Dali lektor 2 from UK

[deepakgang]

Friends,

This is just an announcement and open for suggestions and comments. Im in the UK and got a deal for Dali lektor 2. Its an unopened box from richer sounds and they are selling it for 149. If I get a VAT return at the airport, it will cost me about 120 which is about 9000 INR. Sounds like a good deal to me.. Ill be pairing them with my NAD amp and CA player.

I am also getting AKG 512 headphones for 1500 INR.. thinking about purchasing them as well.

Deepak

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

149. If I get a VAT return at the airport, it will cost me about 120

You won't get the full 20% back: there is a "handling charge." Think of the shop price as the price you pay, and any refund as a bonus.

 

[deepakgang]

Update - I wont get the refund as Im in work permit and not business visa.
I have bought the speakers last week. Sad as I need to keep them packed till I can pair them with my NADs back in India

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

If I remember right, to qualify, you need to be not resident in an EU country.

If that's correct, and you normally live and work in UK, then you probably don't qualify. However, I get the refund, and, never mind visa types: I'm a British citizen with a British passport!

All I can suggest is try... Obviously, that means getting the shop to give you the claim form. I don't see why they would not. Ultimately, the responsibility is with the Customs Officer that stamps it at the airport.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

PS... Here's the Customs rules:

3.Do I qualify to use the Scheme?

Yes if you are an overseas visitor:

(a) an overseas visitor is a traveller who is not established in the European Community (EC) (see (b) below if you are studying or working in the UK). This means that:

* your domicile or habitual place of residence is not situated within the European Community (EC); and
* you intend to leave the UK for a final destination outside the EC, with the goods, by the last day of the third month following that in which the goods were purchased; and
* you export the goods having produced them, their receipts and the VAT refund document to Customs at the point of departure from the EC.

(b) Non-EC residents studying or working in the UK or EC residents may also qualify to use the scheme if they intend to permanently leave the EC for a minimum period of 12 months. To qualify under this provision you must:

* intend to leave the UK with the goods by the last day of the third month following that in which the goods were purchased for an immediate destination outside the EC; and
* remain outside the EC for a period of at least 12 months; and
* export the goods having produced them, their receipts and the VAT refund document to Customs at the point of departure from the EC.

You can find them here

There is information here also from Premier which is [one of] the company that administers the scheme. You might have to select "UK" in the drop-down.

Don't give up yet!


(By the way, I never knew about the 12-month absence thing. That's a rule I might have broken!)

 

[deepakgang]

Great... Thanks. Even I have called up some friends and checked. I need to buy it withing 3 months of me leaving UK.

Also I heard that the VAT refund queues can be quite long. Should I opt for a cash refund? I saw in the website that I can arrange the refund with some private company as well.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I've only done this twice from Heathrow, and twice from Singapore. Whilst I've never encountered a long queue, I'm sure it's possible, and I'd suggest allowing plenty of time.

I can arrange the refund with some private company as well.

It will depend entirely on the scheme operated by the retailer. You may find that the credit to your card incurs a different charge than cash to your purse. Also, I find that the period they quote for crediting your card is fairly pessimistic: they say a month or more, but I find that the money is there in a few days.

 

[deepakgang]

Okay. I shall get the form stamped by Customs and then go to the counter for cash refunds. I can for sure spend an hour or two extra to get my money back

As the items might be send in as checked in baggage and not into the cabin, I guess Ill have to inform the customs before I go to check my luggage in. I dont remember seeing the customs in Heathrow though.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I think both my Heathrow refunds have been T4 (BA is the only direct Chennai flight). The counter, in that terminal, is in the main check-in area, on the same side as the check-in desks.

I don't recall being given the cash option. The only time I had this was my recent trip back from Singapore.

Do post your experiences!

 

[CeeKay]

Deepak,

Congratulations on your new buy, as 'Thad E Ginathom' said post your experiences additionally post your reviews on the Speaker.

Thanks

Cheers

Charan

 

[deepakgang]

I will as soon as I manage to use it. Im pushing my friend here to buy an amp. If he buys it ill pair them before coming back.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Congratulations on your new buy, as 'Thad E Ginathom' said post your experiences additionally post your reviews on the Speaker.

Actually, I meant experiences with the VAT refund system at Heathrow

But yes, sure.... about the speakers too, of course

 

[razor4077]

Purely from a speaker perspective, congrats
Lektor 2s are lovely speakers... really enjoyed listening to them, paired with a Marantz PM 7003.

 

[Guessboy]

Congrats on the purchase. ?

Do share your experience of getting these through the Chennai airport.

I am in the market for a new set of speakers, and may be traveling to UK shortly - just wondering if I should hold out till then.