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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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 Posted: Tue 19 Jul, 2005 9:52 am Post subject: |
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| Daniel Parry wrote: | Yes, you are now an official country !
Bet you sighed a huge sigh of relief knowing that. You can sleep easier at night now ! |
I know I feel better .... but what is the consensus on our english these days ;-)
Git 'er done , Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Z. Kornilakis
Location: Greece Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Tue 19 Jul, 2005 11:02 am Post subject: |
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| Daniel Parry wrote: | I think what was not entirely clear in the above emails from Mr Kornilakis (don't know your first name, sorry) is the distinction between the tax issue and the licence issue. I'm assuming they're completely separate. IE you can't import at all unless via a licenced route, and even if you do, the tax wil be 82%. So you would have to import via a dealer and via another EU country to get the best of both worlds. At least that's what I assumed.
Daniel |
By the way my first name is Zacharias or you can call me Zack. 
I began this thread to see how much is the tax for a sword imported in UK.
Because I was told that would be easier to imported there 1st and then send through a friend to Greece so that would avoid the Licence issue.
So, my main problem is not the taxes I have to pay (82% in Greece) as this can be avoided by insure it very low,
but the Licence I have to get to import it.
As I was told from people from the Ministry of Public Order (the place that would issue me the Licence), the licence could get from 2-6 months to be issued and still is not 100% sure that I would get it. 
sincerely,
Zack
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Jean Le-Palud
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| Posted: Tue 19 Jul, 2005 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Zack, this is Jean in France,
The first time that I ordered from Albion I was asked by customs to produce an invoice to establish the real value of the item, so a false insurance declaration wouldn't have worked.(not speaking about trouble). I was also asked to produce an "Autorisation for importing war stuff", Happily they were wrong and when I inquired how to get this autorisation the head quarter office of customs told me it was useless for a sword. Pffuuu!
By the way custom duty and VAT for importing in France from USA are around 30%.
Good luck,
Jean
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Z. Kornilakis
Location: Greece Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Tue 19 Jul, 2005 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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Jean, if the tax was just 30% then I would pay it without any second thought.
But here we speak for 82% so I would try any idea to avoid as much as I can.
Unfortunately the law as I said treats the imported swords in the same category with guns, explosives etc. so I am not so lucky to bypass the stage of the Licence. 
I think the only way to import it legally is by asking an owner of a shop that imports swords, to help me by import it as his sword and then give it to me.
Thanks all of you for your ideas and for wishing me luck.
sincerely,
Zack
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Kel Rekuta
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| Posted: Tue 19 Jul, 2005 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Z. Kornilakis wrote: |
So, my main problem is not the taxes I have to pay (82% in Greece) as this can be avoided by insure it very low,
but the Licence I have to get to import it.
As I was told from people from the Ministry of Public Order (the place that would issue me the Licence), the licence could get from 2-6 months to be issued and still is not 100% sure that I would get it.
sincerely,
Zack |
Sadly, I think your government really doesn't want its citizens to have weapons. And they intend to profit from the enthusiasm of those who are willing to persevere in obtaining them at any cost.
Seriously, as an importer/exporter, I advise you to get the thing repackaged as "collectible art" and then convince the authorities that you collect swords for artistic merit as opposed to martial art. Many, many pieces of armour are shipped worldwide as "metal sculpture." Demonstrating an enthusiasm to use the piece for test cutting might be counterproductive. 
Best of luck with this adventure. The Byzantine Empire isn't dead. It survives in every tax system on the planet.
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Jonathon Janusz
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| Posted: Tue 19 Jul, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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82% . . . that just isn't right.
[Perhaps branding myself as truly American. . .] If I could get a sword on a plane in this country in stowed luggage (don't know how those things work since recent revision to airline regulations), for the cost of a same day or next day round trip airline ticket (and maybe lunch ), I would use a vacation day and a weekend, drive about an hour up the road to New Glarus, pick up your sword, get on a plane, fly to Greece, and personally put it in your hands. . . if nothing else just to say I've been to Greece and to score a defiant victory against a system designed to stop a culture from keeping alive a history THEY themselves created.
Best of luck, Zack, and welcome to myArmoury.
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Z. Kornilakis
Location: Greece Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Tue 19 Jul, 2005 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Kel Rekuta wrote: |
Sadly, I think your government really doesn't want its citizens to have weapons. And they intend to profit from the enthusiasm of those who are willing to persevere in obtaining them at any cost.
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As I said in a previous post you can buy freely swords from shops in Greece. Nobody asks you for any kind of licence.
And these swords are not made in Greece. Every sword is imported from either Europe or USA or the rest of the planet.
| Jonathon Janusz wrote: | 82% . . . that just isn't right.
[Perhaps branding myself as truly American. . .] If I could get a sword on a plane in this country in stowed luggage (don't know how those things work since recent revision to airline regulations), for the cost of a same day or next day round trip airline ticket (and maybe lunch ), I would use a vacation day and a weekend, drive about an hour up the road to New Glarus, pick up your sword, get on a plane, fly to Greece, and personally put it in your hands. . . if nothing else just to say I've been to Greece and to score a defiant victory against a system designed to stop a culture from keeping alive a history THEY themselves created.
Best of luck, Zack, and welcome to myArmoury. |
I am glad that you came with this idea very kind you. But you are lucky Because even if you come from USA to give me the sword hand to hand, still they will take it in customs and they will ask you of a licence. 
I heard stories such as this, when people retyrned from other countries to Greece with swords as souvenirs and they left it in customs till they have a licence. 
At least all of you that wrote something in this thread, even it was just a comment, you still give me hope. 
sincerely,
Zack
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Jonathon Janusz
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| Posted: Wed 20 Jul, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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Zack, two more ideas:
1) Do it the old American GI way: ship it in a piece at a time and have it assembled locally (or in your case perhaps somewhere credible in Europe - assuming you can cross the border both ways with your own property.)
2) I did some digging around online and the US Embassy in Athens has a division focused on advancing American business interests in Greece. Explain your problem to them and maybe they can do something to help you out. It's a long shot, but it couldn't hurt. . .
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Lance K.
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| Posted: Wed 20 Jul, 2005 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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To bypass the weapons license just tell customs it's a big letter opener. Who are they to judge one letter opener from another? What if you get big mail? 
Lance
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Z. Kornilakis
Location: Greece Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Wed 20 Jul, 2005 11:56 pm Post subject: |
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To Jonathon: Your second idea sounds interesting. I don't know if they will want to help me but I will give it a try.
To Lance: Thats the best idea so far. I never thought of that 
I spoke with a few customs clearers and still I am waiting for their response.
If this fails then the package must return to USA till a find a safe solution.
sincerely,
Zack
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Jean Le-Palud
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| Posted: Fri 22 Jul, 2005 7:26 am Post subject: |
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Hi Zack, I sent you a PM yesterday
Jean
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Z. Kornilakis
Location: Greece Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sat 23 Jul, 2005 8:17 am Post subject: |
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| Jean Le-Palud wrote: | Hi Zack, I sent you a PM yesterday
Jean |
I haven't receive your PM yet, Jean.
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Anton de Vries
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| Posted: Sat 23 Jul, 2005 9:03 am Post subject: |
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| Lance Karsten wrote: | | To bypass the weapons license just tell customs it's a big letter opener. |
I live in Europe too, and the text on my Albion box was "Decorative Art (iron)".
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Jean Le-Palud
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| Posted: Sat 23 Jul, 2005 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Zack, new PM sent just now....
I think it didn't work first time because I forgot quoting a "Subject".
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Z. Kornilakis
Location: Greece Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Sat 06 Aug, 2005 6:46 am Post subject: |
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I GOT IT!!!
Yesterday night I returned from Athens as a winner with the Discerner.
After a very long search I found someone that with the right amount of money helped me to obtain the sword.
I am not happy that I had to do that, but I am even less happy with our stupid law.
Unfortunately because the sword had to stay in its box for more than 4 weeks some corrosion marks appeared at the blade. 
So I began cleaning them, following Patrick Kelly's article about maintenance, in this site. 
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Alex Oster
Location: Washington and Yokohama Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 410
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| Posted: Sat 06 Aug, 2005 6:52 am Post subject: |
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Let me be the first to say: Kick ass!
With any luck I'll be mirroring your enthusiasm over my own in a few months!
The pen is mightier than the sword, especially since it can get past security and be stabbed it into a jugular.
This site would be better if everytime I clicked submit... I got to hear a whip crack!
My collection: Various Blades & Conan related
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Jonathon Janusz
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| Posted: Sat 06 Aug, 2005 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Congratulations!!!!!
Discerner is awesome and I hope it is everything you wanted.
And thank you to whomever the person was that helped you. You have done a good deed
It makes my day hearing that this worked out for the best.
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Z. Kornilakis
Location: Greece Joined: 18 Jul 2005
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Mon 15 Aug, 2005 3:09 am Post subject: |
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By the way, I forgot to thank everyone that post in this thread that gave me the hope I was needed.
From now on, I am a proud sword owner like most (if not all) of you.
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Alex Oster
Location: Washington and Yokohama Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 410
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| Posted: Mon 15 Aug, 2005 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Hey! Nothing says thanks better than pictures! We won't be satisfied that it worked untill then
Congrats again!
The pen is mightier than the sword, especially since it can get past security and be stabbed it into a jugular.
This site would be better if everytime I clicked submit... I got to hear a whip crack!
My collection: Various Blades & Conan related
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Jean Le-Palud
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| Posted: Fri 19 Aug, 2005 4:06 am Post subject: |
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Hi Zack,
I'm so happy it worked fine for you...
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This is a standard topic