Quote Originally Posted by mkmound
Hopefully, you haven't put the box in the post yet . . . if not, before you send it, check the UK Customs web site and send some emails to make sure you have met all the requirements to get the shoes clearly marked as an exchange.
Mark
It is interesting that you should mention this because I put forward a lot of effort trying to find out what exact procedure I had to follow in order to avoid problems down the road. I mentioned the return to the purveyor in an email- with absolutely no feedback, as expected. The UK Customs web site said it can take upwards of 10 days to get a response to my email, and I wasn't in the mood to chat long distance with either party so I filled out the U.S. Custom's slip and marked everything, box included, as "Goods of UK origin for exchange". Deciding to toss caution to the wind, I sent the parcel out yesterday.

As for my letter of protest to U.S. Customs, it is ready to go out in today's mail. I was hoping to hear back from U.S. Customs first, but feel I have enough info to send the protest on its way. The thing that gets me about the duty I was charged is the seemingly arbitrary VAT rate of 17.5% that was applied to the declared value. Wool goods are taxed at 12%, everything else in the box taxed at less. Why 17.5% was chosen is beyond me.

I am lucky that U.S. Customs did not open my package because, entirely unknown to me, the dress sporran states on its back that is was manufactured from seal. That is a big import no-no here in the States, and something that I am not exactly comfortable with myself. That said, it is absolutely gorgeous with its copper cantel and tassels...

Really, this whole idea of involving governments in kilts and such is really such a bother!! It makes it much easier to stick domestically, I suppose, and not such a bad idea for most things, really. I chose to buy my traditional kilt outfits from the U.K. based around the fact that I liked the jackets that were available. Everyone has the same old stuff, for the most part. However,I really liked the tweed jackets KA has. Not so regimental with those pesky epaulettes and gauntlet cuffs. The other purveyor offered a particular "Wallace" charcoal tweed jacket that I really liked for looks and ability to be useful in all but the most formal of events. Those coatees are a mite busy for me, the barathea argyll jackets too wedding-like.

My, this post is rambling on.

Mychael