I looked at getting a new plant sensor from Xiaomi but when I compared the price to Amazon it was pretty much the same price but a month longer shipping.
Then I looked back at my previous orders and I can see that the price per unit has gone up a lot.
Anyone else noticed this or is it just this product, or a special price for me since I have bought such sensors in the past?
Here the tax and custom exception that many countries outside EU had on small value packages have removed at July 1st.
It might be the same if you are in EU, because China is not listed as a third world country in the EU postal world anymore.
Removed? Sadly in EU is other way around: starting with July 1st additional 3€ duty is added for each product, imported from China, plus a small amount for “handling”, around 1-2€ (depending on customs, i guess).
The exception have been removed.
That is why you see the added tax.
In that way West is “fighting” against China. Now, local dealers, or should I say resellers, will make money getting same chinese things on bulk price then sell this to locals on much higer price.
Keep in mind before next voting.
I know about that 3 euro tax. But that does not explain the rest.
The price is more than 10€ higher as I can see it.
The tax/custom is around 3€, but there is probably a handling fee from your national postal service and AliExpress also have to do more work.
Here the tax/custom is per item line, so ordering 3 different items will mean 3 x 3€, where as 3 of the same items only means 1 x 3€.
If there are such handling fees then I don’t think it’s included in the price at AliExpress.
Not yet at least.
Isn’t it for item type? I’ve read somewhere that it was type and if it’s 3 electronic articles you pay only 3€>
I am not really certain. Even the authorities have a hard time explaining it.
The last statement they gave was that the custom was added to each item line entry on the invoice.
It is per item type, but to get that from AliExpress you need to get in touch with sellers as the website as is adds the fee per item.
The question is what is the item types.
We can differentiate clothes from electronics, but what about electronics?
In the tax system electronics are not just electronics.
An ESP device with PSRAM contains a storage media, so it goes into one section.
An ESP device without PSRAM goes into another section.
An ESP device with a recargeable battery goes into a third section.
I tested AliExpress yesterday and as @oliof said it adds a per item fee. And also electronics have so many different categories that probably the risk of failing and having to deal with customs directly is not worth the 3 euros
3€ by HS code.
AliExpress already add 3€.
Some strange VAT calculations.
Subtotal
20,75€
Shipping
6,47€
Customs Charges Estimate
8,78€
Vat adjustment
-5,09€
Total
30,91€
Safe to assume that unless you’re buying multiples of the same item, the other items will fall into a different category. You can take a look at the TARIC website, but at first glance, I’d expect those ESP devices to fall under at least 2 categories.
Just for fun, I had a look at the first things that come up if you run a blank search. This is the level of distinction they go down to for cattle, and that’s only part of a single page.
Your ESPs have no chance 
