Returning Equipment for Repair

This is only applicable to customers living outside the European Union.

We often have problems with customs clearance of equipment returned for repair. Here are a few tips that will help to speed up the process and save both of us unnecessary costs:

1. Include genuine original invoices on the company letterhead. Do not use the various forms that the transport companies supply. The customs office does not take them seriously.
2. You can title them "Invoice" or "Proforma Invoice", it does not really matter.
3. Send at least four ORIGINAL invoices with the instrument. A few copies as well is not a bad idea.
4. Place a spare original invoice separately on the package, somewhere where it is obvious. Transport companies keep losing the papers and a spare invoice for emergencies can save a lot of time and trouble.
5. Put the following text at the end of the invoice text:
   

   Delivery via (Transport service) DDU VIENNA
   

   (number of packages) Colli / (weight) kg
   

   DECLARATION OF ORIGIN:
   

   The exporter of the products covered by this document declares that, except
   where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of EU preferential origin.
   

   (your town), (your name typed)..................................................
   

6. Put a separate delivery note on the package. When they take the papers off for customs clearance, they sometimes do not remember which package it was!
7. Stamp the invoice as well as signing it, our bureaucrats love rubber stamps!
8. If possible, put the serial number of the instrument on the invoice and state that it is for repair
9. Let us know that it is coming and fax a copy of the invoice in advance, this can save a lot of time.
10. Do not put the full, new price of the equipment on the invoice. It is no longer new, so half the new price is quite enough. This will save unnecessary taxes.
11. For the customs declaration to be valid, the total invoice value, including transport must be under EUR5000, otherwise we pay import duty on the equipment. As stated above, it does not have to be the full purchase price you declare.
12. Put the customs code on the invoice. This is 90271010 for instruments and 90279080 for parts.

These steps should ensure that an instrument comes through customs without delay and without excessive costs. If we have to pay duty on an instrument, then we have to charge you the 2.5 % that we pay. I see no reason to support the government more than is strictly necessary, quite apart from the extra delays it causes.