Hi,
Just to keep the record straight, I wrote in a previous posting:

/* They sent me the order of ONE DVD in a box with the measurements of: Length = 1'4" Width = 1' Depth = 3". I had to pay an extra $25 USD for delivery to the parcel post. I complained but received no reply.*/

The actual extra cost to me was in British pounds (£25.04) not US dollars. That's about $50 USD.

LLuv2dance. Why when you live in the UK did you deal with an overseas company, unless their product was exclusive. Surely you could have got the same from Quasar or Richard Hearn's people.Living here I wouldn' t go past. www.dancesportinternational.com.au.
There site is worth looking at. Did you ever meet up with Jack McGregor and Bemil Twigg. She was Miss Great Britain .Festival of Britain Beauty Queen 1952.. Best Wishes

Dear Quickstep,
I've dealt with IDS even when it first started with Peggy Spencer and Geoff Hearn. In fact, I still have early copies of their 'Letter Service' which they took over from Alex Moore. Don't think you'll find the DVD's on their site. It was a bit of a shock when the postman knocked on my door with this large box and then have to pay another $50 USD. I had already paid for post and packing (S&H) The box could quite comfortably hold 30 DVD's in their covers and with packing material. About Jock and Bemil. I only briefly met up with them at Blackpool in the early 50's. We where playing golf during the festival week. A bit of a sensation in those days to come from no-where then make the British final! They turned pro and make the British final a couple of years later. Last I heard of them they went on a working cruise ship to South Africa. Before I finish I will say you certainly take some 'stick' from Anon. You have to remember, Don, that in the early days the good dancers where judged on their foot and leg action. At a presentation function when it became noticeable that the ladies had more freedom with their tops someone said where will this end. Someone said when the lady's head hits the floor! Nice talking to you.

Iluv,

I'm wondering about the exta charge.

Was it S&H or customs import duty?

Depending on the size of my orders from DanceVision I'm often charged duty when an order arrives. This would not be DV's fault.

BTW: My coach is Pat Bovaird. I have a feeling you might know him as well.

OB

Hi Bob,
I only know of him, never met him. The UK teachers going back many years I'm familiar with. About the box. I have the invoice: VAT £11.54 Parcelforce Clearance Fee: £13.50. Total: £25.04.
A lot of extra money for 1 DVD. I'm not a bad customer having bought 11 items from them.

Operabob,
I agree that most videos are excellent resources to study movement. I watch them over and over again myself, and have picked up choreography ideas from the Andy/Wendy Wong Grand Ballroom videos you mentioned. However, my impression is that the original poster is a newer dancer and wants to learn the Cha Cha, and as such I didn't think this particular set of videos would be as helpful as others I have seen that DO discuss basic technique, lead/follow, etc.

whoops, didn't mean for this to be anonymous like the last one. Thought I was logged in....

Iluv,

VAT (value added tax) and Clearance Fee Sounds like import duty charged by your own government rather than shipping & handling. DV is innocent on this.

It's a bit bizaare. Sometimes on items under $100 Canadian I get charged by customs and sometimes I don't. Seems to depend on the clerk of the day.

In the future you might ask DV to mark the item "Personal Goods". That might help. DV also has a section for "special instructions" where you can ask for the smallest box possible but VAT & Clearance are based on the value rather than the weight I'd think.

OB

Perhaps

Dear Bob,
Thank you for your advice. I will do as you suggest. It could have been a 'one-off'. I'll suggest a padded envelope in the future. I will let this matter rest now. Thanks again, Bob.

Just caught sight of this post-- Jock and i became very good friends .

He came to LA in the very early sixties, and whilst I was teaching a class at a prominent school in LA, he paid a visit.
We talked at length about the business, and he said he would like to move to the states .

Within 1 hr, I had found him a sponsor .
On the several occasions we met,Bemil never attended.( wouldnt leave the birds !! )
He judged a comp. I ran several yrs late and rented my school for coaching .
Pity that so few remember him, one of the premier prof. competitors of the fifties .

Is Bemil still alive, my uncle was Jack McGregor and I was unaware he was dead. I still stay in Scotland, would be nice to get in touch with Bemil albeit by email.