Thank you, Scott. This is very helpful. Barbara
On Sun, Mar 20, 2011 at 8:56 PM, Scott Gayman <[email protected]> wrote: > 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. -- 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.
