cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 9, 2020 0:47:28 GMT -8
And now my old, used,...and mostly broken...watches are hung up in US Customs?? Anyone else have to deal with this here in the United States? I have always used EMS up until now and never had a problem with customs. The package just comes straight to me.
Do I really need to break down the total value of a non-running 40-year-old Japanese watch purchased at an online auction in Japan by the individual values of it's case, movement, band, and battery in order to pay some kind of 1930s Smoot-Hawley protectionist tariff on it? Do I really have to do that thirteen times for each watch in the box?
REEEAALLLYYY??
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Post by tempelkim on Apr 9, 2020 1:28:45 GMT -8
Well, I am not in the US and I used EMS like always, but mine is resting at German customs in Frankfurt for two weeks now. Maybe next week it will get to me via a kind post man or I have to go to the local customs office and prove to them what I payed for the watches and the postage. It is different every time.
Sometimes they are happy with the papers attached to the parcel. Sometimes they are happy when I bring the same papers printed out at home. Sometimes they want me to show them my account on zenmarket. And sometimes they are not happy at all and want me to show them the receipt of my paypal payment of the exact amount stated on the papers. ...which i can't because of the way it works. Then follows a longer discussion accompanied with printing out lots of stuff and at some point they are fed up and accept.
Then I have to unpack in front of them to show them that there are actually watches inside. I usually start with a rather well packed example (and we all know the Japanese like well packing) and after the second or third one they usually ask 'Are they all like this?' and then I may leave - after I have payed customs and import sales tax of course.
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Post by phil on Apr 9, 2020 1:39:26 GMT -8
I am on Austria/Europe and no matter which form I use for shipping my stuff EMS, DHL, UPS I do have to show the bill and also the payment information be it paypal or credit card. Custom is a real pain in the ass here. One month ago I have been told that I need a n EORI Number for my stuff.... Now I got that too.... A real pita.
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Post by nordlys on Apr 9, 2020 1:42:49 GMT -8
And now my old, used,...and mostly broken...watches are hung up in US Customs?? Anyone else have to deal with this here in the United States? I have always used EMS up until now and never had a problem with customs. The package just comes straight to me.
Do I really need to break down the total value of a non-running 40-year-old Japanese watch purchased at an online auction in Japan by the individual values of it's case, movement, band, and battery in order to pay some kind of 1930s Smoot-Hawley protectionist tariff on it? Do I really have to do that thirteen times for each watch in the box?
REEEAALLLYYY?? I had this happen before when I lived in America. The only time I used DHL the package ending up being held in customs... And then DHL charged me some bogus "customs processing fee." Moral of the story: Never use DHL. With EMS, I never had a problem as long as the declared value was less than $800. Not a single international shipment was held in customs. Perhaps it's because DHL is typically used to ship higher value items, so the U.S. Customs office automatically flags DHL packages? Or maybe DHL purposely has the packages "held in customs" so they can hit you with a bogus fee? I have no clue. But I no longer use anything other than EMS or Japan Post when ordering from Japan.
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cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 9, 2020 1:45:41 GMT -8
I decided to try DHL because EMS always requires a signature. I am never home when the package arrives, so I decided to try DHL.
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGG mistake.
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Post by nordlys on Apr 9, 2020 2:05:25 GMT -8
I decided to try DHL because EMS always requires a signature. I am never home when the package arrives, so I decided to try DHL.
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGG mistake. Well, consider it a life lesson. You know what they say: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Let us know if they hit you with one of those "Customs Processing Fees." If I remember correctly they charged me $20-25. And no, it wasn't a customs charge from the U.S. government. My package was only about $100 so it was tariff-free. Rather, it was a charge from DHL for handling the customs processing, even though my package had no tariffs and the seller had filled out the original customs form correctly. Apparently you need to give DHL $25 "for their troubles" whenever they have to deal with U.S. customs.
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cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 9, 2020 2:37:20 GMT -8
I decided to try DHL because EMS always requires a signature. I am never home when the package arrives, so I decided to try DHL.
BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGGG mistake. Well, consider it a life lesson. You know what they say: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Let us know if they hit you with one of those "Customs Processing Fees." If I remember correctly they charged me $20-25. And no, it wasn't a customs charge from the U.S. government. My package was only about $100 so it was tariff-free. Rather, it was a charge from DHL for handling the customs processing, even though my package had no tariffs and the seller had filled out the original customs form correctly. Apparently you need to give DHL $25 "for their troubles" whenever they have to deal with U.S. customs.
I know watches and clocks are treated with some kind of special reverence by the government bean-counters and by customs. This is why 6139s destined for the US had 17 jewels, and 6139s meant for other markets had 21 (over 17 jewels meant a much higher tariff). But I had no idea this was true for used watches brought here by the handful decades after they were produced and sold. It is more than a little freakin' late to save the American watch manufacturing industry, isn't it??
The form DHL sent me to fill out reads like it was intended for wholesalers ordering hundreds of new watches directly from the factory or through a sales agent overseas.
If they give me too much grief over this, I will have DHL put this package on one of their shiny yellow planes and fly it 6,500 miles back to Tokyo. Then, I will have EMS re-ship it to me...like I should have had done in the first place.
I have a feeling this is going to a long, slow, grinding process given the nature of the US government and the COVID fiasco.
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Post by leffemonster on Apr 9, 2020 2:49:52 GMT -8
Doesn’t matter what courier we use for shipping to the UK, they all seem to get holed up by HMRC pending payment of VAT at 20%, and a ‘processing fee’. If anything coming in from outside the EU is declared as having a value of more than about £35 we get stung, even if it’s declared as a gift! That’s why I tend not to purchase from overseas. I imagine it’ll only be a matter of time, given Brexit, that the same will be applied to EU packages as well.
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Post by tempelkim on Apr 9, 2020 4:26:15 GMT -8
Speaking of which - just got a letter from 'Deutsche Post'. They tell me that due to the current situation customs has decided to delegate as much work as possible to the post and they want me to send them my EORI number. Well, I don't have one and I don't get one because I am a private person and don't have a business.
Of course they do not give you a phone number to call, but there is an email address. Looking forward to their answer...
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eeki
Timekeeper
Posts: 510
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Post by eeki on Apr 9, 2020 6:00:12 GMT -8
Interesting to hear how things work in different countries! I am rather happy about how customs office in Finland. Not that I'm too happy about the part where I have to pay €€, but hey - at least the procedure is rather good. You can do the whole process online, including payment, immediately after the parcel has arrived at customs. Everything takes only a few minutes. While you are required to have some kind of proof of purchase etc, you don't have to upload any paperwork unless asked to. Now, if only the postal services in Finland would be as efficient - somehow it is faster to ship things from Japan to Finland (around 8000 kilometers), than it is to get them from the customs office to the local post office (less than 10 kilometres). Doesn’t matter what courier we use for shipping to the UK, they all seem to get holed up by HMRC pending payment of VAT at 20%, and a ‘processing fee’. If anything coming in from outside the EU is declared as having a value of more than about £35 we get stung, even if it’s declared as a gift! That’s why I tend not to purchase from overseas. I imagine it’ll only be a matter of time, given Brexit, that the same will be applied to EU packages as well. Definitely not looking forward to the time when we have to pay VAT for items that come from the UK.. For new items we can of course buy them VAT free from the UK and then pay VAT here, which means the effect is almost zero, but for used items it is going to suck.
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aac58
Timekeeper
Posts: 451
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Post by aac58 on Apr 9, 2020 8:44:47 GMT -8
In my country we can also do all the customs paperwork online for free, but most couriers, including DHL and a subsidiary of the national post office, do it for you without even asking if you want them to do it (that's illegal), and they charge you with a fee for this service. You can always file a complain to those curiers, wait for them to correct the situation in the customs office and only then you can do it by yourself, but most people don't do that. They have set up a business with this procedure
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Post by doomguy10011 on Apr 9, 2020 10:04:13 GMT -8
The only time I've ever been charged customs on a watch is when it was delivered by FedEx and I bought it through Chrono24. I don't know why but it seems that packages from private couriers are more likely to incur customs than USPS ones. I've bought things worth more on YJ and have never been charged for those and I've always used EMS.
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suntzu
Needs a Life!
Posts: 3,600
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Post by suntzu on Apr 9, 2020 15:26:55 GMT -8
Smoot-Hawley!
I can't! Not to laugh at you, but that was funny.
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Adrian-VTA
Global Moderator
Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5,327
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Post by Adrian-VTA on Apr 9, 2020 16:57:57 GMT -8
From my experience, DHL really embraces their core Teutonic values. They're bureaucratic, snobby and inflexible.
For them to treat you well, you really need an established account, have done some business, know the password and jump through some hoops, or be Chinese.
Even then, once a year, the upper management will decide to bin your account and you have to re-apply for it.
I have an account with them for Express and eCommerce and generally get treated well. Because I have an account any customs fees are like 50 cents. If you work with them just as a one-off, off the street, They are bastards.
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Post by gerald on Apr 9, 2020 20:10:08 GMT -8
And now my old, used,...and mostly broken...watches are hung up in US Customs?? Anyone else have to deal with this here in the United States? I have always used EMS up until now and never had a problem with customs. The package just comes straight to me.
Do I really need to break down the total value of a non-running 40-year-old Japanese watch purchased at an online auction in Japan by the individual values of it's case, movement, band, and battery in order to pay some kind of 1930s Smoot-Hawley protectionist tariff on it? Do I really have to do that thirteen times for each watch in the box?
REEEAALLLYYY?? Yes, yes you do. But every cloud... Put 90% of the value on the movement. This will minimize your customs charges.
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Post by gerald on Apr 9, 2020 20:13:52 GMT -8
Well, consider it a life lesson. You know what they say: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Let us know if they hit you with one of those "Customs Processing Fees." If I remember correctly they charged me $20-25. And no, it wasn't a customs charge from the U.S. government. My package was only about $100 so it was tariff-free. Rather, it was a charge from DHL for handling the customs processing, even though my package had no tariffs and the seller had filled out the original customs form correctly. Apparently you need to give DHL $25 "for their troubles" whenever they have to deal with U.S. customs.
I know watches and clocks are treated with some kind of special reverence by the government bean-counters and by customs. This is why 6139s destined for the US had 17 jewels, and 6139s meant for other markets had 21 (over 17 jewels meant a much higher tariff). But I had no idea this was true for used watches brought here by the handful decades after they were produced and sold. It is more than a little freakin' late to save the American watch manufacturing industry, isn't it??
The form DHL sent me to fill out reads like it was intended for wholesalers ordering hundreds of new watches directly from the factory or through a sales agent overseas.
If they give me too much grief over this, I will have DHL put this package on one of their shiny yellow planes and fly it 6,500 miles back to Tokyo. Then, I will have EMS re-ship it to me...like I should have had done in the first place.
I have a feeling this is going to a long, slow, grinding process given the nature of the US government and the COVID fiasco.
Don't do this. Currently Japan Post are not shipping any international mail.
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Adrian-VTA
Global Moderator
Adelaide, South Australia
Posts: 5,327
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Post by Adrian-VTA on Apr 9, 2020 21:21:08 GMT -8
Check what the tax free threshold on imports is. If you're over that, it's a headache. I never buy more than I can get through under the headache threshold. e.g. in AU it's $1000. If you bring in anything over $1000 every department, their dog and their dog's dog has a go at taxing you or holding the shipment. Shipment is $998? Sails through with no hassles. They used to just look at the number and it was a go or no go. Now they've rebranded customs to "BORDER FORCE", and they take the exchange rate into account...bugger. I think the limit in the US is $750? And now my old, used,...and mostly broken...watches are hung up in US Customs?? Anyone else have to deal with this here in the United States? I have always used EMS up until now and never had a problem with customs. The package just comes straight to me.
Do I really need to break down the total value of a non-running 40-year-old Japanese watch purchased at an online auction in Japan by the individual values of it's case, movement, band, and battery in order to pay some kind of 1930s Smoot-Hawley protectionist tariff on it? Do I really have to do that thirteen times for each watch in the box?
REEEAALLLYYY??
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Post by terras14 on Apr 9, 2020 22:45:12 GMT -8
I know watches and clocks are treated with some kind of special reverence by the government bean-counters and by customs. This is why 6139s destined for the US had 17 jewels, and 6139s meant for other markets had 21 (over 17 jewels meant a much higher tariff). But I had no idea this was true for used watches brought here by the handful decades after they were produced and sold. It is more than a little freakin' late to save the American watch manufacturing industry, isn't it??
The form DHL sent me to fill out reads like it was intended for wholesalers ordering hundreds of new watches directly from the factory or through a sales agent overseas.
If they give me too much grief over this, I will have DHL put this package on one of their shiny yellow planes and fly it 6,500 miles back to Tokyo. Then, I will have EMS re-ship it to me...like I should have had done in the first place.
I have a feeling this is going to a long, slow, grinding process given the nature of the US government and the COVID fiasco.
Don't do this. Currently Japan Post are not shipping any international mail. I choose AIR using Buyer service for YJ and it didnt move at all. Wonder when it will be posted.
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cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 9, 2020 23:20:33 GMT -8
I know watches and clocks are treated with some kind of special reverence by the government bean-counters and by customs. This is why 6139s destined for the US had 17 jewels, and 6139s meant for other markets had 21 (over 17 jewels meant a much higher tariff). But I had no idea this was true for used watches brought here by the handful decades after they were produced and sold. It is more than a little freakin' late to save the American watch manufacturing industry, isn't it??
The form DHL sent me to fill out reads like it was intended for wholesalers ordering hundreds of new watches directly from the factory or through a sales agent overseas.
If they give me too much grief over this, I will have DHL put this package on one of their shiny yellow planes and fly it 6,500 miles back to Tokyo. Then, I will have EMS re-ship it to me...like I should have had done in the first place.
I have a feeling this is going to a long, slow, grinding process given the nature of the US government and the COVID fiasco.
Don't do this. Currently Japan Post are not shipping any international mail.
Thanks for the heads up. Honestly, I was surprised that Buyee was even doing any warehouse work last week. When I was ready to ship I actually checked Buyee's site for news of what was going on with the Japanese postal service. I couldn't find any bulletins on it that were newer than March 24th, and none seemed to affect shipping to the US.
I guess I will have to contain my rage and give Dewey, Huey, and Louie their blood money. I just hope I get an invoice from them before Christmas.
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cobrajet25
Needs a Life!
"Underweared curmudgeon!"
Posts: 3,357
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Post by cobrajet25 on Apr 9, 2020 23:29:03 GMT -8
Check what the tax free threshold on imports is. If you're over that, it's a headache. I never buy more than I can get through under the headache threshold. e.g. in AU it's $1000. If you bring in anything over $1000 every department, their dog and their dog's dog has a go at taxing you or holding the shipment. Shipment is $998? Sails through with no hassles. They used to just look at the number and it was a go or no go. Now they've rebranded customs to "BORDER FORCE", and they take the exchange rate into account...bugger. I think the limit in the US is $750? And now my old, used,...and mostly broken...watches are hung up in US Customs?? Anyone else have to deal with this here in the United States? I have always used EMS up until now and never had a problem with customs. The package just comes straight to me.
Do I really need to break down the total value of a non-running 40-year-old Japanese watch purchased at an online auction in Japan by the individual values of it's case, movement, band, and battery in order to pay some kind of 1930s Smoot-Hawley protectionist tariff on it? Do I really have to do that thirteen times for each watch in the box?
REEEAALLLYYY??
Maybe I am wrong, but this is starting to seem like a DHL thing and not a US Customs thing. I have had no issues at all using EMS and the USPS to get packages from Japan...only now with DHL. I had a 9F GS sent EMS with about a dozen other watches a month or two ago...way over $750...and encountered no Customs pushback.
I am actually wondering how much of this is a Customs issue versus DHL just being rigid pricks. Right now, my DHL package is stuck in Cincinnati. Stuff sent via EMS always enters customs through San Francisco. Maybe I have gotten lucky so far with EMS and the volume of mail going through customs in SF has just meant that my previous packages have slipped through?
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