kilt shopping in the European Union. The alternatives I already know is Union Kilts and kiltstore.net. A hard lesson learned...

**cessna152towser** · 22nd August 07, 10:40 AM

Yes I know the feeling. Now that we are part of Europe here in Scotland I had to pay import duty on my Freedom kilt, which was made for me in Canada, previously a commonwealth country from which I could have imported free of tax. The tax, plus the post office fee for collecting the tax, plus the VAT on the post office fee came to over £50 (about 75 euros).

**cavscout** · 22nd August 07, 10:46 AM

We on the other shore feel your pain

Those taxes are a big road block for me purchasing from over seas. Robin and Rab have really the only items I would be willing to pay the taxes for as they are so unique and only available from these gents. When I finally purchase the tank, it will most likely come from an American Kilt maker (unless continental drift comes into play

)

**McClef** · 22nd August 07, 12:13 PM

Taxes on clothing should be declared illegal and against the Universal Declaration on Human Rights!

**Ruanaidh** · 22nd August 07, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by McClef

Taxes on clothing should be declared illegal and against the Universal Declaration on Human Rights!

Especially items of an ethnic, cultural or religious nature.

**ChromeScholar** · 22nd August 07, 03:32 PM

I'll be honest, all the extra added fees and taxes will probably stop me from ever buying a kilt from Scotland. Especially as we have some excellent kilt makers here in the states.

**davedove** · 23rd August 07, 06:40 AM

Originally Posted by ChromeScholar

I'll be honest, all the extra added fees and taxes will probably stop me from ever buying a kilt from Scotland. Especially as we have some excellent kilt makers here in the states.

Which is, of course, the primary reason for taxing foreign goods (other than just making money for the government). It's to encourage you to buy domestically made goods.

Kind of shoots the "Free Trade" argument though.

**Freedomlover** · 22nd August 07, 03:55 PM

Sadly, I must agree.

**keith_b** · 22nd August 07, 04:00 PM

I've been there! I ordered a Thrifty-Kilt myself. Living in Canada, I ended up paying around 20 to 25 dollars for shipping and 20 to 25 for duty. My Thrifty-Kilt didn't end up being so thrifty after all.

**Captain** · 22nd August 07, 04:02 PM

No joke. Since when did it become acceptable to charge 40%-100% of an item's value in taxes? I mean this kind of taxation will stifle trade and skyrocket prices... I think a bunch of people ought to go to some harbor and dump a bunch of incoming imports into the sea as a way of protesting...