Generic Chinese VFD, no CE and no earth connection to exposed metal heatsink

[Jeff]

The item was actually shipped from Germany, so yes it should be CE compliant. I've notified the seller of this and pointed out that if the unit isn't correctly bonded when it's installed it could be potentially fatal. I have every right to expect that electrical products, no matter where they are manufactured at least meet basic safety standards.

[magicniner]

The item was actually shipped from Germany.

It's just a 3rd party warehousing service used by a Chinese company from Shanghai.
On the bright side you should only have to send it back to the warehouse for a refund, then you can buy something with a CE mark ;-)

I've notified the seller of this and pointed out that if the unit isn't correctly bonded when it's installed it could be potentially fatal.

But your qualified electrical engineer would have spotted all that and either wired it correctly or condemned it :D

[Gary]

It's just a 3rd party warehousing service used by a Chinese company from Shanghai. On the bright side you should only have to send it back to the warehouse for a refund, then you can buy something with a CE mark ;-)

If it was sent from Germany, it would have been invoiced from Germany, so imported into the EU and resold, so if it is not CE, this is illegal.

But your qualified electrical engineer would have spotted all that and either wired it correctly or condemned it :D

Not the point. If it is dangerous it should not be sold regardless of where.

Also just because it has CE stamped on the device does not make it CE, you should ask for a copy of the certificate and this will give the details of the company who put it through CE and the number that you can check up on.

[m_c]

If it was sent from Germany, it would have been invoiced from Germany, so imported into the EU and resold, so if it is not CE, this is illegal.

I thought the way these things worked was the items are held in a bonded warehouse, so not technically imported until they are sold. At which point they officially get imported to the EU (or forwarded to another country for import), and any import tax paid?

So as Nick says, it's still technically sold direct from China, just delivered via third party bonded storage.

[Gary]

I thought the way these things worked was the items are held in a bonded warehouse, so not technically imported until they are sold. At which point they officially get imported to the EU (or forwarded to another country for import), and any import tax paid?

So as Nick says, it's still technically sold direct from China, just delivered via third-party bonded storage.

I maybe wrong on this, but my understanding is that if it is in a bonded warehouse the vat and duty is not paid and is paid before its released.
so who pays the VAT? all the adverts are showing as no VAT or duty to add, so the VAT and Duty is paid in the EU and this means that they woudl be invoied in the EU?
Again, i may be wrong on this, becase i dont get involved with this form of importing.

[m_c]

I maybe wrong on this, but my understanding is that if it is in a bonded warehouse the vat and duty is not paid and is paid before its released.
so who pays the VAT? all the adverts are showing as no VAT or duty to add, so the VAT and Duty is paid in the EU and this means that they woudl be invoied in the EU?
Again, i may be wrong on this, becase i dont get involved with this form of importing.

You're correct about VAT/duty not being paid if it's in a bonded warehouse.

I'd guess the seller pays any duty when the item is released, and it's just built into the price.
I'd probably also hazard a guess that's there's some manipulation of prices to minimise duty/VAT costs.

[magicniner]

It's all covered in 3rd, 4th and 5th Party Warehousing contracts :D