Today's reflection: US customs duties.
I really enjoy retro-computing. The question I hadn't really settled until now was: with retro components or with modern components? After the Z80 disappeared, the only 8-bit family left was the 6502, still manufactured by Western Design Center (WDC).
I'm currently spending some of my free time on the little Cody computer and the Memo-1, both based on the W65C02S from WDC. On the other hand, I also took an interest in the Commander X16, also based on the W65C02S, because I found that machine interesting.
To keep going with the subject and especially to build the Memo-1 board, I just placed an order for a few W65C02S processors and peripheral circuits from Mouser.
And this morning, the big surprise. Between the shipping costs and the taxes already paid, which already came to €28 for a total component price of €67.35—i.e., fees equivalent to 41.5% of the product amount—UPS has just billed me €49.14 in customs duties. The total fees for this order therefore amount to €77.14, or 114.53% of the value of the goods.
To be perfectly clear about that last sentence: I paid €77.14 in shipping, taxes, and customs fees for a component total of €67.35.
This is quite simply armed robbery. That reminds me exactly of Apple's business practices, which is why I have never bought any Apple products.
- My decision is simple: components of this kind from the United States—It's over.
- Retro-computing with retro components—It's over.
Period.
Americans are definitely no longer my friends!
Thanks to whom?
Thanks, Donald!
