PS3 Parcel Force and customs

[Weinberg]

I've imported a Japanese PS3, and a form arrived today from HM Customs and Excise asking for some more details of the parcel-basically the full value of the goods ('this is the total of all amounts paid and to be paid...').

So, must I include how much I actually paid for it, for certain? On the first page, it simply mentions 'post or fax with either a copy of the shipping invoice or other evidence of the full value of the goods', so I don't see why I can't send confirmation of the RRP of the 60GB PS3 in Japan. Or must I send the receipt of how much I paid myself for it?

[Pavey]

Send them the rrp and see if they then come back to you asking what you paid.

1 step at a time. Either way i guess your getting import duty.

[Weinberg]

I want to do that, I'm just concerned by the 'heavy penalties for false declarations' bit on the form. Is it really a false declaration though...as the first page does simply state to send 'evidence of the full value of the goods', and the 'value' I assume is what the products sells for, as the actual 'value' is far less than what I paid...

[Pavey]

Scare mongering i think. Can they prove you paid more than the rrp? Do you have a receipt,and if so can you get a duplicate at the rrp.

[Strolls]

...On the first page, it simply mentions 'post or fax with either a copy of the shipping invoice or other evidence of the full value of the goods', so I don't see why I can't send confirmation of the RRP of the 60GB PS3 in Japan. Or must I send the receipt of how much I paid myself for it?

Hmmm... one could have an interesting discussion about the meaning of "value" here; I would dare to say that customs would argue that the "real value" is whatever you were prepared to pay for it, were that above RRP. But I'd bet they'd argue the value was RRP if you won it in a competition, the bastards.

If you bought this from a private seller in Japan I'd mail them & ask them to email you a scan of the original receipt, if they still have it. Or try to find someone else who bought, in Japan, a PS3 at retail. I think customs would accept a receipt much more readily than a magazine advertisement or other more generic proof of RRP.

I'm right in thinking you're asking this because you paid more than RRP on your purchase?

Stroller.