Hello Barbara, If Mr Boudet includes a statement and cetificate in the box, not on the outside or in the shipping docs, that states origin and source of the ivory it should be just fine. Whatever you do don't call attention to the package or the ivory. Customs may hold it up if they do a full inspection but it is just as likely that they will not even bother with it at all. It is acceptable to include the documents inside the box especially for a shipper that is unfamiliar with the shipping requirements of the US.
They will try to tax you on it if they think that it is a trade item that they can tax you on. Have Mr Boudet label it as "hurdy gurdy in bagpipe D" or "Vielle a roue en cornemuse Re". When they ask you what it is, if they bother to ask, tell them that it is like a mechanical bagpipe. Bagpipes are not taxable items in the US but hurdy gurdies are not listed so they usually have no clue what it is. DON'T say that it is like a mechanical violin. Violins are heavily taxed and customs is well aquainted with them. The basics are this, Customs is looking for items entering into the US that are taxable based on production of that item here in the US. It is designed to protect the tax status of US manufacturers and even out the playing field for US companies that are paying taxes. There are very few bagpipe makers in the US and virtually none of them are interested in paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to protect their tax status. The same goes for hurdy gurdies, but since they are an uncommon instrument, Customs is unfamiliar with them and doesn't understand the tax status. So claiming that they are bagpipes does not really endanger our tax system. If you ship with Fedex or UPS they will get the hurdy gurdy through using their people. Make sure that you use the word "bagpipe" often with them. They rarely open an item for ivory ( the protection of elephants and the world awareness of ivory for sale has led to a huge reduction of ivory trade except through China). Scott Barbara Currier <[email protected]> wrote: >Hi, folks, > >My Boudet hurdy gurdy will be finished next month and I'll need to have it >shipped from France to Oregon. My husband is sure it will be confiscated >when it gets here because there is ivory and mother-of-pearl on it and he's >on lutherie e-lists that have related horror stories. I know M. Boudet uses >old ivory and works in CITES compliance. However, to be sure, what >documentation needs to be with the instrument to prove to any U.S. >inspectors that it's legal? M. Boudet asked me to find out. I emailed the >Department of Fish and Wildlife, but they haven't responded. > >Thanks for any help you give this nervous Nellie, >Barbara > >-- >You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >Groups "hurdygurdy" group. >To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >[email protected] >For more options, visit this group at >http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy > >The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at >http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from new >subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hurdygurdy" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. To reduce spam, posts from new subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster.
