Quote from: S.Yu on March 29, 2020, 12:44:12
I have to agree, but deal with a seller with a good reputation that provides some sort of customer protection. Just because it's grey imported doesn't mean there's zero guarantee whatsoever, because certain companies do have somewhat lax QC and you get more duds than usual, like Lenovo, LG, and yes, Xiaomi.
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Some sellers should be able to circumvent VAT...IMO you're actually paying for the European rent of brick and mortar stores and high minimum wages, also the cleaner system without as many ads baked in, so Xiaomi was likely selling at razor thin margins before in EU, just to make their name.
Of course you have a guarantee. In China, under Chinese consumer protection laws. A problem when buying from far away is shipping. They might ship for peanuts as the shipping is subsidized by the Chinese government AIUI. But I have to pay for returning it. And it's going to take time.
I guess it depends on how good is your state at collecting taxes. Whoever imports the merchandise is responsible for paying VAT and other taxes. And even if I manage to get it into the country without having to pay when it crosses the border, I'm still responsible and liable. Not paying is a crime. Of course, there is a simple way of getting it through customs if the seller is cooperative - lying on declaration. But that effectively prevents insurance (you can't claim it's worth €50 and then insure it to €1000). And without having a proof of having paid the taxes, they can demand I pay retrospectively and can confiscate it. That's more hypothetical, but everything expensive can attract their attention when crossing border in the future. And if the device lacks markings mandatory in the EU (which Chinese versions can lack), it's a dead giveaway it's an individual import (it's illegal to sell it here).
At least in electronics stores I buy from, staff has nowhere near minimum wage. Perhaps warehouse drones at the distributor, but I wouldn't bet on it. Maybe the Ukrainian janitor? But we don't have the highest minimum wage in the Union. Also, VAT is not the only thing you're supposed to pay. With trade wars, one would think people are aware that there are such things as tariffs. AFAIK, we don't have an FTA with China. And there are other things (which don't concern individual imports). Like fees for recycling. Our pretty comprehensive warranty guaranteed by law for at least two years. Or fees for the movie and music industries as compensation for piracy. Etc. It varies from country to country. All of that has to be paid for.