Cotswold and Panamoz

[Dryce]

I have ordered from them 3 times in the last year and all 3 times packages were shipped direct.

That sounds like they have changed then.

Out of interest - which courier(s) and how long did it take - has this speeded up their despatch and subsequent delivery ?

 

[Brentor]

Your contract is with a UK-registered seller. You have no customs declaration, no import VAT liability, and no responsibility for compliance with UK product regulations. All of that sits with Cotswold Cameras

This is inconsistent with their terms and conditions.

Also if your contract is with the UK co why do they not issue VAT invoices?

 

[Dryce]

Anyone using such a company while having such suspicions (again I’m thinking of a hypothetical company, not a specific one) would seem to be living by the principle

Ask not what your country can be for you but what you can take from your country.

Note that Amazon often report the actual seller is Amazon SARL and not - for example - Amazon limited.

You'll maybe find if you go into a branded coffee shop chain that it might be setup so that it is ultimately setup so that it is paying royalties from the payment you make to the brand in another country and using this to move profit and taxation.

And if you buy a service from a VAT registered supplier then you are paying VAT on their service -- if you buy from one that is not VAT registered then you are not. So one is effectively paying on part of the price you pay directly as tax to HMRC - and the other is not.

And then we have sole traders vs employees - where on one side of the divide the work you may do might be subject to employers' national insurance (on top of which VAT may be added) whereas on the other it will not be subject to employer's NI.

So .....

If if anybody is really really really bothered - always seek out a company that records and pays all its operating profits locally, that is VAT registered, and that any work done is undertaken locally by employees subject to employers's NI.

 

[jamesev]

That sounds like they have changed then.

Out of interest - which courier(s) and how long did it take - has this speeded up their despatch and subsequent delivery ?

Last item i ordered was 29th order - 9th arrival - 7 working days s per their FAQs.

This is inconsistent with their terms and conditions.

Which terms and conditions?

The one I read stated Payments are taken by Cotswold UK Cameras Limited company number 14313543.

Registered company Address in the UK

 

[Hanley]

This is inconsistent with their terms and conditions.

Also if your contract is with the UK co why do they not issue VAT invoices?

Honestly, I don't care too much

I just thought I'd ask Claude to see what its response would be.

As consumers we have plenty of choice where we buy our equipment, which is good and we can all make our own informed decisions.

 

[Mostly Vintage Cameras]

Setting aside your reducto absurdum arguments, large marketplace operators, coffee shop chains and the like are in discussions with HMRC. They do declare what they are doing and what they are doing is what you might call aggressive tax mitigation. This is not illegal and they are not misleading HMRC about the nature of the business or what it turns over or what it spends on “marketing material” with an overseas parent company. We may not like this situation, we may not feel it is fair but HMRC represent the people of the UK in monitoring and investigating such things.



A sole trader, a plumber or wedding photographer for example, who is “fiddling the books” is just as guilty as anyone else engaging in tax evasion. However while wrong and we would prefer it not happen the values involved are fairly small beer by and large.

A multi million turnover mail order company using a “willow the wisp” untraceable website and making false declarations to HMRC and border force is a much more serious matter for the country. I don’t reference any particular willow the wisp website just to be clear I am not making accusations of any particular company.

If if anybody is really really really bothered - always seek out a company that records and pays all its operating profits locally, that is VAT registered, and that any work done is undertaken locally by employees subject to employers's NI

 

[jamesev]

We may not like this situation, we may not feel it is fair but HMRC represent the people of the UK in monitoring and investigating such things.

Agreed its the term that gets banded around "fair" and generally used by those not benefitting because they can't be arsed to learn the rules of the game and learn how to play it. There seems to be alot of whataboutism, lots of banging the drum and complaining about what everyone else is or isn't doing just because that not how "I" do it, lots of moral judgement and moral smugness.

 

[Kieran_89]

Honestly people care too much or just love to moan.

Who cares if they declare this and that or pay whatever, as long as the price you see is the price you pay, it’s their business, just use it or don’t, pretty simple.

 

[Brentor]

Last item i ordered was 29th order - 9th arrival - 7 working days s per their FAQs.


Which terms and conditions?

The one I read stated Payments are taken by Cotswold UK Cameras Limited company number 14313543.

Registered company Address in the UK

From the definitions in the terms and conditions (my highlighting):

Definitions​

For the purposes of these Terms & Conditions, the following definitions apply:

• Website” refers to www.cotswoldcameras.co.uk, the online platform operated by CHATEAUBRIAND LIMITED where products are listed for sale.
• “We”, “Us”, or “Our” refers to CHATEAUBRIAND LIMITED, the owner and operator of Cotswold Cameras.
• “You”, “Your”, or “Customer” refers to any individual or entity accessing, using, or purchasing from the Website.
• “Products” refers to any cameras, lenses, accessories, or photography equipment listed for sale on the Website.
• “Order” refers to any purchase of Products made by You through the Website.
• “Content” refers to any text, images, logos, graphics, trademarks, or other information displayed on the Website.
• “Contract” refers to the legal agreement between You and Us for the sale and purchase of Products once an Order has been placed, confirmed, and payment has been received.

Also:

Payment processing is handled by Cotswold UK Cameras Limited. Cotswold UK Cameras Limited act as agents, receiving payments from customers for sales orders