KimchiDVD - SteelBook Retailer Chat Thread

Feel free to discuss shipping, customer service, availability, etc about this retailer here.

List of Kimchidvd.com Exclusives HERE


Frequently Asked Questions:

Q) What is the link to Kimchidvd?
A)Welcome to KIMCHI DVD
Q) I haven't mastered Korean yet - how can I read the site?!
A) Install Google translate on your browser:

Google Chrome HERE
Firefox HERE

Q) How do I register?
A) Turn on Google translate >> Login >> click on "If members to join ..." >> fill in EVERY box >>
click on this box to ensure your member ID is available:

>> Sign up!

You don't need to use Google Translate to register, provided you use the English registration link.

Spoiler

You need to enter both a Celluar phone (mobile) and Telephone number when registering/placing an order, however they can both be the same number (I don't have a home phone number, so always use my mobile number).
Numbers should be entered without a proceeding 0 and you do not need to enter your country code (KimchiDVD add it automatically to your parcel label).

So a UK phone (01452 123123) is specified like this:
Local Area Code : 1452 Phone Number : 123123

A UK mobile (07847 123123) is specified like this:
Local Area Code : 7847 Phone Number : 123123

If you have already registered, afterlogging in you can update your address/phone numbers here.

Q) Do they ship outside of Korea?
A) Yes, worldwide delivery, various shipping options available, for example to UK: (1 x steelbook)

K-Packet is tracked and one Steelbook to UK (with a weight of 450g - which is the typical weight for a lenticular) costs $10.81.

Spoiler

On average it takes around 7 days after dispatch to arrive in the UK - I always use K-Packet when placing orders and my orders have always arrived safely.

I'm not sure if it's insured or not (there's no mention) but assuming you pay via PayPal, their guarantee will cover you if you don't receive your order for some reason.

You can track your K-Packet order using this website, however tracking information isn't always accurate after leaving Korea (e.g. sometimes it doesn't update again before it's delivered, or even after if your postman doesn't bother getting a signature).

EMS $21.80 (Tracked, replacement will be issued where possible if lost)
TNT Premium $37.80 (Tracked, replacement will be issued where possible if lost)

Q) What form of packing do they use?
A) Cardboard Box, with enough bubblewrap to keep things safe, see below: (Thanks to SBC28 for pics)

Spoiler

A pretty sturdy box, which seemingly took some damage during shipping.
(These are pretty much always the same boxes.)

Enough space for the item to "breathe", but snug enough to stop it from moving.
(That white thing is the invoice, which i choose to include, since i am in the USA.)

6 layers of bubble wrap.

Another shot of the bubble wrap, one sheet (4 layers) removed.

One minty mint SB, all the way from Korea.

Q) Is the retailer custom's friendly? (i.e will they mark as gift, or low value).
A) Very friendly, you have various options to choose from:

Spoiler

Q) Will the retailer charges upon order or upon shipment
A) You will be charged upon order

Q) What payment do they accept?
A) Card or Paypal

Q) Customer Services any good?
A) Yes - overall a very good, reliable site to order from.

Cancellations: Send an email to [email protected], including the number of the order you wish to cancel. He'll get back to you as soon as he can.

Replacements: are issued if in stock, if not a refund will be offered.
Refunds: They are normally processed within a few days.

 

[augustus]

I still don't understand how this works as I have no import duty charge and no excise duty just a Royal Mail handling charge of £8.00 + VAT making it £14.78 see below:

Without sight of the actual Customs Declaration affixed to the package, I've had to essentially reverse calculate to ascertain what has happened in your case. I'm working on the assumption that this took place this month (August 2014), since the official HMRC exchange rate changes on a month to month basis.

The value used by HMRC to calculate how much Import VAT was due was (USD) $57.78. Unless HMRC have opened the package and estimated what they believe to be the true value of the goods, this is the value that was written or printed on the Customs Declaration. If shipping costs were shown separately, they will have been included in the total value of $57.78 for VAT purposes.

The official HMRC exchange rate for August 2014 is £1 = $1.7042. The declared value of $57.78 converts to £33.90 at that exchange rate. Import VAT at 20% is then calculated on the value of £33.90, which gives you the amount of £6.78 VAT. The Royal Mail have then added their handling charge of £8, which gives you the total amount due of £14.78.

As others here have already pointed out, Import Duty only becomes liable when the value of the goods is much higher, actually when the value exceeds £135, whilst Excise Duty is only levied on dutiable goods, such as alcohol and tobacco.

Hope this helps.

 

[augustus]

Yes may have been $25.99 value, to be honest im usually in such a rush to get my kimchi order done that i dont have time to think clearly about changing values, i had steels in my basket before and they sold out before i checked out . I ordered a dozen or more times from kimchidvd and its just the last 3 got hit, some you win some you lose. I will be making more effort in the future to change the values down some more. If i miss out theres always plenty on HDN and ebay anyway, im not sure why i panic so much if i miss out. and thanks for taking the time for such a long reply with so much info.

I've done some calculations based on what you've stated you have been charged. The two Royal Mail packages each resulted in you having to pay charges of £11.06. If you remove the RM handling charge of £8, this leaves an amount of £3.06 in Import VAT. This is the correct amount due on a declared value of $25.99, Kimchi's default value.

As regards the EMS/Parcelforce package, it's a bit more difficult to ascertain. The total fees were £22.04, of which Parcelforce's handling charge was £13.50, which leaves an amount of £8.54 in Import VAT. This equates to the VAT due on a value of $72.79. The problem with using EMS, as opposed to Korea Post (K-Packet), is that they require a commercial invoice for each package, which will show the real value of the item purchased plus actual shipping costs. It doesn't matter, therefore, what you get Kimchi to put on the Customs Declaration and the customer invoice sent inside the package. HMRC will go by the commercial invoice, usually contained in a plastic sleeve attached to the outside of the package. It's for this reason that people using EMS continually get stung with Customs charges and why I always use the K-Packet option.

 

[shadow2351jl]

Yes may have been $25.99 value, to be honest im usually in such a rush to get my kimchi order done that i dont have time to think clearly about changing values, i had steels in my basket before and they sold out before i checked out . I ordered a dozen or more times from kimchidvd and its just the last 3 got hit, some you win some you lose. I will be making more effort in the future to change the values down some more. If i miss out theres always plenty on HDN and ebay anyway, im not sure why i panic so much if i miss out. and thanks for taking the time for such a long reply with so much info.

Kimchi have the two options available for Merchandise and Gift,

Write US$ [Your Value] on customs slip & Invoice
Write US$ [Your Value] on customs slip + Online Invoice with the same amount.
We will write above amount on customs slip, and the online invoice will show also above amount.

OR

Write US$ [Your Value] on customs slip + Original Invoice
Write US$ [Your Value] on customs slip + Online Invoice with the real amount you paid.
We will write above amount on customs slip, and the online invoice will show the real amount you paid.

When I got caught out I had selected the second option with a value of $20, however, when I use the first option I never get caught. This may be where people are getting caught out. Just a thought.

Oh and when it comes to marking stuff TO the UK as a gift, best to do it with third party sellers (eBay etc) rather than actual legitimate companies, I think Customs and Excise have gotten wise to that, at least in my experience.

 

[Ben]

Well all I can say is what a shocking service from Tony from start to finish. At least I assume it's finished as Tony is no longer bothering to reply to my emails, I don't have the Blu-ray I pre-ordered or anyway to get a refund! First time and last time customer, here's my experience of dealing with Tony & Kimchi.

Sorry in advance for the long post.

My pre-order was late arriving along with other members on this forum. I assumed it was delayed in the post until I received a rather curt (I assumed that this was down to the language barrier) email from Tony 21st July informing me that my order had been returned to them as undelivered and that I needed to pay to have it sent again. I didn't receive a dispatch notice so didn't know it had been sent. (Not sure if they do this or not?)

I asked for the tracking info, why it had been returned and what delivery address had been used.

I received a reply 3 days later with an incorrect delivery address that was it.

I immediately replied stating that the address was wrong and not how it had been entered into the system. Again I asked for the tracking info, 2 days later I received what I can only assume what was copy & pasted tracking info. Again nothing else!

I replied stating I could see that the parcel didn't even leave South Korea due to the wrong delivery address this was the immediate response I received

"We have shipped as your information.

We dont know about it.

And if you want to get the down value in order to avoid the customs charge, you have to mark on customs slip as Gift USD20.00"

I explained that the email didn't makes any sense to me and that I entered my address correctly and if their system deviated from the information entered that isn't my fault. The fact that the blu-ray didn't even arrive the UK says it all. I also don't have to worry about any customs charges as I am in the Channel Islands and there aren't any.

That was the last I have heard from Tony and that was on the 24th July.

Since then I have sent 2 further emails, one on the 30th July and the other on the 8th of August. I'm still waiting for a reply.

E2A

I have just checked my account and can see that I have previously ordered Hansel & Gretel Witch Hunters from them without a problem. The separate orders delivery addresses are identical, this fault lies completely with Kimchi.

 

[Cymon H]

well this is what thought but customs opened the package and opened the shrinkwrap on the blu ray and the damaged the digibook by cellotaping it back , it was marked as $20 and gift

My copy of Rush was marked merchandise $25.99 customs did not even open it but I still got hit for £3.00 plus the £8.00 handling fee. Also got hit for £20.00 for 3 copies of Perfume, bloody sick of it.

 

[whysoserious?]

yeah kimchi dont want to know when u contact them either

 

[Ashcroft]

Don't mark things as a gift. Not only does it achieve bugger all, but it makes your parcel much more likely to get checked out and opened. I mean if you saw a package stamped with a company logo, but marked as gift, I'm sure you could figure out it was a lie. And once it's opened, it doesn't matter how much value you've declared, customs can use the internet to check the real price, and you're screwed.

Mark everything as merchandise, and keep the value at a figure ending in .99 that is also under £14 to be safe. $22.99 is usually safe. You're still probably out of luck if your item gets opened, but this will reduce your chances of that happening.

 

[augustus]

My copy of Rush was marked merchandise $25.99 customs did not even open it but I still got hit for £3.00 plus the £8.00 handling fee. Also got hit for £20.00 for 3 copies of Perfume, bloody sick of it.

They didn't need to open the package because the declared value of (USD) $25.99 was in excess of £15 and, therefore, liable to be surcharged. The official HMRC exchange rate for August 2014 is £1 = $1.7042, therefore, £15 = $25.56. I know your package was only 43 cents over the limit but you're dealing with bureaucrats.

You appear to have placed your order retaining Kimchi's default value of $25.99, instead of altering it to a lower value of your own choosing.

 

[augustus]

yeah kimchi dont want to know when u contact them either

I understand that you're angry at having to pay additional Customs charges and then finding that they'd also damaged the item when they opened the package. I'm puzzled, however, as to why you seem to hold Kimchi responsible for what has happened.

Kimchi is one of the few online retailers that not only allows its customers the option of choosing whether to have the goods described as merchandise or a gift, but also provides them with the ability to select their own value to be placed on the Customs Declaration and invoice.

In spite of those available options, you appear to have selected the one which virtually guaranteed the package would attract the attention of HMRC, describing it as a gift. If Kimchi followed your instructions in so describing it, they can hardly be held responsible for what followed.

One small consolation, is that you do have a claim against HMRC and/or Royal Mail in respect of the damage caused when your package was opened for Customs examination. My understanding is that the carrier, in this case Royal Mail, is responsible for actually opening the package, whilst HMRC are responsible for examining its contents once opened. You'll find the procedure to be followed on the HMRC website.

 

[whysoserious?]

I understand that you're angry at having to pay additional Customs charges and then finding that they'd also damaged the item when they opened the package. I'm puzzled, however, as to why you seem to hold Kimchi responsible for what has happened.

Kimchi is one of the few online retailers that not only allows its customers the option of choosing whether to have the goods described as merchandise or a gift, but also provides them with the ability to select their own value to be placed on the Customs Declaration and invoice.

In spite of those available options, you appear to have selected the one which virtually guaranteed the package would attract the attention of HMRC, describing it as a gift. If Kimchi followed your instructions in so describing it, they can hardly be held responsible for what followed.

One small consolation, is that you do have a claim against HMRC and/or Royal Mail in respect of the damage caused when your package was opened for Customs examination. My understanding is that the carrier, in this case Royal Mail, is responsible for actually opening the package, whilst HMRC are responsible for examining its contents once opened. You'll find the procedure to be followed on the HMRC website.

Thanks for the tips

 

[MENTAL MAGPIE]

Hi, i emailed tony at kimchidvd about this Snowpiercer type A box set but i havent a clue how long it will take to get a reply, does anyone know what kimchidvd and tony does about this sort of thing? i got hot with £22.04 customs so its cost be quite a bit and really prefer it to be mint. Oh and the box it came in was fine so its not parcel force thats damaged it, it would of been packed like this

 

[chilean]

Did Kimchi VIP status ever come into fruition? I would love to purchase this without having to stress over server issues

 

[HUBMUSWELL]

Did Kimchi VIP status ever come into fruition? I would love to purchase this without having to stress over server issues

LOL, no official Kimchi VIPs...If this a 4000 run, there will be enough to go round after 0 hour

 

[psychoscot]

Hopefully Kimchi will stay away from such garbage, don't agree with blufans doing it either. Should be first come first served.

 

[serjitank]

Hopefully Kimchi will stay away from such garbage, don't agree with blufans doing it either. Should be first come first served.

I agree. and they act really snobby about it too. they all came into the Marvel GB's an hour after it started and were like "oh yeah i forgot.. um 2 for VIP please"

 

[chilean]

Personally I see VIP status as a great back-up for loyal customers. I still try to get in on the GB's as soon as they go live (love that rush ). I think the first come first serve method works great, except for when the issue is not on the customer's side. Several times I have done everything correctly, but the stars did not align. Having to later resort to eBay and pay inflated prices. If the servers were upgraded then no issue. But right now, as a loyal Kimchi customer/fan I would appreciate another option. Especially for the fantastic films which are going to be released in the future!

P.S. Not every VIP member is snobby

 

[keyjey]

I agree. and they act really snobby about it too. they all came into the Marvel GB's an hour after it started and were like "oh yeah i forgot.. um 2 for VIP please"

I on the other hand prefer the VIP thingy. Although I am not VIP yet [emoji13]

 

[psychoscot]

I agree. and they act really snobby about it too. they all came into the Marvel GB's an hour after it started and were like "oh yeah i forgot.. um 2 for VIP please"

I hope all those that arrogantly constantly brag about "being VIP" get ding'd copies, it would be perfect karma

 

[frankfish44]

Personally I see VIP status as a great back-up for loyal customers. I still try to get in on the GB's as soon as they go live (love that rush ). I think the first come first serve method works great, except for when the issue is not on the customer's side. Several times I have done everything correctly, but the stars did not align. Having to later resort to eBay and pay inflated prices. If the servers were upgraded then no issue. But right now, as a loyal Kimchi customer/fan I would appreciate another option. Especially for the fantastic films which are going to be released in the future!

I'd be interested to find out what defines a loyal customer? This remains a bad idea IMO. There is no example where this has worked out successfully. To maintain fairness, the current system works best. Everyone experiences the same issues therefore no one has a upper hand.

 

[chilean]

I'd be interested to find out what defines a loyal customer? This remains a bad idea IMO. There is no example where this has worked out successfully. To maintain fairness, the current system works best. Everyone experiences the same issues therefore no one has a upper hand.

@frankfish I don't want to get off topic, but I would define a loyal customer as someone who has purchased from a company/brand multiple times. I agree it may not be the best method, but I think there has to be something better than what is offered now, or at least an alternative. If Kimchi's site resembled Plain Archives, I would not have anything to say. I love Kimchi, I think their releases are so unique! Maybe a VIP system would not work for the Kimchi brand- I'm not the one to decide. All I know is that I would like to see a better experience implemented. I know this may no longer be an option, but I loved the GB's that were done for Frozen! Though in all fairness it did take a lot of time and effort from a lot of people, which may not be a plausible reoccurrence. Regardless, I will do everything I can to continue my support for Kimchi and their releases!