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Thread

Is there a fool proof way to do this?

2004-11-16 by darkstr717

Does anyone know of a fool proof way, or next best, to ship from the
US to Europe ( in this case Germany ) in such a manner so as to not
incure customs charges for the buyer on the other end? Eight or so
years ago i sold a couple panels to a guy in Switzerland i believe(
if your reading this, sorry i can't remember your name :( ) I sent
the boxes marked as "used musical instruments" and as far as i know,
that method worked just fine. Last year i sent a Cyclone to David
Hughes in England, and he got nicked for customs. So obviously this
doesn't work everytime. Frank in Germany has agreed to buy a panel
that i had up for sale a couple weeks ago, but he obviously doesn't
want to incure the added expense, and after the experience with David
i can't gaurantee that he won't have to pay. Does anyone here have
any experience shipping to Europe in a manner that doesn't leave the
receiving party with the added burden of customs??
Sorry if this is more OT than the membership can handle, just thought
this would be the logical place to ask.
kind regards
john duval

Re: Is there a fool proof way to do this?

2004-11-16 by Ryan Ryan

Declare it as 0 value, insurance is impossible to get on used electronic equipment internationally, it's not worth trying. Just pack it like a mofo, send it via USPS EMS, tha'ts the express mail, it'll get there in 2-3 days. I'm sure germany's deutsch post would be fine to handle the package and not lose it. EMS also gives tracking information.

Otherwise it's just a luck thing, sometimes u get hit with customs sometimes you don't.

But after talking wiht a few people who worked at the post office(the only reasonable way to internationally ship), they say insurance is useless, no one ever gets it. it costs a lot. you need a receipt from the item, and all of that and it'll take over a year.

when i ship internationally now though i always tell the buyer it's at their risk. shipping international is dangerous!:o not so dangerous, i guess it's like playing russian roulete with a 100 chamber gun and putting one bullet in, u prolly won't get shot but there's still a chance..::-)

-ryan

darkstr717 <darkstr1746@...> wrote:

Show quoted textHide quoted text

Does anyone know of a fool proof way, or next best, to ship from the
US to Europe ( in this case Germany ) in such a manner so as to not
incure customs charges for the buyer on the other end? Eight or so
years ago i sold a couple panels to a guy in Switzerland i believe(
if your reading this, sorry i can't remember your name :( ) I sent
the boxes marked as "used musical instruments" and as far as i know,
that method worked just fine. Last year i sent a Cyclone to David
Hughes in England, and he got nicked for customs. So obviously this
doesn't work everytime. Frank in Germany has agreed to buy a panel
that i had up for sale a couple weeks ago, but he obviously doesn't
want to incure the added expense, and after the experience with David
i can't gaurantee that he won't have to pay. Does anyone here have
any experience shipping to Europe in a manner that doesn't leave the
receiving party with the added burden of customs??
Sorry if this is more OT than the membership can handle, just thought
this would be the logical place to ask.
kind regards
john duval

Keep on Patchin'!

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Re: Is there a fool proof way to do this?

2004-11-16 by James R. Coplin

I think you are sunk. By definitions customs exist to prevent you sending in
things duty free. I know when I had some panels sent here (from Switzerland
incidentally) I got hammered with duties. Part of the problems lies in the
declared value. You would have a hard time declaring something as valueless
and then insuring it for $4000 a panel. Each country has their own custom
control and the shipper often screws stuff up by forcing you to use them as
your customs agent etc. I've never been able to put a declared value and
avoid customs.

James R. Coplin
***************
If anyone asks of my whereabouts,
simply tell them i've gone out the window
for a spot of tea and am not
expected back any time soon.
***************

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> -----Original Message-----
> From: darkstr717 [mailto:darkstr1746@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 4:24 PM
> To: SergeModular@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [SergeModular] Is there a fool proof way to do this?
>
>
>
> Does anyone know of a fool proof way, or next best, to ship from the
> US to Europe ( in this case Germany ) in such a manner so as to not
> incure customs charges for the buyer on the other end? Eight or so
> years ago i sold a couple panels to a guy in Switzerland i believe(
> if your reading this, sorry i can't remember your name :( ) I sent
> the boxes marked as "used musical instruments" and as far as i know,
> that method worked just fine. Last year i sent a Cyclone to David
> Hughes in England, and he got nicked for customs. So obviously this
> doesn't work everytime. Frank in Germany has agreed to buy a panel
> that i had up for sale a couple weeks ago, but he obviously doesn't
> want to incure the added expense, and after the experience with David
> i can't gaurantee that he won't have to pay. Does anyone here have
> any experience shipping to Europe in a manner that doesn't leave the
> receiving party with the added burden of customs??
> Sorry if this is more OT than the membership can handle, just thought
> this would be the logical place to ask.
> kind regards
> john duval
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Keep on Patchin'!
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: Is there a fool proof way to do this?

2004-11-16 by Chris Whitten

Yeah, the only way to do it is declare a low value if the buyer is prepared
to risk any loss or damage in transit without much recompense.
The only way you could hoodwink (fairly clued up) customs officials, is if
you described the panels as non functioning. All that stuff about gifts
etc.. makes no difference by the way.
Also, if the buyer tries to be too greedy and asks you to declare a
ridiculously low value, alarm bells will ring with the authorities.
At the end of the day, buying goods from outside your own country usually
incurs import duty. I find *my* country's officials don't hammer me for
every last penny, just so long as I am sensible and don't take liberties.
My advice to your buyer would be to ask for a valuation of about 50% true
worth.
Then it's up to you whether you want to collude or play it completely
straight.
CW

Re: Is there a fool proof way to do this?

2004-11-16 by ALMAGATA@telefonica.net

I know two ays of doing than when I buy from USA or non EU countries
for avoid customs (1-2%) and VAT (16-20%!!!!!)

1. Declare a value under 100 USD and write in the customs they
are "used electronics parts" , at least in Spain the custom only keep
packages with a value greater than 100 USD
cons: you can`t insured it for the full amount, a value of 100 could be
insured up to 300USD, more than that is suspicious...

2. Declare you are returning goods to the owner from repair. First the
buyer must send you a fake letter telling you if you could repair it
etc, etc.., just write the package as "returning goods to owner" and
put the letter with the customs papers along a few words from you, as
you was unable to fix it...
Then you could insure it...

Best Regards,

Josue

----- Mensaje Original -----
De: "James R. Coplin" <moog@...>
Fecha: Martes, Noviembre 16, 2004 11:41 pm
Asunto: RE: [SergeModular] Is there a fool proof way to do this?

Show quoted textHide quoted text

>
> I think you are sunk. By definitions customs exist to prevent you
> sending in
> things duty free. I know when I had some panels sent here (from
> Switzerlandincidentally) I got hammered with duties. Part of the
> problems lies in the
> declared value. You would have a hard time declaring something as
> valuelessand then insuring it for $4000 a panel. Each country has
> their own custom
> control and the shipper often screws stuff up by forcing you to
> use them as
> your customs agent etc. I've never been able to put a declared
> value and
> avoid customs.
>
> James R. Coplin
> ***************
> If anyone asks of my whereabouts,
> simply tell them i've gone out the window
> for a spot of tea and am not
> expected back any time soon.
> ***************
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: darkstr717 [mailto:darkstr1746@...]
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 4:24 PM
> > To: SergeModular@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [SergeModular] Is there a fool proof way to do this?
> >
> >
> >
> > Does anyone know of a fool proof way, or next best, to ship from the
> > US to Europe ( in this case Germany ) in such a manner so as to not
> > incure customs charges for the buyer on the other end? Eight or so
> > years ago i sold a couple panels to a guy in Switzerland i believe(
> > if your reading this, sorry i can't remember your name :( ) I sent
> > the boxes marked as "used musical instruments" and as far as i know,
> > that method worked just fine. Last year i sent a Cyclone to David
> > Hughes in England, and he got nicked for customs. So obviously this
> > doesn't work everytime. Frank in Germany has agreed to buy a panel
> > that i had up for sale a couple weeks ago, but he obviously doesn't
> > want to incure the added expense, and after the experience with
> David> i can't gaurantee that he won't have to pay. Does anyone
> here have
> > any experience shipping to Europe in a manner that doesn't leave the
> > receiving party with the added burden of customs??
> > Sorry if this is more OT than the membership can handle, just
> thought> this would be the logical place to ask.
> > kind regards
> > john duval
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Keep on Patchin'!
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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Re: Is there a fool proof way to do this?

2004-11-16 by Julian

I only found out recently that, here in the UK, i can fill out the insurance, and customs declaration forms sepperatly, and both, it appears, can have different values.

Other then that, i would do as suggested - goods for repair, or somthing to that effect.

Or...

Someone once sent me somthing from the usa, and way over insured it. Hence i was going to get hit with a whole load of customs. On protest at this, i had to supply details of the money transfer to pay for the item, which i did and was accepted.

So, i guess you could go by this method, and send the money in two sepperate goes, but i guess it depends on what the differences in costs are (in my case it wasnt a whole load, so maybee thats why they were easy to 'revalue' the item)

Julian

Re: Is there a fool proof way to do this?

2004-11-17 by Nate

At the US post office, it is also possible to fill out separate
values for insurance and customs forms. I was doing this for a
while, until I found out that upon making an insurance claim, the
first thing they do is to look at the customs form. Apparently,
unless you can prove your case otherwise, they will use the customs
value when possible. I also learned that shipping or postage fees
will not be be reimbursed for an insurance claim. It seems like they
should pay out whatever insurance you paid for. But apparently they
do check these things when a claim is filed.

Nate

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--- In SergeModular@yahoogroups.com, "Julian" <julian@2...> wrote:
> I only found out recently that, here in the UK, i can fill out the
insurance, and customs declaration forms sepperatly, and both, it
appears, can have different values.
>
> Other then that, i would do as suggested - goods for repair, or
somthing to that effect.
>
> Or...
>
> Someone once sent me somthing from the usa, and way over insured
it. Hence i was going to get hit with a whole load of customs. On
protest at this, i had to supply details of the money transfer to pay
for the item, which i did and was accepted.
>
> So, i guess you could go by this method, and send the money in two
sepperate goes, but i guess it depends on what the differences in
costs are (in my case it wasnt a whole load, so maybee thats why they
were easy to 'revalue' the item)
>
>
> Julian

Re: Is there a fool proof way to do this?

2004-11-17 by sasami@hotkey.net.au

In Australia -
1) if you insure an item, you can't declair it's value separately.
2) if you are sending to Germany, you can't insure it, period, because
apparently there is not Australia/Germany insurance agreement. This may be a
general German issue. Check with your post office.

3) (inbound) if it looks professsionally packaged or has an official receipt
of any sort, they'll try to get you.
4) try pulling a few knobs off to make it look damaged, and ship then in a
separate package, or stuffed into the padding.

Ken
_______________________________________________________________________
Ken Stone sasami@... or sasami@...
Modular Synth PCBs for sale <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/synth/>
Australian Miniature Horses & Ponies <http://www.blaze.net.au/~sasami/>