really cheap source for Vass shoes

[le.gentleman]

Hi David,

this is the hungarian site which kicks you to the US site:

http://www.vass-cipo.hu/

I visited Vass at the 19th August and I was a bit disappointed. The staff, a woman at her late 30ies or beginning 40ies, was far away of being friendly and she seems to me a bit bored and tight-lipped. I mean, I knew what I was looking for, as I visited their homepage before. When I asked for a model they had online, she just repeated that they do not have all models at the shop and they will only " measure my feet with the models that are available in the shop".
As Vass "measured" shoes are very cheap compared to other bespoke shoes, Vass has to save the money somewhere.
Firstly, they have considerably lower labour costs on Hungaria (not in Budapest - almost everything there is only a little cheaper or equaly priced as in Germany). Secondly, one can choose a model - this also diminishes the costs respectably. Thirdly, I was wondering if they do create a complete new last for every customer or whether they change existing last to fit the customer. So I asked here but she was unable to give me a precise answer. Vass produces a lot of shoes each year, and according to themselves, they are only produced by a limited number of Vass craftsmen... So how could they produce so many individual lasts for their "measured" customers? To change an already existing RTW last to fit the customers feet needs less time - so I assume that the Vass shoes are not bespoke shoes but Made to Measure shoes.

[tteplitzmd]

I read this latest posting with interest. Please see my posting regarding my visit of August 15. With regards to individual lasts: yes they first attempt to fit you to a stock last. If it is close, they claim to modify slightly the stock lasts. In my case, they could not possibly fit me, and the owner's daughter, Eva, threw up her hands, and they then proceeded to do measuring and tracing, and making a one time charge for the bespoke last (I wanted their Norweigan with Peter last).

You are correct, the welcome is frosty, but as I made advanced arrangements to be measured by Eva, it was smoother. However, I am now involved in an unpleasant exchange over Hungarian VAT of 25% on these goods to be exported.

I do have some concerns over some smoke and mirrors with regards to the pricing. It is my suspicion that either a)they pocket the VAT they show on the invoice for these exported shoes or b) when they do export the shoes it would involve internal paperwork to exempt the goods with the Hungarian tax authorities, and they do not wish to be bothered, and they simply pass it on to the end user.

I have historically supported the Italian treasury by knowing I would never recover my VAT upon hand carrying goods out of Italy. In some respects Hungary I am prepared to cut Hungary more slack, and chalk it up to transition to market economy growing pains.
I would be interested in others' experience with Vass shoes exported out of Hungary directly from Vass where the goods are not hand carried out.

On a tangentially related issue, I have heard that "welted" shoes are subject to a 5% US customs duty tariff, but I'm not sure if that is true.

Terry A. Teplitz, M.D.

[Guest]

I wrote Eva Vass to find out her prices and this is her reply:

"The price of pair of shoes sent to the US (price without VAT) is between 380-490 USD – it is up to the model and leather you choose. We have usually all models availalble in your size but if not, delivery time is about 5 weeks. Shipping costs to the US is 90 USD (courier service)."

So her prices are very close to those in Vienna, as the owner of Schumann represented, maybe fifty dollars cheaper and a little faster though I would have to compare model by model to be sure.

[tteplitzmd]

While you have her attention David, would you ask her if there is VAT added to her quote?
She charged me VAT of 25% for my shoes which are being sent to the US along with $95 for the courier service.

She claims she must charge the VAT on shoes "purchased in the shop."

Terry