I’m in the UK but wouldn’t insist US sellers under-declare if they are
uncomfortable with it. I assume it is against the regulations, although in
practice I can’t possibly see any authority ever enforcing it, as they would
have
to be sufficiently well-organised, and it just wouldn’t be cost-effective,
unless it was a shipment of diamonds (or a Universal horror poster!). The
trouble with giving useful advice from this end – at least in the UK – is
that
the way Customs handle such shipments seems completely arbitrary. Packages
sent by USPS with a high declared value sometimes get stopped, sometimes not
(tho other shippers always seem to get stopped). As for packages that have
been
stopped, I’ve been charged for a poster declared at $70, and not charged for
one declared at $1,000.
Vesna is correct that it is usually down to the completely subjective
opinion of an official. Sometimes I’m sure the official opens the package and
can’
t believe a piece of paper is really worth that much, and thinks the
declaration is a mistake or some sort of default amount to ensure max
insurance can
be claimed if lost.
Some years ago I tried to pursue this matter twice with HM Customs, to pin
down which category they use to determine charges, e.g. printed matter,
advertising material, antique print etc etc, as they can attract different
rates or
zero rate. Of course I got a different reply from each person I spoke to.
One even said if the poster had an autograph on it, it would be classed as a
limited-edition print (low rate), otherwise it would be advertising material
(full rate). Does that make sense? I think not. At least with US posters, the
NSS number might lead them into thinking it’s limited-edition…! I can't
remember any difficulties when “used poster” was used as the description, but
it
may just be coincidence.
Glad to see I’m not the only one to have problems with fully-declared
packages. This is the only type of package I’ve ever had problems with:- one
was
stopped and returned to sender for no apparent reason without me ever knowing
(it was later re-sent OK); another was opened and contents damaged; another
delayed for 2 months after I paid the charge online but the online system lost
the details (luckily I had proof and finally got it after numerous
letters/emails/phone calls).
Others have mentioned the cost – can be 15–30 percent of the value,
depending whether import duty and/or VAT is charged. The actual shipping cost
is
also included for some reason … and then of course a handling fee, which
varies
a lot according to shipper. Sometimes, tho, what upsets me the most is that
Customs tend to delay the package for about a month (backlog I suppose). All
in all, I can only say I am very grateful when sellers under-declare, but
understand if they don’t, as it’s not really their problem.
Paul
_www.movieposterstudio.com_ (http://www.movieposterstudio.com)
In a message dated 14/10/2008 17:28:09 GMT Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
writes:
Mopo-Mailing-Mavins -
Just blew another sale because I would not under-declare value of
parcel for an international shipment.
Anybody care to speak to this issue?
International buyers continually ask me to not place true value on
contents of their shipments so they can avoid customs.
It is always a deal breaker for me.
Is this not against International Postal Law or something like that?
And for those in the know -
Why the heck is there an import duty on something like a movie poster,
anyway?
Also, there are evidently some trick words - like magic - that you can
write on the outside of certain Intl. packages or on their customs
forms -
and voila, they evidently slip through customs more readily.
Anybody got the answers on this end of the operation?
Alan
**************
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