We've done a huge purge on accounts that haven't been touched in over 5 years! If you're a returning member and can't login please email mlpchief @ gmail.com for more details!
Site Announcements Arena Tutorials Sigs & Site Support Introductions Pony Corral Swap Talk! Pony Fairs! MLP Nirvana Nirvana Sales Pony Brag Arena Off Topic Dollhouse Toy Box & Games Cupboard Customs Custom Sales Arts & Crafts Corral Adoptables For Sale - For Auction For Trade Wanted Trader & Classifieds Support What's Your Problem Private Messages Contact Us!
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
I always lie about the worth in the customs form to avoid charges but pay a seperate postage fee to insure the parcel up to a chosen worth (2€ insure the parcel for 100€, 4 for 200...) - this insurance isnt labeled on the box to avoid theft.
Quote from: minamarie on July 05, 2017, 09:02:06 AMI always lie about the worth in the customs form to avoid charges but pay a seperate postage fee to insure the parcel up to a chosen worth (2€ insure the parcel for 100€, 4 for 200...) - this insurance isnt labeled on the box to avoid theft.Lying on customs forms is actually a very serious crime , so I don't advise ANYONE to do this!
It's really tricky in this case, to me, because it's a custom swap. I've been puzzling this out for days now, but one thing that occurs to me is something that came up in another thread. Namely - the idea of 'I don't want this pony anymore because I can't even resell it once it arrives, as it is a custom item." Customs are art; and while there may be an incredible amount of time poured into an artistic work, that doesn't inherently give it value to an outside observer. If you're going to sell a Van Gogh, of course you'll have oodles of buyers; but what about a lesser-known painter of a similar talent or style? Why does Van Gogh sell for millions, but my watercolors sell for $5? For that reason, I don't feel that undervaluing a custom pony is particularly bad or wrong for the purposes of customs forms; because yes, while it is a beautiful work of art that anyone in the community would appreciate, to any outside observer it's "a $5 pony with paint on it," which isn't worth very much at all - unless you like that sort of thing. And there's even a lot of people within the community who don't enjoy custom ponies, or certain styles of custom ponies; that doesn't mean the pony is worthless, but simply isn't valued by those people. It's what makes reselling customs so difficult; the artist might decide their original work is worth $300, but the new owner may only be able to sell it for $25, because that's what the market dictates. As sad as it is, that pony is now "worth" $25, according to the market. Also relevant, aren't all items in a custom/art swap considered to be 'gifts', since it's an artist-for-artist trade? It seems like, to me, valuing your 'artistic worth' on a customs form is a bit of a thoughtless move, unless they completely forgot about the fact that customs fees exist, which tends to happen for us Americans more often than not! If they are still insisting on their 'right' to value their art as highly as they want, well ... :/ Maybe they shouldn't be in swaps that are allowed to send overseas, in the future. It's a confusing mess for sure, so I hope my post offered at least a little insight, and I wish the best for all parties involved. A true headache, indeed!!
The parcel is still in the ether, waiting to be returned.
Quote from: Loa on July 18, 2017, 04:45:36 PMThe parcel is still in the ether, waiting to be returned.It can take months for that to happen, sometimes I think they send stuff back via surface mail to cost the least amount of money. If so three-six months wait is possible.
Quote from: Taffeta on July 19, 2017, 05:39:33 AMQuote from: Loa on July 18, 2017, 04:45:36 PMThe parcel is still in the ether, waiting to be returned.It can take months for that to happen, sometimes I think they send stuff back via surface mail to cost the least amount of money. If so three-six months wait is possible.That's exactly what we thought too.
Quote from: Loa on July 19, 2017, 05:13:27 PMQuote from: Taffeta on July 19, 2017, 05:39:33 AMQuote from: Loa on July 18, 2017, 04:45:36 PMThe parcel is still in the ether, waiting to be returned.It can take months for that to happen, sometimes I think they send stuff back via surface mail to cost the least amount of money. If so three-six months wait is possible.That's exactly what we thought too.That is awful. If I was the creator and sender of the custom, I would be livid and more than frustrated. I can see why we had to get the mods involved.