Here in the Netherlands duty is paid if the value is above a certain amount (as far as I remember about $45 including shipment). If you want the fine print, I'll check it. So it may be in some cases wise to divide a shipment over multiple packages and sometimes it is wise to take the risk to let send it in assured if the buyer agrees the risk. What also helps is to announce it as defect and 'without economic value'. That is what I do for tubes, sold for an ePay fancy price, with open filament or other scrap. Actually that is the truth in those cases.
Anyhow, I am wondering that American people, who are so opposite against tax payment, is so strict in this matter... Consider that customs aren't very compliant in case of their failure. Once I had to pay $100 for a parcel that after opening proved not to be for me. It was tough work to get somewhat of the money back and then even excluding administration costs. It took 3 months and a claw full of phone coins to get $60 on my account :-((. The problem was the seller had placed my address on somebody else's parcel. I was not allowed not check the content before acceptance. eric. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Instrument Resources of America Sent: maandag 9 januari 2012 17:56 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] OT: overseas shipping / customs It seems standard for them to "ask for it", as a lot of them do, because the import duties, fees, customs are quite substantial in some countries. But I believe that there are many laws that you would be breaking if you lied about it the form. An interesting side note follows. There is now a seller on Ebay selling what he refers to as a 'consolidating service' for international buyers. There is probably some legitimacy to the service, but I 'suspect' that it has more to do with how to get out of paying customs fees etc. Here's how I see it working. An over seas buyer buys a number of lots on ebay, and or elsewhere. All lots are then shipped to the "consolidation point" and are consolidated. The 'consolidator' then puts a very low or zero dollar amount on the customs forms since he is not the SELLER of the items. He may even just put the fee that he charges for his "consolidating" service. Thus the buyer gets away without having to pay for the customs fees, etc. If you want to check it out, look at item number 120837996465 on eBay right now. I could be wrong about this, but all kinds of red flags and sirens went off with me when I read about it. Take care, and my advice is do NOT do something that could possibly come back and haunt you. Ira. On 1/9/2012 8:19 AM, Adam Jacobs wrote: > Hi everyone, > This is completely off-topic, but I know that there are many members > here who do a lot of shipping of product overseas and I'd like your > opinion. I usually don't sell anything to anyone overseas (it's a > hassle), but recently I made an exception. After the sale was made, > the buyer is now asking me to note it as a "gift" on the customs forms > so that he does not have to pay import taxes. > Is this standard? My first thought is, "Forget it!" and just note down > the actual value he paid. However, I seem to recall that just about > anything I've ever purchased from overseas sellers always seems to > have it marked as a gift on the customs forms. So, the question: Is > this standard practice? > > -Adam > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To post to this group, send an 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/neonixie-l?hl=en-GB. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To post to this group, send an 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/neonixie-l?hl=en-GB.
