Why you may consider to undervalue As wrong as it sounds there are also good reasons to undervalue when shipping to some countries; one of those reasons is the high cost of bureaucracy. For example, if you live in Mexico you can import items worth up to US$600 without an import broker. But if your go over US$600 you are required to have an import license and to hire an import broker to release your package from customs. An import license takes weeks to obtain (guess who pays for storage for your package wile you get your license if you don´t have one) and import broker´s services are not cheap.
Take for example a movie poster worth US$601 and declared to be worth US$601; In Mexico it pays an import tax of usually 18% (if it is made in the US or Canada it can pass as duty free under NAFTA if it comes with a certificate of origin, but how many sellers know where to find and how to fill a Certificate of Origin) plus a sales tax of 15% (when importing, even if you´re not a reseller, you pay sales taxes in advance). Thus, you´re paying US$198.33 in taxes, plus the import brokers frees, which last time I asked costed about US$120. So far, the movie poster is costing the importer US$919.00 ($601+$198.33+$120). But this is not the worst, if the poster goes trought this process your import broker, who has no idea about how to handle a movie poster, will unpack the item and “packed” it again. Later on, it is likely that customs will also open the package a second time, so your now very expensive, fragile posters gets a second chances of getting damaged. But the Mexican example is not the worst, in countries, such as Nicaragua, import taxes and brokers services are requiered for all packages and are even more expensive. Last year, I sent my brother, who lives in Nicarague, some gifts, worth less than US100 (a pair of shoes a DVD movie and two CDs) and he ended up paying about US$80 in taxes and fees to release the package from customs. I`m sorry for point out that doing the right thing (declaring full value for an item) may not be the best thing always; at least, not for your customers in some countries. It would be a good idea to hear what your costumers have to say about why they want you to undervalue the invoice and make a decision based on each individual case. Best regards, Carlos Dueñas --- On Tue, 10/14/08, Alan Adler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Alan Adler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [MOPO] Under-Declaration of Value on International Shipments > To: [email protected] > Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2008, 10:34 PM > I need to address the "trick" word - I may have > used it in a way that > appears to have misled some folks. > > The trick I mentioned was not a trick to get out of doing > what was > requested by law. > I have killed several deals because I did not want to break > the law - > however odd it might be - if it even is a law to fully > declare value. > > But I have heard for instance if you are sending books in > an order and > books are noted - or used material is noted - > It does not go through customs - (this is true of Brazil, I > think). > One buyer from Germany a couple of years ago gave me some > word in > German (forgot it now) that printed on the invoice somehow > did not > send it through customs! > . > But it is obvious just from the few posts we've seen - > There appears to be few common sense elements in this area > of > international shipping. > I am merely searching for legitimate and legal protocols to > make the > system work for my buyers and stay within the rules. > While at the same time fully declaring the value of the > item. > > Alan > > On Oct 14, 2008, at 10:05 PM, MotionPictureArt.com wrote: > > > 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. > > LINK TO AMAZON – JUST PUBLISHED FIRST NOVEL: > > http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0595458203 > > > MUSEUM WEBSITE: > > www.museumofmomandpopculture.com > > 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. 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