Andrew is absolutely right. You're not being charged for duties actually
levied against you, you're being charged a fee for filling out the Customs
paperwork (which is very simple, I might add). Importing personal items
into the US will almost never incur a duty liability (unless going over
certain specified limits), and I suspect it's the same in most other Western
countries.
That's why you won't see such a charge when shipping with USPS, they require
you to fill out the Customs paperwork before shipping.
>Message: 8
Date: Sun, 3 Apr 2011 08:43:31 +1000
From: Andrew Fildes <afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [OM] ordering form adorama - how do I see if its in
stock?
To: Olympus Camera Discussion <olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Message-ID: <ADF9ABBB-AC9F-48DB-9B00-9690B6F0FE90@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
No, this is standard brokerage.
I made the mistake of getting something posted to me by regular EMS/Global
Priority that came in over the threshold for import tax (over $1000). I got
a demand from the post office to arrange customs clearance - they don't do
it for you here. I phoned a broker who organised clearance for me for $75
plus the tax (10%). Standard fee.
Now I import such an item using UPS or FedEx and they organise it for me -
no delay. I have a set against FedEx because they used to do it for items
that would not normally attract the tax (under the threshold) and that was
either incompetent or a scam.
The rules differ from country to country and I am jealous of those who have
a post office willing to do it cheaply - but not of those like Canada where
the authorities pursue you for every cent of provincial and national import
levy. Anytime anything goes through customs and a duty is payable, there is
a brokerage fee involved. In some cases it's payable just to get something
odd cleared, even when there is no duty.
Andrew Fildes
afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 03/04/2011, at 2:51 AM, Bill Pearce wrote:
> My experience in shipping the other way has been the same as related
> earlier. When in dEurope, there has been occasion to ship purchases back,
> usually with UPS or FedEx. It is certain that after delivery, usually by a
> delay of several weeks, there is a bill for some sort of customs
processing,
> ranging for $35-50! I h ave never paid duties on anything, so maybe it's
> worth it, but I'm sure it's a scam. No one has ever been able to explain
> what was done to bring this on.
--
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