Importing a review sample from the EU?

[RTUK]

I am in contact with a company that wants to send me a review sample of their product but they are in Hungary, which is where it is also manufactured and I am in the UK. All products I have reviewed so far have come from within the UK so this is the first time I have been asked about reviewing a product from the EU.

I have no idea how this all works. How do they send it to me and what costs would I incur at this end? Any advice most welcome.

 

[AlanJ1]

I am in contact with a company that wants to send me a review sample of their product but they are in Hungary, which is where it is also manufactured and I am in the UK. All products I have reviewed so far have come from within the UK so this is the first time I have been asked about reviewing a product from the EU.

I have no idea how this all works. How do they send it to me and what costs would I incur at this end? Any advice most welcome.

What is the product and the value?

 

[RTUK]

Magnetic pickups for a guitar and the value is €442.00

 

[AlanJ1]

Magnetic pickups for a guitar and the value is €442.00

You will have VAT to pay on arrival to the delivery company as well as maybe some other small charges (handling fees etc)

 

[RTUK]

Ok, thanks. I will bat it back to them then. I am not paying to review their product. I am sure they can find someone in the EU to do it.

 

[AlanJ1]

Ok, thanks. I will bat it back to them then. I am not paying to review their product. I am sure they can find someone in the EU to do it.

Are you not keeping the product for free?

 

[RTUK]

No, they wanted to sell it to me at a discount but that is not how I work. It then turns into a paid product promotion rather than a review. Better to just let them find someone else to "review" it. I will stick to products that come via UK distributors.

 

[AlanJ1]

No, they wanted to sell it to me at a discount but that is not how I work. It then turns into a paid product promotion rather than a review. Better to just let them find someone else to "review" it. I will stick to products that come via UK distributors.

If you think you can sell it, tell them you will pay the import costs and you will keep the product for free. Might be worth it for you.

 

[RTUK]

It's a bit of a niche product, unfortunately. Also quite expensive for what it is. Really though they should be looking at it as a cost vs benefits thing. The product is purely for one guitar and a single brand, which my site is heavily focused on. We get over a million visitors a year, not huge by some standards but big enough when launching a new product. I will leave it with them. If they don't think it is worth the cost and effort involved then there is no need for me to be involved in reviewing it.

 

[DontAsk]

Ask them to ship it with all taxes and duties paid, and to pay for the return.

 

[RTUK]

I don't think they can. I think I need to pay the VAT and duties at this end?

 

[DontAsk]

You can send DDP FROM the UK. I have no reason to believe you cannot do it TO the UK. Unless Hungary just do not support it.

 

[RTUK]

Apparently, they are looking into how to do it so, I assume that the "cost vs benefits" thing is taking effect?