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Calling Irish Pricescopers!!!

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mjd

Rough_Rock
Joined
Jan 14, 2007
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...could do with your advice...

We are ready to buy the engagement - v exciting!! My dilemma is do I buy here or buy from US and get bigger rock?! The setting we want is ''Hearts on Fire'' - i''ll post a link below. My concern from buying from US is that it will get stopped by customs here. I know we will have to pay roughly 25% customs - thats ok we''re still making a saving. My worry is that the ring might get damaged/lost! We were at a jewellers today and the manager said something about customs damaging rings when they hallmark them (apparently they have to be hallmarked when they come in to the EU from outside) and that there might be a big delay in getting the ring. Until today I was planning on buying the stone from Whiteflash and getting them to set in the HOF setting (they kindly said that this would be poss). Now i''m thinking we''ll just get the ring in Ireland to save all the hassle.

Any Irish girls out there have any advice for me - really not sure what to do now.
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http://www.heartsonfire.com/#/us/en-us/diamond-collection/view-details.php?item_id=3068&item_name=Truly%20Bridal%20Leaf%20Three-Stone&style_name=TrueL3R&type_id=1&type_name=Rings&subtype_id=1&subtype_name=Engagement%20Rings
 
Hi Star17!

I''m sorry I can''t offer any advice since I am not in Ireland, however, I just wanted to share with you that I think your selected setting is really beautiful!

I hope you get it! Good luck!
 
Hiya. I''m not in Ireland but across the water in Scotland. You should take full advantage of the exchange rate plus the fact that you''re getting more bang for your buck AND......whiteflash have amazing quality. Purchase from the US. Yes you may have a wee bit of hassle but it will be worth it.

Check this out https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/customs-have-siezed-everything.72935/.

Steel had some problems but if you work with Customs before you receive your goods then it should be all good.

Good luck with your decision and whatever it is you know everyone will be expecting lots of photos.
 
Have you thought about coming over here yourselves? You could see the ring in person, avoid customs altogether by wearing the ring back, and best of all, you''ll have a really good story to tell for years to come!
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Date: 11/25/2007 2:49:06 AM
Author: onvacation
Have you thought about coming over here yourselves? You could see the ring in person, avoid customs altogether by wearing the ring back, and best of all, you''ll have a really good story to tell for years to come!
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At the risk of repeating myself AGAIN.... its against the law if you don''t declare your purchase to customs when you return home.

As for customs hallmarking your jewellery - I have never heard of that. My ring is only stamped by Whiteflash.
 
Hi, I''m in Ireland and I got my ring in the US. We saved so much money. Although we went over there ourselves to pick our ring, you can definitely get much better quality and also a big ring, even with the customs charge. Best of luck picking your ring!
 
Thanks for the advice guys and thanks for the link Po. We''d love to go to the US but won''t be possible because of work and family commitments. We''ve decided to go ahead if Whiteflash can do it before xmas - really hope they can!! I promise loads of pics when we get the ring. My biggest worry is customs but I think the jeweller may just have been trying to scare us off buying from US in the hope that we would buy from him. I''m going to ring Whiteflash tomorrow. . . Wish us luck!!
 
Whiteflash are really good to work with. I am waiting for my upgrade to be sent to me. Its hopefully leaving them either tomorrow or Tuesday.
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I'm sure that they will help you get your ring before Christmas if they can. Make sure you let them know how soon you need it and if its possible, they will do it.
 
Thanks Maisie - just wondering - Did you arrange insurance for the shipping or did Wf organise that? U must be really ecited about getting your upgrade. I love your setting by the way - v elegant!
 
Date: 11/25/2007 2:49:06 AM
Author: onvacation
Have you thought about coming over here yourselves? You could see the ring in person, avoid customs altogether by wearing the ring back, and best of all, you'll have a really good story to tell for years to come!



At the risk of repeating myself AGAIN.... its against the law if you don't declare your purchase to customs when you return home.

As for customs hallmarking your jewellery - I have never heard of that. My ring is only stamped by Whiteflash.


Woah there Maisie, no need for the excessive bold font!

When I said "avoid customs," I only meant that there's less risk going through customs in person with the ring on you, instead of being at their complete mercy when they open the parcel up in a dark dinghy room somewhere where they could possibly damage/alter/lose the ring. I've seen people lose all kinds of stuff after their boxes were opened at customs - even cars! (Incredible, I know, but sadly very true..)

Perhaps I should have been a little more specific, but I was in no way implying that they should not pay customs fees, and funny you should interpret it that way especially since that was the main issue for the OP.



sheesh.
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Best of luck on your ring, Star! They have beautiful stones, and will really work with you! Keep us updated
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We are ready to buy the engagement - v exciting!! My dilemma is do I buy here or buy from US and get bigger rock?! The setting we want is 'Hearts on Fire' - i'll post a link below. My concern from buying from US is that it will get stopped by customs here. I know we will have to pay roughly 25% customs - thats ok we're still making a saving. My worry is that the ring might get damaged/lost! We were at a jewellers today and the manager said something about customs damaging rings when they hallmark them (apparently they have to be hallmarked when they come in to the EU from outside) and that there might be a big delay in getting the ring. Until today I was planning on buying the stone from Whiteflash and getting them to set in the HOF setting (they kindly said that this would be poss). Now i'm thinking we'll just get the ring in Ireland to save all the hassle.



 
Onvacation,

The bold font was used to make my point. There have been many posts lately where people are being encouraged to purchase goods abroad, then come through customs without declaring them. It is against the law to do this.

I pay my charges every time. I could do what you were advising and save myself quite a few hundred pounds - but I don''t want to break the law.

You said:

''Have you thought about coming over here yourselves? You could see the ring in person, avoid customs altogether by wearing the ring back, and best of all, you''ll have a really good story to tell for years to come!''

Yet in your second post you said:

''Perhaps I should have been a little more specific, but I was in no way implying that they should not pay customs fees, and funny you should interpret it that way especially since that was the main issue for the OP.''

I''m not sure that its clear from your first post that you still advise paying customs, as you are clearly making a suggestion how to '' avoid customs altogether''.

All I am trying to do is make sure the correct information is out there for people buying from the states.
 
Date: 11/25/2007 4:03:02 PM
Author: Star17
Thanks Maisie - just wondering - Did you arrange insurance for the shipping or did Wf organise that? U must be really ecited about getting your upgrade. I love your setting by the way - v elegant!
I think the ring is insured until its delivered to you. Whiteflash use Fedex to ship your parcel.

This is from the FAQ on the Whiteflash website:

All purchases made from outside the USA must be paid by bank wire, not credit card. There is an extra charge for FEDEX international shipping/insurance. Contact us for details. We ship FEDEX priority international and the package and is usually in your hands within 3 days.

You don't qualify for free shipping if you aren't in the US. I think shipping is approx $110

I bought the setting and the diamond from Whiteflash. I have no hesitation in recommending them to you. The quality of their jewellery is excellent.
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Hi Star17!
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Go and read Steel''s thread over in Hangout - there''s some important stuff in there about importing jewellery that you should know before you go ahead. Particularly, be aware that your jewellery may need to clear both customs AND the assay office in Dublin Castle. Items stopped in Dublin Castle are often deposited there (if they''re opened, the can''t be released back to the original courier apparently). You may have to collect it yourself or else pay a courier extra to repackage it and bring it to you.

Now, on the hallmarks, I''ve never had jewellery shipped in to Ireland but I was shocked that a jeweller told you customs would hallmark your jewellery! That sounded like scaremongering to me (particularly with the implication that they would butcher your ring!) so I did some research.

The Hallmarking Act 1981 provides that only hallmarks made by the ASSAY MASTER (in Dublin Castle), the UK hallmarking authorities, or recognised international authorities are valid hallmarks. In other words, CUSTOMS cannot impose hallmarks. The assay master is a jeweller, so hopefully any marks imposed by him should not be butcher-ish.

Further, section 4 (2) of the Hallmarking Act 1981 says that:

(2) Notwithstanding any enactment passed before the commencement of this Act, an imported article of precious metal which bears an international hallmark referred to in section 2 (1) (c) (ii) of this Act and which conforms to the Irish standards of fineness shall not require further assaying or hallmarking in the State.

And section 4 (3) of the same Act says:

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, the Assay Master may at his discretion carry out such random or periodical tests as he thinks necessary or desirable to ensure conformity with the Irish standards of fineness, or to detect forgery.

The net outcome is that the US hallmarks on Whiteflash''s jewellery should be perfectly acceptable to the Assay Master here. He may decide to test your jewellery to ensure it conforms with those marks. If he does such tests, there is a chance that he may place the Irish hallmark on it. Then again, if it does conform with the hallmarks on it, and seeing as the international marks are recognised here, then there should be no need for him to place the Irish hallmark on it.

I would just ring them and ask!

Customs (Dublin - Custom House): (01) 877 6200

Customs (Shannon): (061) 716 113 (passenger terminal)
Customs (Shannon): (061) 716 100 (cargo terminal)

Assay Office (Dublin Castle): (01) 475 1286

Good luck and congratulations!!!
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Delster, wouldn''t this hallmarking stuff only apply if you were importing jewellery into Ireland to sell it in a shop? I don''t know that its relevent to someone buying it for personal use.

Of course I could be wrong - its not unheard of
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Date: 11/26/2007 7:22:52 AM
Author: Maisie
Delster, wouldn''t this hallmarking stuff only apply if you were importing jewellery into Ireland to sell it in a shop? I don''t know that its relevent to someone buying it for personal use.


Of course I could be wrong - its not unheard of
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I read the Act pretty quick and I didn''t see any distinction being made between goods being imported for a commercial or a private purpose but I think you''re probably right Maisie!
 
Delster thanks so much for the info and the numbers. I''m goin to call customs as soon as i order the ring so I can warn them its on the way and hopefully make the process easier.

Maisie I think you''re right, I was talking to another jeweller today and i think they only hallmark when it is going to a retailer.

I''ll let you guys know how i get on!!
 
Date: 11/26/2007 5:00:40 PM
Author: Star17
Delster thanks so much for the info and the numbers. I''m goin to call customs as soon as i order the ring so I can warn them its on the way and hopefully make the process easier.

Maisie I think you''re right, I was talking to another jeweller today and i think they only hallmark when it is going to a retailer.

I''ll let you guys know how i get on!!
So are you getting a ring and not just a diamond? What did you choose?
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Can Whiteflash get this setting for you?
 
aye, my first thoughts on reading about the jewellers was it was a scare tatic designed to put you off the idea... or just mis quoting rules... weither by mistake or purpose. (ie they have to have imported rings hallmarked, and think it applies to all imported rings)

Good Luck - you''ll love the outcome
 
Maisie - Whiteflash can set the diamonds for me - plannin to get three ACAs - approx .35 .75 .35 ...CAN''T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!
 
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