Any EU members up for a EU GAW box ?

[Frenchephaistos]

Dear fellow EU members of this forum,
This is a little survey to figure out the possibility of a EU edition of the EDC GAW box going around down under and in the USA.
If you would be willing to participate in such an experience, please join the list. You are not committing to anything (yet). I repeat, this is just a survey. For now. 
Because of customs, we'll probably have to keep this inside the 27 EU countries.
Once we have an idea of how many people want in, we'll discuss some simple rules and details.
If you sign up and have questions or suggestions, fire away ! Let's build this together !

1. Frenchephaisos
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

[AndyAaron]

Hi, I live in EU. As I am still fairly new on this forum, can you elaborate a little bit more in what is this about? What would be the concept?
Thanks.

[Farmer X]

Here's how it works: Frenchephaistos gets hold of a suitable box, fills it with goodies, and mails it to the next in line. Let's say AndyAaron gets it. He looks over the contents and decides what he thinks is cool. When I had the boxes making their way across the States, it was understood that you had to put stuff in if you removed more than one item. (I put at least one item in for every item I took out, sometimes more.) Andy AndyAaron would then repack the box and send it to the next MTo'er. The Stateside box kept growing in size. It's pretty cool to see how it grows, and you have to wonder who claimed the stuff you put in...

[Antti Lammi]

Im in

1. Frenchephaisos
2. Antti Lammi
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

Only Tools Matters

[Frenchephaistos]

Here's how it works: Frenchephaistos gets hold of a suitable box, fills it with goodies, and mails it to the next in line. Let's say AndyAaron gets it. He looks over the contents and decides what he thinks is cool. When I had the boxes making their way across the States, it was understood that you had to put stuff in if you removed more than one item. (I put at least one item in for every item I took out, sometimes more.) Andy AndyAaron would then repack the box and send it to the next MTo'er. The Stateside box kept growing in size. It's pretty cool to see how it grows, and you have to wonder who claimed the stuff you put in...

Yes, you put in as much as you take out, in value at least. You can for example take two 20€ items and put a 40€ item in its place, or the other way around. The real reason behind this is to give away things we don't use anymore but that we think will benefit someone else on this great forum. When you get the box, you get to keep what you like, but also play with a lot of things you've only seen online, but in person. It's a bit like an EDC Christmas for adults. 

[AndyAaron]

That sounds like big fun. Count me in.

1. Frenchephaisos
2. Antti Lammi
3. AndyAaron
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

[Antti Lammi]

Lets give this bit bumb

Only Tools Matters

[Farmer X]

It's a bit like an EDC Christmas for adults.

That's a very accurate statement. I know the EU members will have some fun with that box!

[AndyAaron]

However we need to find enough participants, I guess. I wrote a DMs to few members from my country that I know here but was not very successful to recruit new participants yet...

[Antti Lammi]

Hopefully we get more people to join this.

Only Tools Matters

[customod]

Sorry I was a bit asleep on this! I am in!

That sounds like fun.

1. Frenchephaisos
2. Antti Lammi
3. AndyAaron
4. Customod
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

[GearedForwards]

I'd be interested in this but... well, there was that whole Brexit thingy....

Do I still qualify?

[Antti Lammi]

I'd be interested in this but... well, there was that whole Brexit thingy....

Do I still qualify?

Can we send MTs or knives there? If we can i see no problem.

Only Tools Matters

[dks]

The issue with sending to the UK (and buying from the UK) is that the items you sent will be taxed by the UK when they arrive, and taxed again by the EU country they next arrive in, unless they miss it.
You can complete forms to show that the object you sent or receive has already been taxed in the EU or the UK, avoiding to pay double tax, but it is not simple.

Good luck with the GAW effort.

[Antti Lammi]

The issue with sending to the UK (and buying from the UK) is that the items you sent will be taxed by the UK when they arrive, and taxed again by the EU country they next arrive in, unless they miss it.
You can complete forms to show that the object you sent or receive has already been taxed in the EU or the UK, avoiding to pay double tax, but it is not simple.

Good luck with the GAW effort.

Well that sucks, i guess taxes go by value of item currently or does they go by retail price.

Only Tools Matters

[dks]

From what I know, at least here, there is a semi-automated system, that takes, I think, the declared value, if it seems reasonable, and sends us an email to go and pay, online, the tax, for the parcel to be released, if it comes from a third country.

[Antti Lammi]

From what I know, at least here, there is a semi-automated system, that takes, I think, the declared value, if it seems reasonable, and sends us an email to go and pay, online, the tax, for the parcel to be released, if it comes from a third country.

Is there value limit when you dont need to pay taxes, kinda sucks to pay taxes double when sending there. I kinda understand it but makes things annoying.

Only Tools Matters

[GearedForwards]

Is there value limit when you dont need to pay taxes, kinda sucks to pay taxes double when sending there. I kinda understand it but makes things annoying.

Only Tools Matters

You don't need to pay Import duty on anything under £135 and you don't need to pay VAT on gifts under £39 in value. iirc I think there's a 'we looked at it fee' from Parcel Force if they do need to intervene in tax stuff.

I don't mind some tax burden, but obviously the spirit is lost if it gets out of hand for members participating so I get it

[Frenchephaistos]

Maybe at one point in time, if the EU box works out, finish it by sending it to the UK, whose members can find a way to cover the extra cost… 
Brexit is a decision on which we probably all have different point of views, but in any case it should never become a wedge between the friends of this great forum that knows no border. The only problem here is legal and financial. Around that we can find a way, I'm sure.

But let's start by seeing how many EU members are game ! Even if you are not in Europe, please reach out and make this thread known to your EU contacts !

[styx]

1. Frenchephaisos
2. Antti Lammi
3. AndyAaron
4. Customod
5. Styx
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

[Frenchephaistos]

Great !

[Frenchephaistos]

But we need more people if we want this PassAround to get going ! Please contact your EU friends with a very short PM, a sentence and a link !

[IMR4198]

  One or two suggestions for you guys.  Since this box is going to be all your work, there is no reason that you should follow the rules we have on the US box.  The idea of replacing items with similar value might be a hang-up.  If you can get someone to accept shipment, keep something if they want, and put something back if they can, then ship to the next recipient that might be good enough. 
   Again, if knives are going to be a problem, there is no reason that you couldn't make it a box full of accessories.  Paracord items, sheaths, watches, pens, flashlights, or any other EDC type items.  You get to make that decision (along with all the others) by yourselves.  I would think 10 members might be enough to start the box rolling.  After it begins moving around, perhaps others will decide to join in. 
     Our rule about not saying what was in the box when you got it, and not saying what items you put back in is a good rule, I think.  Also the taking a photo and making a post of the items that each recipient kept is a good one.  Helps popularize the box and keeps people interested.  You are making a pretty good start.  Best wishes.  G
 

[Frenchephaistos]

Yeah, I thought we would follow the same rules in any case, they worked when I did something similar on a French knife forum.
Why would there be problems with knives ? Did I miss something ? Does anyone know of a country in EU with knife restrictions for shipping ?  I didn't think the customs would open anything in the EU. Was I just very lucky in the past ? Any hard evidence on the matter ?
The "take something, put something else in" rule sounded good to start with. I don't know how many items the box will start with, so we need . You are trying to thin down the US box, we might have to get it fatter to make it interesting.
If we can't get to 15 members, we might still start and hope others will see the fun going on and join. But I still hope for at least a dozen.

[IMR4198]

   Judging from the names of the EU members that you have already signed on, I am confident that you will find a way to accomplish your goals.  They seem to me to be a very resourceful group that are up to almost any task.  All I can do is wish all of you the very best. Gary (IMR)
 

[styx]

I don't want to get political, but we are feeling the effects of Brexit with this one

[Frenchephaistos]