Hi Greg

Yes, I have just had a parcel returned from Marklin as well. If you study the documentation, it basically states something about import duty and I expect Marklin are not prepared to pay it. The sent items that have got through, were warranty items discussed previously with the service department. Maybe they were prepared to pay it. Your turntable should be under warranty though.

I used the HS code of 9801, warranty return, this did not help.

Also maybe there has been a change in the import rules, as it has only recently that there has been this problem.

It is not only Marklin that is doing this. I was talking to a member of the Sydney Marklin club.He returned a Marklin loco under warranty to a shop in Germany, and it was also sent back. He said, the only way to get it through customs is to declare it is worth nothing.

regards
David

Could they have been on holidays ?

When shipping back to Maerklin, you need to complete the following paperwork:
https://www.maerklin.de/...sendebeleg_Ma__rklin.pdf

It is also recommended that the invoice and parcel be labelled as follows:

Contents:
Model Trains - Warranty Repair
Trains Miniatures - Reparation
Modellbahn - Reparatur

If German customs does not have the information, they may submit a request for duty and MWSt (VAT) from the receiver, which could lead to Maerklin refusing the delivery

It does not help that the international language of the UPU (Universal Postal Union) is French, but many of the customs officials attached to the Import Processing Centres may only speak the local language and maybe English

I hope that this helps.

Regards,

Mike C

Dear All

Below is what appeared added at return on a recent repair, sent to Marklin.
It has been Google translated into English.
Quite obviously an import duty problem.

I will add the bits Mlke C suggested, good points, thank you.

Best regards
David



Waren, die nicht die vorausetzungen der artikel und 29 des vertrags uber die arbeitsweise der europaischen union erfullen.

Goods that do not meet the requirements of Articles and 29 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

Als im freien Verkehr eines Mitgliedstaats befindlich gelten diejenigen Waren aus dritten Ländern, für die in dem betreffenden Mitgliedstaat die Einfuhrförmlichkeiten erfüllt sowie die vorgeschriebenen Zölle und Abgaben gleicher Wirkung erhoben und nicht ganz oder teilweise rückvergütet worden sind.

Goods from third countries are deemed to be in free circulation in a Member State for which the import formalities have been completed in the Member State concerned and the prescribed customs duties and charges having equivalent effect have been levied and have not been reimbursed in whole or in part.

Die Union umfasst eine Zollunion, die sich auf den gesamten Warenaustausch erstreckt; sie umfasst das Verbot, zwischen den Mitgliedstaaten Ein- und Ausfuhrzölle und Abgaben gleicher Wirkung zu erheben, sowie die Einführung eines Gemeinsamen Zolltarifs gegenüber dritten Ländern.

The Union comprises a customs union covering all exchanges of goods; it includes the ban on levying import and export duties and charges having equivalent effect between the Member States and the introduction of a Common Customs Tariff vis-à-vis third countries.

Thanks for the information fellas.

I have booked an appointment with the German consulate here in Sydney on9th March 2023. Hopefully I can get to the bottom of this problem. I'll keep you posted if I get any news.
Regards
Greg

I've onced returned an item to ESU but luckely enough they've paid what ever they had to pay for but they advised me to put a value of no more than A$ 5.00 onto the item and since than it worked fine., I also once returned an item with my business name and you had to fill in a proper form, when you bought thenitem, invoice etc etc., so this was the last tiem I used my business name

John

I think he would have been retiring age a long time ago, epecially with German or Austrian retiring ages but being a private firm he may staid on longer, I do return faulty sound decoders to Germany (ESU) under guarantee and send them as a letter with a declaration and pay A$ 3.70 postage, its a risk taking but so far all the letters have arrived at ESU without any trouble., sending it as a parcel would cost heaps more although its only less than 20g., the postoffice do not except it so I just put it in the letter box and no one queeries it.

John