Official Customs, Duties, and International Shipping Questions and Stories Thread

[Regg]

I'd say you have a good excuse to complain to them

 

[Regg]

ordered some stuff via FromJapan and a little surprised by their shipping quotes:

FedEx Intl. Priority 9,654 yen1 parcel(s)
DHL 10,983 yen1 parcel(s)
Surface 3,450 yen1 parcel(s)

seems a bit pricey for a wool coat, sweatshirt, tshirt and pair of pants. the last time I used them for a pair of boots and a few clothing items fedex intl priority was only ~6000 yen. have prices gone up that much?

 

[Regg]

$450 in customs/fees from fedex intl from singapore on a $2800 order.

The items manufactured in the USA (at least listed as so. Robert Geller items marked with a USA address though in reality they may be made elsewhere?) were still charged duties.

Cotton items varied in % but were between 16 and 20%, while leather jackets were only 6%.

I had a separate order from Japan arrive the same day, with a value of ~$300 that I don't believe was charged anything. I still find it strange that the rules seem to apply to individual orders and not a daily total, at the least. I also had to fill out some form via fedex for the dept of homeland security to import something with a value over $2500.

 

[zissou]

I’m trying to understand something from a UK shop. They are not removing VAT, but instead have this message “USA buyers: NO duty is payable on orders under $800 due to the new de minimis threshold.”

 

[zippyh]

I’m trying to understand something from a UK shop. They are not removing VAT, but instead have this message “USA buyers: NO duty is payable on orders under $800 due to the new de minimis threshold.”

The $800 de minimis threshold has been around for a few years now. It just means if the goods you're receiving are under $800 you don't have to pay any duty. Totally separate issue from them not removing VAT. I read somewhere that UK ended the VAT refunds for visitors but the VAT exemption for mail order remains.

 

[velomane]

I've always assumed that vendors who don't remove the VAT are pocketing it for themselves. I won't give them my business and I tell them so.

 

[Peter1]

Heads up for us EU residents that Brexit will mean customs duties for us if we buy from UK. Just found that out the hard way. Not sure many UK sellers are aware and apparently rules are in flux, but was hit for about 10 percent on a 150 euro order.

Thanks, David Cameron!

 

[Lol1000]

Heads up for us EU residents that Brexit will mean customs duties for us if we buy from UK. Just found that out the hard way. Not sure many UK sellers are aware and apparently rules are in flux, but was hit for about 10 percent on a 150 euro order.

Thanks, David Cameron!

Thanks. I was actually just beginning to realize this after placing my order.

Does anybody know the details between customs and tariffs in the case of textile? If I translate into German, the word is more or less the same.

 

[jayvee]

There are very few details available as yet. It will be complicated with different tariffs for different materials/products and also rules about the origins of products and their component parts. Hate to say it but it’s probably best to avoid ordering from the uk until there is more clarity.

 

[Lol1000]

Congrats on the Brexit to the British textile industry.

 

[Peter1]

A slight bit of good news -- Northern Ireland is staying in the EU wrt customs/VAT, according to Bureau Belfast.

(I kind of tuned out of the whole brexit debate around 2018 so wasn't certain where the N. Ireland question had landed)

As for the actual "what you'll pay," I think for those of us in France it will be about 12% for "fashion" items sent from UK -- but I couldn't find an actual table anywhere. Would love to see one, either from UK source or French source.

(For me the duties are key as I pretty much only mail order from either Kafka or BB, and adding 12% or so to my Kafka orders skews the equation a bit. On the other hand weak pound still might make it worth the effort/added fee)

 

[Nyarlathotep]

^Matches also sent an email how Brexit won't change anything for continental shoppers. Also I've noticed that eBay UK seems to automatically apply tax to everything, which kind of sucks as I'd much rather take my chances with the post office than automatically pay taxes.

 

[jayvee]

^Matches also sent an email how Brexit won't change anything for continental shoppers. Also I've noticed that eBay UK seems to automatically apply tax to everything, which kind of sucks as I'd much rather take my chances with the post office than automatically pay taxes.

A lot of retailers are saying this but I am not convinced.

I’ve never been able to sneak anything past the Swedish post office and like most of us on Styleforum I order A LOT. Used to get about 60% success when I lived in the UK. The trick there is to get things delivered to a business address.

 

[Lol1000]

I got my UK delivery, which was below 100 GBP, received in Germany. In fact, there were no duties or anything at all. Not sure it stays that way, but just fyi

 

[Peter1]

OK...I've poked around the French douane (customs/border control) site, and clothing does indeed incur a 12 percent duties from outside the EU. https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/calcul-des-droits-et-taxes-sur-les-achats-letranger

Vetements are addressed in item No. 5. It's a range from 6 to 12 percent, but 12 percent is "en cas general" -- so it's safe to assume that residents of France will be hit with the 12 percent. It's assessed from the first euro.

So...if you're French and order from the UK, you can assume a 32% hit on top of checkout price (the 20 percent is TVA/VAT, that used to be assessed on checkout).