Vanness also ships worldwide if you're willing to wait....their samples are larger (4 ml)
Vanness also ships worldwide if you're willing to wait....their samples are larger (4 ml)
Does Goulet Pens still ship ink samples worldwide too? Back in the day I used to receive them monthly in a bubble mailer.
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
Side note:
At least here in Austria the post offices do not take packages and letters for many international countries anymore.
The big private parcel services still do ship (at a premium price of course ).
Personal Note:
At least I think that we should reconsider our attitude regarding globalization after the crisis.
Transportation is way too cheap (for industrial goods) we should focus more to produce at least the essential things on the same continent.
I hope that the „Scrooge is horny“ mentality will be a obsolescent model in the future (which only led to miserable shifts of production to Far East).
I do agree, but I wonder if we have the ability to learn or change...... I personally can live with Noodler's inks only.... but I'm not sure many can do here in North America....Grass is always greener
I tired a quick research... I came upon site of what the dickens nature, not related to Scrooge, inks or fountain pen...
I can imagine!
Got it! Die 'Geiz ist geil' Mentalität or the "avarice is cool" mentality.
Was not sure how to translate „Geiz ist Geil“ to English.
My comment was not related to goods like ink.
I also enjoy inks from all over the world (and will do also in the future).
It was more related to the big companies which moved their production to wherever the production is cheapest (but sell at a price as it would still be made in western countries)
In my opinion, this should be stopped.
E.g. in former times Germany was the „Apothecary Cabinet“ of Europe, now almost all of the big Pharmacy companies produce in Far East.
Also most of the now needed health protective equipment (which is not available at the needed quantities) comes from China, we are dependent from imports of another continent.
I also think we neither really need cheapest textiles nor other poor quality goods from China, just to follow the „Geiz ist Geil“ Dogma.
But also major and luxury brands produce in Far East and sell for a premium in the industry countries (produced cheapest under bad labor and environmental conditions).
No matter if they are named, Nike, Rebook, Levis, Addidas, Puma, Weber Stephen, Apple,........ only to name some.... “engineered/designed in ..... produced in China“
I‘m not talking about nationalism, I just think that at least essential products should mainly be produced on the continent where they will be consumed (for environmental, Labor, security and social reasons).
But maybe quantity based customs duties for cross continental imports would be a solution.
Smaller business/specialized products would not (or only little) be affected but the big players would be forced to produce locally on the same continent and under „fair“ conditions again.
Last edited by Pterodactylus; March 28th, 2020 at 11:33 AM.
I agree with all you say but surely this should be in Politics, Religion and Society.
Sailor Kenshin (March 29th, 2020)
One thing to remember is import charges - don't forget the OP is in San Marino so anything from outside of Europe and the UK (for now) will be hit by a VAT payment and a possible duty charge, including on the P&P. Also minimum free postage charges tend to boost the prices (and let's be honest most if not all of us spend more making an order up to minimum for free postage than we would just buying the original item ...)
Is San Marino not treated as part of the EU for goods?
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
It is but around half the stores mentioned are in the USA (Vannesse, Goulet, Andersons)
True, but on the US Customs Duty forms there is a section to "check mark" samples, which usually aren't VAT taxed. As long as the OP doesn't order anything other than ink samples, they may be VAT exempt ( I hope.) Ink samples I send to my penpals overseas (anywhere from 5 or more vials) haven't been taxed.
All the Best.
Bucket list - walk the Camino de Santiago again
Doesn't work that way in the UK and Europe. Anything over a certain value, which is small - £13, so probably €15 gets taxed regardless (minimum limit is increased for gifts and further if you're bringing it in to your country yourself). Some countries are more lax than others, but they are getting tighter.
What junglejim has said is true. A bubble mailer full of samples won't amount to a value of more than £15 including USPS 1st Class International postage. I never once got charged for any of the Goulet's InkDrop packets that came every month, and I've never been charged for any from James or azkid. I've had 5 samples in one packet many times.
Last edited by Chrissy; March 29th, 2020 at 02:03 PM.
Regards, Chrissy | My Review Blog: inkyfountainpens
It would be most ironic to order European ink samples from an American online store and then be taxed for them
I wonder if Europeans would be taxed if they order from Canada.... I know there's a free trade agreement between the two entities.....
I have bought regularly from fountainfeder. Never been taxed. Plus I get my inks faster than if I order them from US.....
Anyway you can order from Wonderpens.....I know they ship worldwide. Small company very good service...
Note the sample bottles are small in size but same volume (2 ml)...
That's fine if your order is below £15 and you're not bothered about postage - not compared prices but I would not be surprised if the same inks from Pure Pens or The Writing Desk (or the German place mentioned) will still work out cheaper to some one in San Marino.
Yes - doesn't matter where the original items are sourced from, it's the country you purchase them from that counts. Hit the tax point (£15) and the cost initally rockets as you also have a handling charge applied, which tends to be between £8 (only Royal Mail) to £10 (most the others).
Yazeh (March 29th, 2020)
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