Londinium I Lever Espresso Machine

Brett_H

Merry Christmas Stephen! A fine looking addition to your stable!

BLrdFX

Brett H wrote:

Merry Christmas Stephen! A fine looking addition to your stable!

Thank you! My wife likes the coffee but is a bit put out by the loss of counter space being consumed. The GS/3 might get relegated to tank mode only and moved to another location. Lovin' the lever!

Chris_Stuffa

Well my machine arrived in Sydney a week ago and I found out why it hasn't been delivered yet. They want to slug me close to $500 duties, GST and handling fees. I though I may have got pinged, but only a couple of hundred. I been through the paperwork DHL sent me and I figure they are overcharging me at least $90. But having to pay that much extra has certainly taken the shine off. Not sure when I will get the machine as it is a bit of a bung fight at the moment with DHL blaming customs and customs blaming DHL. 🙁 🙁 But I'm certainly not going to let the theives get away with the extra.

Kelsey

Yeouch!!! Sounds like Gerry's been in someone's ear! Let us know how the resolution goes.

BLrdFX

ChrisStuffa: That is horrid! The Customs folks must still hate the British :o I hope it was all a complete misunderstanding and they owe you an apology. Mine sailed through Customs in the USA without a squeak from those pencil pushers. I hope it works out OK for you.

Koffee_Kosmo

Once I paid GST for my reconditioned speakers coming back from the USA Just a Note GST is charged on the total invoice value That includes - cost of product , cost of transport , cost of insurance , plus any other fees noted I know it sucks but that's the import law KK

BLrdFX

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

Once I paid GST for my reconditioned speakers coming back from the USA Just a Note GST is charged on the total invoice value That includes - cost of product , cost of transport , cost of insurance , plus any other fees noted I know it sucks but that's the import law KK

And we gripe hear about taxes, whew, it could be much worse I guess!!!

Chris_Stuffa

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

Once I paid GST for my reconditioned speakers coming back from the USA Just a Note GST is charged on the total invoice value That includes - cost of product , cost of transport , cost of insurance , plus any other fees noted I know it sucks but that's the import law KK

I fully expected to have to pay GST, what I wasn't expecting was to pay a 5% import duty, a $55 processing fee from customs, and a processing fee from DHL. Also customs didn't have a figure on the shipping costs so they just made one up 10 times more than what it cost and charged me GST on that ??? So for the cost of the machine they are basically charging me nearly 25% in duties, GST and fees 😢 Even with these fees I still think this machine is a bargain. I could have paid a lot more for a machine that is nowhere as good. Hopefully soon I'll find out just how good it is ;D

Lwowiak

Chris Stuffa, Thank you for sharing. Also, good to hear you are questioning every charge. I believe Customs should be 100% upfront on all charges, and have a working template on how to accurately work these charges out. You should be able to work out all charges due, prior to the the goods arriving. Unfortunately, Customs are untouchable, and have a god complex. No one is suggesting that anyone is trying to avoid paying what the law requires. I just wish it was made crystal clear, as the goal posts seem to change all the time. I am looking at importing some goods [non-coffee], and have yet to receive "detailed" information on transport costs, duties, taxes etc. We all share your frustration and hope everything gets resolved quickly [no sarcasm there]. I look forward to hearing about your experience with the machine.

BLrdFX

Government being 100% up front, 😃 😃

Lwowiak

BLrdFX wrote:

Government being 100% up front, 😃 😃

It was on my Xmas wish list. Santa must think I was a naughty boy. 😉

Brett_H

You have my sympathies Chris! I only hope that the machine earns its out of pocket extras back for you! Keep us posted mate.

lespresso

hi chris DHL are your agent (this is what you are paying the admin fee for) and it is their job to get the goods through and ensure the correct taxes and duties are levied you should deal with DHL (not customs) and provide a copy of the system generated invoice from our system if they will not accept this as evidence you should give DHL my email address and I will give them DHL documentation that proves the DHL shipping charge is what I charged you we will get this resolved reiss.

mycuppa

Whilst it does not help to say this, I'm really not surprised actually. Importing a container of just about anything and you face a charges list that includes up to 15+ line items. Everything from bunker slots, waiting time and over-priced processing fees - all trumped up charges that read like a script from Monty Python, etc. Even if you get a quote upfront from a reputable logistics company, there are caveats involved which mean a quote is not a quote but an estimate, subject to final charges - which of course they make up at the last minute and hold your goods as ransom. Earlier this year I had a container held up because there were additional line item costs on the final fees that were not advised in previous quotes. Even when I paid all fees and charges, the container released and delivered, the company (ICE) sent me an Invoice 3 months after the final charges were paid (and the goods delivered) for more money saying they forgot to include this new Invoice charge on the original Invoice - demanding payment and threatening Debtors Registration. A company that specializes in international freight not being able to get invoices calculated correctly ? I doubt it. Despite reforms to the water front workplace to improve efficiencies, etc. it still remains a ludicrous rort with all sorts of special fees and levies that end up costing almost as much as the basic transit cost from port to port. In 2012, there were 2 new charge/fees added to cover some already double-charged costs (we pay taxes and taxes and have probably paid for it in state and federal taxes) relating to Port Philip Bay (Melbourne) and no doubt in 2013 they will find a way to add more new fees to cover other ways to make handsome profits. Lesson learned are always carry a 10-20% contingency when planning to import anything or piggy back onto someone else's freight account that can carry more clout else they tend to bully 1-off transactions.

BLrdFX

Here is what I have found so far with the L-I. Great shots regardless of the beans!!! The grind is less important than they were with the GS/3 to get an acceptable shot. I suspect as I tinker around with more than the 6 different beans/blends that I am now using that could change. I have been using the usual suspects that I favored rather than venture toward other beans. There is a 24-25 pound pull on the lever, as measured with the bathroom scale method. I am using a silicone oven baking sheet on top of the L-I to protect the machine AND to provide a convenient place to put cups, not to warm them. The mat is seriously non-skid! Here is my very first pull and the grind setting was the same as was set for my GS/3.[attachimg=1] Here is how I modified the water line in circuit, including the grommet I made and the power and water line tie downs..[attachimg=2][attachimg=3][attachimg=4] Here it is as it came set up for tank mode.[attachimg=5]

BLrdFX

Maybe shipping as "Farm Equipment"?? One needs coffee to work on a ranch... 😉 I have been using the Versalab to dial in a bean and then once I find one I like I adjust the Mazzer to match. They are close and the Mazzer might be a better grind (more consistent) but it requires declumping and messing with. Thanks for the kind thoughts! Stephen

ash

Thanks for the heads up about the problems that you encountered Chris. I was aware of the customs duty, and how the GST is calculated, but I didn't know how much the customs processing fee would be. Now I have that figure, I've calculated that I should be paying $435 in GST and customs duty. If they try to sting me more I will be asking lots of questions and referring them to their own online information. I don't mind paying it, but that's no excuse to try and rip off a customer especially as DHL has already been paid their contracted fee for the shipment and brokering. All that should be left to be paid is the GST, Duty and processing fee. Cheers, Ash

BLrdFX

I finally located the correct set of fittings to get from 1/8" BSP to American 3/8" Compression (not flare). DHL apparently did their job and no duties or tariffs or taxes of any kind were imposed on me. Not for any of the 3 shipments from Londinium.

Brett_H

Just sensational mate! Could we be so bold as to ask for a video of a shot? :thumb:

BLrdFX

Not the best shot pulled but the idea of silence it shown, except the grinder. I did not want to take the time to use the Pharos. The Pharos is my normal grinder because it is quiet and it is the one that is dialed in for the L-I, and that is why I had to stir a bit to get the grounds in the right place from the Versalab. http://www.youtube.com/user/BLrdFX4rLz

« Previous Page Next Page »