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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Microtech prices in Europe.
- Thread starter flava
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2000
- Messages
- 631
Look, no offence or anything, but get real. If i could pay $360 for a microtech i'd already have one. Here they cost at least 500-600 and auto's are totally illegal.
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All knives are created equal, then i get my dirty big hands on them and the real fun begins.
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All knives are created equal, then i get my dirty big hands on them and the real fun begins.
- Joined
- May 10, 1999
- Messages
- 2,769
Also consider the size of a market. How many MT or BM knives are sold in Europe and in USA??? These knives are usually individual imports (so they do not get the dealer discount) and importers have to pay VAT (here 22%) and high shipping and insurance.
Last week I visited knife show in Brno and could not believe those prices: almost 300 USD for manual MT mini Socom, 160 for BM Mini Stryker, 200 for BM Stryker, 80 USD for CS Voyager, even 1800 USD for CS Imperial Taipan!!!
I do not remember all the prices but they were really high and I was glad I have an Internet access and can order knives in US.
David
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DIVERTI NESCIO
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My Photopoint pictures
Last week I visited knife show in Brno and could not believe those prices: almost 300 USD for manual MT mini Socom, 160 for BM Mini Stryker, 200 for BM Stryker, 80 USD for CS Voyager, even 1800 USD for CS Imperial Taipan!!!
I do not remember all the prices but they were really high and I was glad I have an Internet access and can order knives in US.
David
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DIVERTI NESCIO
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My Photopoint pictures
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2000
- Messages
- 2,785
Thanks,
BladeMan, I forgot about the taxes. But still I find the difference too big. The taxes should be arround 40% to explain it.
James, now i'm sure I won't emigrate to Australia. The knives are expensive and they put your dog in quarantine for half a year
Flava.
BladeMan, I forgot about the taxes. But still I find the difference too big. The taxes should be arround 40% to explain it.
James, now i'm sure I won't emigrate to Australia. The knives are expensive and they put your dog in quarantine for half a year
Flava.
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2000
- Messages
- 631
Yeah, i know about the dog thing. It's because there's lots of diseases that we don't have over here at all, rabies being a prime example. I also know the knives are expensive, $800 for that project 2 i was looking at. Oh well, at least i can order over the net, although import duties are a whopping 30%, if the item is worth over 100 bucks. Can anyone see me convincing customs that the project 2 is worth less than 200? me neither
- Joined
- May 10, 1999
- Messages
- 2,769
Kevin Wilkins
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 1,483
Sales tax ( VAT in England, Mehrwertsteuer in Germany ) are a lot higher over here than in the USA. Currently the rate is 16% in Germany. However, dealers have a tax ID number and at least within the EU - and I think in general - they don't pay this tax. Only the end buyer pays it. Also all prices posted for consumers MUST include the VAT. In the USA this tax isn't shown on the price in the store, but it's added at the cash register.
Customs in Germany for knives is about 11%.
What I'm trying to say is that the real reason these knives cost so much more over here is that the people selling them are making a f***-load of profit - if you'll pardom my French.
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Totally new website!
http://www.wilkins-knives.com
Customs in Germany for knives is about 11%.
What I'm trying to say is that the real reason these knives cost so much more over here is that the people selling them are making a f***-load of profit - if you'll pardom my French.
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Totally new website!
http://www.wilkins-knives.com
- Joined
- Oct 20, 1998
- Messages
- 301
Here in Sweden the Microtech Mini SOCOM costs $300.
I thought it was way too much, so I ordered one from GPknives for $120. Unfortunately, customs got hold of it, and I had to pay import taxes and VAT. My final price was $162.
$300 minus $162 equals $138... Not a bad profit for a dealer.
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Tea drinker and hellraiser from Northern Sweden, above the arctic circle.
I thought it was way too much, so I ordered one from GPknives for $120. Unfortunately, customs got hold of it, and I had to pay import taxes and VAT. My final price was $162.
$300 minus $162 equals $138... Not a bad profit for a dealer.
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Tea drinker and hellraiser from Northern Sweden, above the arctic circle.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 1999
- Messages
- 692
E_WOK
yes customs do open and inspect packages.. not all but 95%, thats here in austria, dont know about other countries but i guess its not much different. it makes no different if its a gift or not, if no invoice is included they calculate the tax from the insurance amount. but if the value is less then $120 its taxfree, thats why many ship the packages under declared, its a little risk but it saves a lot money.
Ray
yes customs do open and inspect packages.. not all but 95%, thats here in austria, dont know about other countries but i guess its not much different. it makes no different if its a gift or not, if no invoice is included they calculate the tax from the insurance amount. but if the value is less then $120 its taxfree, thats why many ship the packages under declared, its a little risk but it saves a lot money.
Ray
T
Trevor Calder
In Australia it seeme to be mostly luck whether a package gets opened or not. For me it seems to be about 50% get inspected, but I've heard of people who have never had a package opened.
And (for James Healy) it's worth taking the time to get to know the Australian Customs regulations.
Import duty depends on a number of things - not just the value of the package.
The formula isn't easy (of course not) but it is worth knowing so you can work out what to expect.
And never be afraid to challenge what Customs officers say - they are not all experts.
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"..it is foolishness and endless trouble to cast a
stone at every dog that barks at you.."
And (for James Healy) it's worth taking the time to get to know the Australian Customs regulations.
Import duty depends on a number of things - not just the value of the package.
The formula isn't easy (of course not) but it is worth knowing so you can work out what to expect.
And never be afraid to challenge what Customs officers say - they are not all experts.
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"..it is foolishness and endless trouble to cast a
stone at every dog that barks at you.."
HI!
I'll second your opinion about the profit's of euopean-dealers. Although I've made different experiences. Sometimes I bought realy cheap. (not within the last year)That makes me think some dealers are no real businesman. They don't know what to calculate. I mean the longer the knives are sitting on their shelfes the smaller the profit becomes. So I think it would be much more clever to ask reasonable prices and sell them faster.
To James
I would have no problem to tell customs that the price for a project I is $ 100 and take the risk of not insuring the full amount.
My problem is I can not convince my wife of that fact!!!!! lol
Gretings
red
Hey BladeMan Do kanguru's live in your aerea?
(just kidding)
I'll second your opinion about the profit's of euopean-dealers. Although I've made different experiences. Sometimes I bought realy cheap. (not within the last year)That makes me think some dealers are no real businesman. They don't know what to calculate. I mean the longer the knives are sitting on their shelfes the smaller the profit becomes. So I think it would be much more clever to ask reasonable prices and sell them faster.
To James
I would have no problem to tell customs that the price for a project I is $ 100 and take the risk of not insuring the full amount.
My problem is I can not convince my wife of that fact!!!!! lol
Gretings
red
Hey BladeMan Do kanguru's live in your aerea?
(just kidding)
- Joined
- Nov 25, 1999
- Messages
- 1,499
BladeMan, you are lucky chap!
In Poland I may receive tax-free package up to 70 EURO (about 77$) only. On the packages priced from 70 EURO up to 200 EURO I must pay flat-rate tax 7% and no VAT.
Thus it is not the worst way to purchase knives via Internet and to receive them via mail. Our customs (this is my experience only) very rarely open packages received from private persons but they open almost each package received from the company.
Cousin, I'm afraid your calculation is not too accurate. Please take in consideration - you are paying retail price and tax and VAT calculated from this one. Dealers are paying dealer price which is probably somewhat lover than retail and they are paying tax and VAT calculated from this lover price. However generally you are right - the high prices on American-made knives in Europe are mostly caused by low sold quantities. European dealers try to earn on one sold knife the same money which American dealer earns selling 3-5 knives.
On the other hand high prices cause next selling decreasing - we can see some kind of vicious circle.
Trevor, you are right at 100% about custom officer knowledge! Polish customs tried to skin me for tax at least three times but I didn't pay any cent (oh, sorry grosz - Polish cent) so far
BTW, postal costs sending knives individually are lower than I could imagine: for two knives I received via United States Postal Service from Arizona was paid $9 only! It probably was not airmail, I can't to find suitable note on the envelope.
Here are some American knife dealers on BladeForums, it would be interesting to know what they think about knife selling to Europe. Are the prices lower (reducing American VAT) if they are selling their knives to customer outside USA?
James Mattis, do you listen us, Europeans?
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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
In Poland I may receive tax-free package up to 70 EURO (about 77$) only. On the packages priced from 70 EURO up to 200 EURO I must pay flat-rate tax 7% and no VAT.
Thus it is not the worst way to purchase knives via Internet and to receive them via mail. Our customs (this is my experience only) very rarely open packages received from private persons but they open almost each package received from the company.
Cousin, I'm afraid your calculation is not too accurate. Please take in consideration - you are paying retail price and tax and VAT calculated from this one. Dealers are paying dealer price which is probably somewhat lover than retail and they are paying tax and VAT calculated from this lover price. However generally you are right - the high prices on American-made knives in Europe are mostly caused by low sold quantities. European dealers try to earn on one sold knife the same money which American dealer earns selling 3-5 knives.
On the other hand high prices cause next selling decreasing - we can see some kind of vicious circle.
Trevor, you are right at 100% about custom officer knowledge! Polish customs tried to skin me for tax at least three times but I didn't pay any cent (oh, sorry grosz - Polish cent) so far
BTW, postal costs sending knives individually are lower than I could imagine: for two knives I received via United States Postal Service from Arizona was paid $9 only! It probably was not airmail, I can't to find suitable note on the envelope.
Here are some American knife dealers on BladeForums, it would be interesting to know what they think about knife selling to Europe. Are the prices lower (reducing American VAT) if they are selling their knives to customer outside USA?
James Mattis, do you listen us, Europeans?
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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
- Joined
- May 10, 1999
- Messages
- 2,769
The US dealers do not add VAT tax to the price if the item leaves the state. If you buy from the dealer and the shipping address is in the same state - you pay sales tax (which is about 6-7%, isn´t it??). But if the dealer sends the knife to different state (country) there is no sales tax included.
I heard also something about taxing internet sales in US but I lost track about the discussion.
and regarding the shipping. I just got a little fixed blade from US and the shipping was 3.00 USD - Air mail.
BTW: Our tax free limit is 150 USD
which is enough for me.
David
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DIVERTI NESCIO
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My Photopoint pictures
I heard also something about taxing internet sales in US but I lost track about the discussion.
and regarding the shipping. I just got a little fixed blade from US and the shipping was 3.00 USD - Air mail.
BTW: Our tax free limit is 150 USD
David
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DIVERTI NESCIO
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My Photopoint pictures
All Europeans have probably checked toolshops mt prices so I don't mention them. In Finland one small weapon store sells MT's : Manual Vector 2999 FIM=504 and !!!! This should be illegal in Finland as It is not allowed to sell stilets - only own !!! auto mini SOCOM 2132FIM.
David, You lucky D.
Our 'taxfree' limits is : (customs+VAT) < 50 FIM = 8,4. If it is less you don't have to pay. Custom officials are free to use a little own consideration (up to 100FIM I think). I have met one this kind of customs offcial. Tax Free Gift limit is 300 FIM. So I can get a knife as a gift if it's value together with shipping charge are below 50$. This is also subject of consideration as I got once a 'gift' with value set to 100$ without of need to pay ransom to customs to free my gift.
approx. 15% transport and insurance
approx. 11% duty
approx. 20% VAT (from country to country different)
And then there is one more reason!
We tried to order from Microtech more knives. We must called them over 20 times don't received prices for some Microtech knives.
We received within the last 3 years only 3 Microtech knives through a US wholesaler but wanted much more. We spoke with US wholesaler more hours to try to receive Microtech knives and all this cost also money.
Best regards,
Martin
http://www.knifeshop.com
approx. 11% duty
approx. 20% VAT (from country to country different)
And then there is one more reason!
We tried to order from Microtech more knives. We must called them over 20 times don't received prices for some Microtech knives.
We received within the last 3 years only 3 Microtech knives through a US wholesaler but wanted much more. We spoke with US wholesaler more hours to try to receive Microtech knives and all this cost also money.
Best regards,
Martin
http://www.knifeshop.com
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 3,264
Hi there . . . I'm listening!
I'm not suggesting that anybody willfully evade their home countries' import taxes, and people may have their own upper limits on how valuable a knife they want shipped without insurance, but a padded envelope or small package weighing less than a pound (about 0.4 KG), addressed to an address in Europe with correct airmail postage, and dropped into a mailbox, has not, in my small statistical sample, come back to me for a customs form yet.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001
I'm not suggesting that anybody willfully evade their home countries' import taxes, and people may have their own upper limits on how valuable a knife they want shipped without insurance, but a padded envelope or small package weighing less than a pound (about 0.4 KG), addressed to an address in Europe with correct airmail postage, and dropped into a mailbox, has not, in my small statistical sample, come back to me for a customs form yet.
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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
AKTI Member # SA00001