Customs and shipment questions

[Elmo18]

Hi guys/gals,

So upon coming home today, I found something that surprised me.. I got a bill from Fedex for a recent shipment from overseas.

The customs cost was around $20, and after adding to the cost of the watches, still made for great purchases.

What I would like to know is, what about the USPS? What are their policies, or regulations? Of course I will pay the customs tax, but what I don't want to have happened is to be surprised again. If I know I will get taxed, then at least I won't be surprised.


Thanks,
Ilham

[Dr. Robert]

Bought 2 watches from Japan this year...they were shipped Japan air mail. No fees to Uncle Sam! I've heard that if you ship w/ Fedex or UPS you'll get stuck w/ customs fees/tax. I am buying a Stowa and will ask them to ship German airmail.

[Reno]

Hi Elmo18,

I bought several watches in far east and I went on the following conclusion : never use USPS or EMS or... whoever
They ALWAYS go to the customs and you ALWAYS have to pay the tax
(to be quite honest, it happens sometimes they don't, but it's very rare)

I used EMS for all my first ALPHAs, and always had to pay for EMS, plus a fee, plus VTA, which nearly doubles the overall price !
The last one was send via regular airmail and arrived 3 weeks later... with nothing more to pay

Same thing for my Seiko diver 200, it arrived from Singapour via regular air mail and made it through the customs

Hi guys/gals,

So upon coming home today, I found something that surprised me.. I got a bill from Fedex for a recent shipment from overseas.

The customs cost was around $20, and after adding to the cost of the watches, still made for great purchases.

What I would like to know is, what about the USPS? What are their policies, or regulations? Of course I will pay the customs tax, but what I don't want to have happened is to be surprised again. If I know I will get taxed, then at least I won't be surprised.


Thanks,
Ilham

[Radio_Daze]

I am expecting a watch from pokemonyu in Singapore today. I noticed after I had paid for it that it would be sent with Fedex. If I had noticed before I had bid on the watch it would be shipped with Fedex, I would not have bothered. If it had been sent ordinary mail, I would probably have got away without paying tax. But as it is coming with Fedex, I will have to pay 17.5% VAT (value added tax) plus about £12 customs clearance fee!

[Reno]

:oops: sorry for you, pal. It's highly probable.

But on the plus side, you'll be sure to receive your watch.
I always consider playing russian roulette when ordering via regular mail... there's no real tracking system (not guaranted, I mean) and if the packet gets lost...

So, look at the bright side

Take care

I am expecting a watch from pokemonyu in Singapore today. I noticed after I had paid for it that it would be sent with Fedex. If I had noticed before I had bid on the watch it would be shipped with Fedex, I would not have bothered. If it had been sent ordinary mail, I would probably have got away without paying tax. But as it is coming with Fedex, I will have to pay 17.5% VAT (value added tax) plus about £12 customs clearance fee!

[FrancoThai]

Ok with the last quote from Reno : Regular mail means no guarantee that you will receive the watch and in case of lost just forget it !

Lately I have been sent my Blancpain from Swiss via Fedex, if I paid the regular customs fee, I could bought a plane ticket to go and get the watch by myself

Sorry but this technic only works for Thailand and my profession is logistics & supply chain.

FrancoThai

[Reno]

Lately I have been sent my Blancpain from Swiss via Fedex, if I paid the regular customs fee, I could bought a plane ticket to go and get the watch by myself
FrancoThai

I don't get it
Does it mean you didn't pay the customs fee, though you used Fedex ?

[lysanderxiii]

Hi guys/gals,

So upon coming home today, I found something that surprised me.. I got a bill from Fedex for a recent shipment from overseas.

The customs cost was around $20, and after adding to the cost of the watches, still made for great purchases.

What I would like to know is, what about the USPS? What are their policies, or regulations? Of course I will pay the customs tax, but what I don't want to have happened is to be surprised again. If I know I will get taxed, then at least I won't be surprised.


Thanks,
Ilham

Seeing as you are in the US, I shall limit my answer to that concerning the US Postal Service.

The Postal Service sends all foreign mail shipments to Customs for examination. Customs then returns packages that don't require duty to the Postal Service, which sends them to a local post office for delivery. If the package does require payment of duty, Customs attaches a form called a mail entry (form CF-3419A), which shows how much duty is owed, and charges a $5 processing fee as well. When the post office delivers the package, it will also charge a handling fee. Here is what the USPS has to say about customs dues:

Be prepared to pass your mail or packages through customs.

It really doesn't matter which carrier you choose, if custom duties are due, they will locate you and bill you. Choose the carrier that you feel is the most reliable and make sure that it is insured to full value.

Bought 2 watches from Japan this year...they were shipped Japan air mail. No fees to Uncle Sam! I've heard that if you ship w/ Fedex or UPS you'll get stuck w/ customs fees/tax. I am buying a Stowa and will ask them to ship German airmail.

Private carriers charge Customs processing fees, in addition to any custom duties/taxes that are due. The USPS charges a handling fee as well, but it may not be apparent, or as much as the commercial carrier. The amount of the import duty varies considerably, but generally speaking, personal packages worth less than $2,000 are not charged duty.

[Radio_Daze]

Well I got my watch in 5 days from pokemonyu with Fedex. I now await their bill in the mail.