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#325824 02/28/09 08:24 PM
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Hi, I've just come back from a stay in the Cayes and on my last night I went shopping for souvenirs in the Belize Arts Shop in San Pedro. I ring with blue opals set in sterling silver caught my eye but none of the stock fitted my fingers! The ring was priced at $220 Belize. The very next day I saw exactly the same ring for sale in one of the 'duty free' shops in Belieze Int Airport for $76 Belize. Luckily the ring fitted so I bought it! I told the shop keeper at the Airport about the price of the same ring in San Pedro and she was shocked. I cannot believe the price difference is solely down to 'duty'. I was lucky, but I would have felt pretty cheated if I had paid the San Pedro price. If this is a general indication of the mark-up on items sold by Belize Arts other visitors need to be fore-warned!!

sailingfreak #325827 02/28/09 09:20 PM
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thanks for the post. Not sure people realize it. I know I have worked in Guatemala and the nice Guatemala things sold in SP you can get in Guatemala city for much, much less. But these people do travel a long way and the cost of living is much higher in SP.
Mary


mary
sailingfreak #325829 02/28/09 09:25 PM
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fitted?

SnoopysMom #325850 03/01/09 01:25 AM
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Boy, my experience has been just the opposite. I shop at Belizean Arts all the time. Their prices are high, but the quality of their work is good. On my last trip I saw a piece at the airport shop (the only one that sells good jewelry) and it was more than double the price I paid at Belizean Arts. I always kill time in that shop. So I think that you for a very good deal or a mismarked piece of jewelry and a new sales associate that didn't know the difference.

PSSunshinegal #325865 03/01/09 09:48 AM
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We just had an experience with customs and duty with a 6 string bass someone sent for Derrick, and if the formula they tried to use is any indication then the difference in price could have EASILY been mark up from the customs and duty office.
I don't remember the actual break down but here is formula close as I recall.

Duty on a piece of jewelry for 76$ would be about 80% (76% is what they tried to charge us on the bass and musical instruments are duty free)
Price just jumped to 136$
Environmental tax 10% 149$
10% GST 165$
One more "handling fee" and a postage fee or something brings the total to 190$
The seller has to get the item to the Cayes. He has to pay the staff, overhead, etc at his store. So a mark up by him of 15% percent brings the total to 220$.
Pardon my math, it isn't dead on but it is close.
Doing business here is costly. You can get ripped off if you look in the right places, but I think this wasn't one of those times.


Last edited by lil'red; 03/01/09 10:14 AM. Reason: Pardon my spelling too
lil'red #325878 03/01/09 10:49 AM
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It's always odd to me when someone seems happy to pay x for something - until they see it cheaper somewhere else and then suddenly it's a rip off. Things are worth what you are prepared to pay for them and you seemed prepared to pay the original price, yet now you try and publicly discredit the store.

Phil #325901 03/01/09 01:36 PM
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I purchased a couple of rings at the jade museum and the prices were incredible as well as the quality. I get so many compliments on the pink jade, my mom hade me pick her up a ring this trip as a "suprise" for her birthday. I felt them to be very honest and no charge for sizing you may want to check them next time.

suecate #325907 03/01/09 02:23 PM
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Belize Customs & Excise Department has a list of rates on goods commonly imported as "accompanied baggage". www.CUSTOMS.GOV.BZ/baggage.html
The website lists percentage of duty taxes etc. that should be charged for many different items and Lil Red is correct as Musical instruments (Except steel band instruments)??? are exempt from duty. Jewelry is 50% + 10% Revenue replacement duty rate - RRDR (Whatever that is suposed to mean) confused unrecorded Compact disc = 45% - Recorded no charge confused confused confused crazy

2MILESNORTHOFCUT #325910 03/01/09 02:49 PM
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Heck ! I said I'd bring down a stack of 100 DVD's for a school there. I guess I could put one picture on each one. frown




Nancy1340 #325943 03/01/09 06:52 PM
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Phil - it is true to say I would have paid the original price, but that was on the assumption that it was fair and reasonable - and would be the same price elsewhere. However, I do take on board the comments about duty and taxes as made by other responders, which seem very high indeed and could potentially account for much of the price differential. In these circumstances will count myself lucky in my purchase, I have no wish to discredit the store. In fact, I bought a Papo from them the same evening, which is absolutely beautiful and worth every cent. However, it is still fair to warn other visitors of the consequences of the duty and taxes applicable.

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