THE USD$200 MADNESS

potus

Active member
Dec 27, 2015
549
90
28
I purchased a Telescope on Amazon. I have ordered a lot of items on Amazon, but never reached the USD$200 hurdle.
I focused on 2 telescopes...one for USD$189 and one for USD$209.....after reviewing both in detail I decided for the more expensive one (Gskyer)....THAT WAS A MAJOR MISTAKE.
I had to pay DR$5,500 to get it out of the Aduana and DR$6,500 for shipping.....total of DR$12,000....
All interior boxes were opened and ramaged through.....a lot of items, such as the lenses were moving around losely in the big box and of course the manual, and any paperwork at all was missing.......
It took me a 3 week struggle to get it out of the Aduana and many trips and calls to my shipper (Pic and Send).
My USD$0.02...under all costs, stay below a total pricetag of USD$200.....

Good luck.
 

caribmike

Gold
Jul 9, 2009
6,808
202
63
Bad shipping company. Does not happen with vimenpaq.

You pay the tax amount to them and they take care of everything. Never had a problem like that with orders over 200 USD.

Bought a telescope, TV's etc. I was told how much tax. I paid it via BPD and could pick up my stuff at the latest 4 days later in my vimenpaq branch.
 

potus

Active member
Dec 27, 2015
549
90
28
Bad shipping company. Does not happen with vimenpaq.

You pay the tax amount to them and they take care of everything. Never had a problem like that with orders over 200 USD.

Bought a telescope, TV's etc. I was told how much tax. I paid it via BPD and could pick up my stuff at the latest 4 days later in my vimenpaq branch.

Thank you. But still to pay RD$12,000 in costs to receive a USD$209 item is insane to me.........
 

william webster

Platinum
Jan 16, 2009
30,247
4,328
113
The 6500 for shipping would be a deal breaker for me....

I'll stick with the mudanza....
I bet it would arrive at my door - fully paid - for that
 

potus

Active member
Dec 27, 2015
549
90
28
I must say, to the shippers defense....I am using them for years without any hick up ever.....not even the slightest problem......But, I also never went over USD$200........That will never happen again.......Throwing even more money after the useless Government.......No THANKS!
 

caribmike

Gold
Jul 9, 2009
6,808
202
63
12000 is ridiculous.

I paid once 8000 DOP but years ago for a 42" TV aduana included...
 

Mauricio

Gold
Nov 18, 2002
5,607
7
38
EVen with the cheaper one you might have had to pay tax, the 200 threshold is incl. shipping. 
 

bigbird

Gold
May 1, 2005
7,375
163
0
Yes, it has.

They base it on the invoice total amount NOT on the value of the article.

I think we need a little clarification. This would be the invoice that is provided from let's say Amazon. So whatever Vimenpaq or whoever charges me for the final shipment to la rep dom is NOT calculated in the invoice total. Maybe, just maybe what Maurico meant is let's say Amazon charges me $195 for the item plus $6 to ship to Vimenpaq in Miami I would be over the limit.
 

potus

Active member
Dec 27, 2015
549
90
28
Good to know.........(it also makes me feel slightly better about my orginal choice!). But, never again.....unless there is no choice (medicine and so forth).
 

Caonabo

LIFE IS GOOD
Sep 27, 2017
7,339
2,949
113
Good to know.........(it also makes me feel slightly better about my orginal choice!). But, never again.....unless there is no choice (medicine and so forth).

I can't blame you. I bet this purchase of the telescope left you seeing stars.