Why do I have to pay tariffs for importing the following stuff into the EU now?

Submitted ⁨⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨TactMerc@retrofed.com⁩ to ⁨[deleted]⁩

I’ve heard they’ve rescinded the threshold on allowing duty free imports of 150€ and below (it used to exist). The thing is that I’m a avid Zelda fan and would rather import my Switch than paying 520€ for the console alone (the game is 70€), don’t even talk about the pro controller with the stand (that’s another 110€, like WTF?).

Now, I’ve listed the same counterparts upon pre-ordering these things alongside accessories:

Switch 2 (日本語・国内専用): ¥62,980 (~354€)
Zelda Pro Controller w/stand: ¥12,980 (~73€)
256GB Micro SD Card (Express): ¥12,000 (~67€)
Zelda (OoT) Remake: ¥7,755 (~43€)
TotK NS2 Edition: ¥7,264 (~40€)
BotW NS2 Edition: ¥7,236 (~40€)
Switch 2 Case: ¥3,790 (~21€)
Pro Controller Case: ¥2,490 (~14€)
Screen Protector: ¥1,598 (~9€)
Joy Con Stick Covers: ¥999 (~5€)

It adds up to ¥121,119 in customs value. The import VAT varies based on country, I won’t disclose where I reside but let’s say I’m importing to Spain where the rate is 21%. (This is after paying shipping costs via a courier).

spoiler

I’ve used a import duty calculator to estimate the quote, again: this is not representative of the real thing. DvQv26usRj2I7hx.png
850€?! ARE THEY INSANE! WHAT A RIP OFF!

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Comments

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Strider@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
ulovi.eu/…/customs-small-parcels-temu-shein-2026/

Temu, shein and AliExpress flooded customs over the breaking point, this is the reaction.

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- Successful_Try543@feddit.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  OP would have had to pay VAT for their purchase from outside EU even before the new regulation came into effect as its value is well above the 150 € limit.
  
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  - VibeSurgeon@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    VAT is applicable for all purchases regardless of the de minimis-limit.
    
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  - Strider@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    That too but he/she referred to the limit so should know it. Also asking for what changed, that’s how we got here. But you’re right its not really consistent.
    
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DupaCycki@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Honestly, if the tariff means Nintendo gets less money, then it isn’t all bad.

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blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
It’s weeb tax

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slazer2au@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Because a government official convinced a working group that it needs to happen.

Welcome to the backwards slide of international trade that the American idiots voted for twice.

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- Strider@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Well, there’s mostly temu and AliExpress to blame for that. They gamed the system, now the rules got changed.
  
  Sucks for me too but in general I agree it’s not okay to flood out customs over the threshold to (literally) ship garbage into the EU.
  
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  - ekky@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    It’s sad to see that we cannot have a system based on mutual respect. Someone will game the system which leads to heavily restrictive new rules for everybody. :(
    
    See also Radio Controlled crafts, AI (old definition, screw LLM and genAI), etc.
    
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- TactMerc@retrofed.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I would’ve paid over 1000€ if I’ve purchased the same stuff locally, still ain’t going to happen.
  
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  - slazer2au@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Youre complaining you aren’t getting enough of a discount?
    
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VibeSurgeon@piefed.social ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
This is above the de minimis-limit, so you would always have had to pay tariffs for this purchase.

As to why, it’s just quite simply how tariffs work.

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OriginEnergySux@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
That is so kawaiiiiii

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