posted on February 5, 2002 04:56:22 PM
Hello. I am sending a 60 year old semi-antique rug ($350)for the first time overseas, to a buyer in Japan. Will he have to pay customs on it? When I fill out the post office custom form, should I mark the merchandise box, or label it as a gift -- does this avoid a customs fee? Any advice is appreciated - thanks!
posted on February 5, 2002 06:50:04 PM
Do not mark as a gift...it is not one. If you mark as a gift it's illegal. Mark as merchandise and insure for the price that you sold it for. The buyer in Japan may or may not have to pay customs, but in my experience, they accept the duty if that's what customs says. Send via USPS Insured Parcel Post. Should be around $40-50 by Air Mail(4-7 days), or $15-25 by surface post(4-6 weeks). In this case the higher cost is due to the size and weight, not the insurance. Try to explain to the buyer the choices and let them decide how they want it shipped. Take payment as Japanese postal money order(can be cashed at US post office) or BidPay. You will find the people in Japan to generally be very courteous and quick payers. Great customers. Be cordial and brief. If this is a larger rug, like a 9x12, the cost to ship may be MUCH higher. Check with USPS online first on shipping cost no matter what size it is. Have ready weight and size of package.
[ edited by pointy on Feb 5, 2002 06:56 PM ]
[ edited by pointy on Feb 5, 2002 06:59 PM ]
posted on February 5, 2002 08:03:24 PM
This will bring out the illegal beagles, but ALWAYS MARK ITEMS AS MERCHANDISE ON THE CUSTOMS FORM. It's the only proper thing to do.
posted on February 5, 2002 09:57:45 PM
One of the first things you learn selling internationally is never lie on customs forms....Most buyers would like you to do it but I wouldn't advise it. Wow, shipping must cost a pretty penny for that.
posted on February 6, 2002 02:30:57 PM
so, if we ship overseas, it's always the receiver responsible for customs? I have to admit that I've listed gifts in the past, but for like 3 or 4 items averaging about $5 or less... it was just that I didn't want to deal with paperwork for so little...
posted on February 6, 2002 02:46:03 PM
Yes, it is the receiver who is always responsible for customs, though I have seen a case where the shipper paid for the shipping by credit card, and the cc# was on the airbill,...and the customs people in the receiving country charged that card for the duty. Shipper never did recover his money on that one, and the duty was a few hundred dollars. On $5 items I don't think there's a country in the world that would bother with collecting a duty, but if you mark as a gift you are technically committing a felony.
posted on February 6, 2002 09:37:09 PM
Buyer has to pay for the customs
And any other charges but make sure that he knows that, I once shipped a Ferregamo
Purse to Korea, insured for $500.00
Value $250.00 (how much she paid)
And marked as merchandise,
Buyer had to pay 23 % off the value
So she had to pay almost $60 extra,
Which she did expect at all.
Definilty check if the allow the materials
There, most of Asia has special rules about types of leather, you can find these
On USPS website, or under website
Of the country - regulations.
