Wait a minute here, this is what Alan wrote:
"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"
I probably misunderstood this because of the language barrier. I always
thought that tricking someone (as he used in trick words) meant something
else.
I just gave this info. Also, only the first suggestion of the gift with a
low value is against the law.
All the other suggestions are just ways to describe the products, but with
the full value. I believe these are some of the magic words he was asking
for.
I respect every seller and how he/she works.
Also, in the Netherlands Customs has to prove the value of the package. So
it's easier for them if the value is already on it.
However, if the value is not on it they sometimes bluff and put an estimated
value on it.
If you reply to them and tell them there is no real value because the
package contains used posters they actually drop the extra taxes.
I also want to add that I have never had any poster or lobby card packages
opened by customs in the past 10 years. This usually only happens when there
are other goods involved.
So I personally don't see a problem with the high value in that perspective.
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: "lobby card invasion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 12:17 AM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Under-Declaration of Value on International Shipments
My apologies, Wim. My post addressed your compatriot, Ron, as well, who
wrote:
"There are indeed a few ways that usually trick customs".
Sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate anything. I do agree with your point
regarding the dangers facing packages with expensive contents, and posted
as much in my sunsequent email.
Zeev
----- Original Message -----
From: "bqjansen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "lobby card invasion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 5:51 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Under-Declaration of Value on International Shipments
With all due respect Zeev I think you haven't understand my post. As
others have also noticed there's a higher risk for high valutions
packages for the buyer. That's the point. Nobody asks sellers to bend
the rules or otherwise. We just try to bring forward the buyer's
perspective.
Wim
Op 14 okt 2008, om 21:41 heeft lobby card invasion het volgende
geschreven:
Ron, Wim, and others. You are missing the point. Alan Adler is not
asking you for "tricks" to outsmart various Customs. My understanding
is that he doesn't think its right, and doesn't want to do it.
Sometimes he looses some business.
What he wants to know is, is there a way to be completely honest and
yet not miss those "problematic" sales?
That's my understanding.
Zeev
----- Original Message ----- From: "MotionPictureArt.com"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 1:31 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Under-Declaration of Value on International
Shipments
Hi Alan, Wim and all others,
I'm also from the Netherlands and have noticed that usually rolled
posters in tubes slip by customs if mailed through the regular postal
service.
They probably figure that stuff inside tubes can not have a very high
value. Folded posters get picked out more often simply because the
package is larger.
Customs also (almost) always checks packages shipped via UPS/DHL or
any other express service.
Customs charges almost 30% of the total value of the package plus the
shipping. This can be very expensive.
You can ask sellers to mark the packages as a gift with a low value,
but if they don't want to do this it's fine too. I usually calculate
in the extra 30%.
Only with expensive orders I check with the seller first.
There are indeed a few ways that usually trick customs.
Marking the package as a gift with a low value or just any other
description with a low value (almost) always works.
One seller I know marks the packages as Commercial Samples (something
like this can be found on the shipping or customs forms) with the full
value.
Describing the items as "Used Posters", "Printed Matter", "Paper",
"Advertisement Material", "Second Hand Goods" or any other term not
implying a high value also often works.
Why is there this value added tax?
According to some sources (including customs) it's just a trick to
keep business and thus money in your own region.
In other words: stick to where you come from and keep that economy
alive. ;-)
Within Europe there is free trade, but when I get an order from the
US, Canada or Australia I'll have to pay 30% extra.
Ron
----- Original Message ----- From: "bqjansen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Under-Declaration of Value on International
Shipments
Hi Alan,
As an international buyer I like to say this. It is indeed a lot of
bother. The problem is that it is a VAlue Added Tax. This means that
the value you put on it is considered to be the value of the parcel.
That is not per se the market value of collectible. So this is your
first problem, what is the value of the poster? ISuppose I buy a
Touch Of Evil poster for a $100 (unfortunately that hasn't happen so
far) is it's value then $100?
Secondly in Holland they use this crazy system that books, paper etc
has a VAT of 6%, while most other stuff is 19%. You can't imagine how
much a hassle it is to get your point across as a buyer that this
paper, old paper at that and that the "value" is in the eye of the
collector. Customs services are alas a bastion of bureaucracy.
This is only money of course and is a thing you can/have to consider
as a buyer.
There's a third point. The moment a package has a value on it,
mysteriously this set customs in action. I haven't investigated this
scientifically, but I am convinced that High value packages are
tampered with, looked in etc, by customs (sometimes with devasting
effects on old paper) far more often than packages that don't have a
high value on. If something is damaged and I am pretty sure that has
happened to me twice, thyere;'s nothing you can do.
Wim
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
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is
solely responsible for its content.
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is
solely responsible for its content.
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is solely
responsible for its content.
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is
solely responsible for its content.
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is solely
responsible for its content.
Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com
___________________________________________________________________
How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List
Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L
The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.
