A moral quandry

[RygarR]

Waaaaay back in October, I ordered some kit from AtariAge in the States - an AtariVox speech synthesiser to be precise. While I suspected it would take ages to get here, I was a bit surprised to see the route and length of time it actually took. The package started in Texas, was taken to Oklahoma, then Michigan, then back to Texas (seriously), then to Tokyo, then to London - where it sat for a fortnight before being released to spend another week on the road to my house.

Anyway, on my way out for today's lockdown stroll (don't worry, I live by a beach and there's hardly ever anyone there) I found a small cardboard package on my doorstep. Thought that was a bit wierd, because I'd been waiting (in vain) for a different package and keeping a close ear and eye on the door. The box has a couple of stickers on it. One says 'Customs fee to pay', the other lists the VAT and handling fee before signing off with 'This package cannot be delivered until the charges have been paid'. Thing is that I have it now. And although I'd pay the tax, I'm not too pleased about turfing up the handling charge, which basically doubles the cost to me.

So what do I do? I don't want to drop any delivery bods in it. But should I claim, if asked, that I've never seen the package? Or would that be a bit naughty?

RygarR2021-01-08 17:45:22

 

[chubsta]

best to pay up and forget about it - if you say it was not delivered you would be dropping the driver in it, and I often think that they leave stuff not because they are lazy etc but because they know just what a pain it is to try to get a package redelivered or pick up from an office miles away. my postman goes out of his way to make sure all my packages, of whatever size, are left at my house rather than attempt a redelivery - he had to climb over the fence once because the gate was locked - and most are just normal blokes trying to do a good job and earn a living like the rest of us, and don't deserve to be stitched up by what it effectively theft.

The admin charge for tax is a pain - I got stung yesterday for 6.15 vat and 11 admin fee by dal on something from aliexpress so I feel your pain - but that is a separate issue.

I always prefer to be honest and feel it is pretty much always the best policy...

 

[Bensonrad]

I’d be inclined to sit it out, normally they only release the parcel once you pay, if you don’t pay in X amount of time they send it back. Does it show on any tracking as delivered?

 

[Retroman839]

some times if a package has been delayed.
like now around christmas. and back log of items is blocking the normal flow...
all items will be delivered if duty owed is below a predetermined amount...

i guess like £50 because it’s
not worth the man hours to chase it
up...

i had same thing happen to me but it had a pen line or cross on it...
to signify it had been deemed not required.
royal mail has its own moral quandary’s like what to do with all its unclaimed items?
i meet a fellow vac member naming no names...
who’s father worked at
royal mail.... and he joked he has a great retro console collection it’s amazing what items
go undelivered!!

yes true story! Retroman8392021-01-08 19:08:11

 

[RygarR]

I’d be inclined to sit it out, normally they only release the parcel once you pay, if you don’t pay in X amount of time they send it back. Does it show on any tracking as delivered?

Yeah, USPS tracking service has it greenlit as delivered...

 

[RygarR]

some times if a package has been delayed.
like now around christmas. and back log of items is blocking the normal flow...
all items will be delivered if duty owed is below a predetermined amount...

i guess like £50 because it’s
not worth the man hours to chase it
up...

i had same thing happen to me but it had a pen line or cross on it...
to signify it had been deemed not required.
royal mail has its own moral quandary’s like what to do with all its unclaimed items?
i meet a fellow vac member naming no names...
who’s father worked at
royal mail.... and he joked he has a great retro console collection it’s amazing what items
go undelivered!!

yes true story!

Ha. I don't doubt it.

Fingers crossed I get let off!

 

[RygarR]

best to pay up and forget about it - if you say it was not delivered you would be dropping the driver in it, and I often think that they leave stuff not because they are lazy etc but because they know just what a pain it is to try to get a package redelivered or pick up from an office miles away. my postman goes out of his way to make sure all my packages, of whatever size, are left at my house rather than attempt a redelivery - he had to climb over the fence once because the gate was locked - and most are just normal blokes trying to do a good job and earn a living like the rest of us, and don't deserve to be stitched up by what it effectively theft.

The admin charge for tax is a pain - I got stung yesterday for 6.15 vat and 11 admin fee by dal on something from aliexpress so I feel your pain - but that is a separate issue.

I always prefer to be honest and feel it is pretty much always the best policy...

Well, I suppose you have a point. But I wouldn't be phoning up unprompted to check how I can pay. Think I'll wait it out and see what happens.

 

[neo-geo-mvs]

I’d be inclined to sit it out, normally they only release the parcel once you pay, if you don’t pay in X amount of time they send it back. Does it show on any tracking as delivered?

This

I've had a couple posted through saying customs charge etc. I see it as their error in posting it before I paid

I didn't pay it. That's was years ago (Amazon.com and play-asia parcels. Low value under £20. Usual vat and then £8 handling charges showing on the parcel)

As you have the parcel, it's their error.

You shouldn't have to go chasing to pay their pi$$ take charges.

Just keep quiet. Job done

 

[penrhos]

I had one of those during the summer. I kept quiet then out of the blue I got a pay this within 14 days or were passing it to a debt collection agency letter from DHL. So I paid up.

So keep quiet and pay up quick if you get a followup letter.

 

[El Capitan]

Keep quiet. After 2 months, give the amount you were being asked for to a charity of your choice.El Capitan2021-01-08 20:48:02

 

[virtvic]

There’s a good chance it’ll be faulty any way. I had 3 faulty ones that needed new ICs in them to make them work properly on the vectrex. Was a right pain in the ass to sort out...

 

[RygarR]

There’s a good chance it’ll be faulty any way. I had 3 faulty ones that needed new ICs in them to make them work properly on the vectrex. Was a right pain in the ass to sort out...

Oh no! Here's hoping the initial delay was due to them sorting out their stock. I've yet to put mine to the test. In all the excitement, I forgot to get a DB9 cable extender and can't actually plug it in. DOH!

 

[RygarR]

One week later and still no threatening letters about customs charges.

However, I have now received by DB-9 extension cables, and after cutting down the male part with a stanley knife (ouch), have been able to hook the AtariVox+ to my Vectrex.

And the good news is, it seems to work!

I've only tried 2 games so far, YASI and VEZERK.

YASI is the best, and the speech really adds to the game. It even says 'Insert coin'!

Vezerk would also be really good, but the /r/ sound is slightly off. It gets pronounced 'ar'. So 'Intruder alert', sounds more like 'intaruder alert'; 'fight like a robot', sounds like 'fight like a orobot'! Maybe there's a work around? I'll explore the dips etc over the weekend...