International shipping experiences?

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Rebecca Ore - 29 Jun 2007 13:20 GMT

I arranged a private trade with someone in Europe and according to
tracking, my package is now in New York and has been turned over to US
Customs in New York. I wonder what experiences people have had with
delays or not in getting packages due to delays with US Customs.

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Duncan - 29 Jun 2007 18:00 GMT

It would largely depend on who the shipper has used as their transit agent
Rebecca.

Some service will clear customs and send you a bill other will pass to
customs and ask for pre payment before delivery.

Customs clearance is a black art and will take as long as it takes.

Sorry I can't be more informative but is my experience.
Duncan

>I arranged a private trade with someone in Europe and according to
> tracking, my package is now in New York and has been turned over to US
> Customs in New York. I wonder what experiences people have had with
> delays or not in getting packages due to delays with US Customs.

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Rebecca Ore - 30 Jun 2007 00:58 GMT

> It would largely depend on who the shipper has used as their transit agent
> Rebecca.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Sorry I can't be more informative but is my experience.
> Duncan

This is national mail services on both ends -- so it's traveling through
US mail here. Funny to have it take two days to get from Sophia to NYC,
then be 90 miles away for more than a couple of days.

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Duncan - 30 Jun 2007 08:59 GMT

That's the way carriers operate moving items from hub to hub. Internal
transit here in the UK can do similar things when it has to be sent to a hub
half way up the country to get routed to another hub to finally get to where
it's going. They must have centralised the system so that they can minimise
the local offices and keep their costs down. It's likely the extra cost in
diesel is vastly off set by the savings in staff and business sites.

Duncan

>> It would largely depend on who the shipper has used as their transit
>> agent
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> US mail here. Funny to have it take two days to get from Sophia to NYC,
> then be 90 miles away for more than a couple of days.

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Rebecca Ore - 30 Jun 2007 12:00 GMT

> That's the way carriers operate moving items from hub to hub. Internal
> transit here in the UK can do similar things when it has to be sent to a hub
> half way up the country to get routed to another hub to finally get to where
> it's going. They must have centralised the system so that they can minimise
> the local offices and keep their costs down. It's likely the extra cost in
> diesel is vastly off set by the savings in staff and business sites.

It's cleared customs and should be here shortly. I found I could track
it on either the Bulgarian mail site or on the USPS web site. This one
is a straight swap without any cash changing hands.

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Duncan - 02 Jul 2007 16:49 GMT

Customs and tax authorities don't regard a swap as a means to 'avoid' duty
and taxes to be paid. They will make a judgement based on the declared value
of the goods. If the deem the goods to be disproportionally different to the
declared value i.e. a low valuation but they know to be a higher one, they
will make their judgement on the higher value.

You could argue with them afterwards but you need the goods first.

But you could be lucky and there's nothing to pay just a slow service.

Duncan

>> That's the way carriers operate moving items from hub to hub. Internal
>> transit here in the UK can do similar things when it has to be sent to a
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> it on either the Bulgarian mail site or on the USPS web site. This one
> is a straight swap without any cash changing hands.

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Rebecca Ore - 02 Jul 2007 20:03 GMT

> Customs and tax authorities don't regard a swap as a means to 'avoid' duty
> and taxes to be paid. They will make a judgement based on the declared value
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> But you could be lucky and there's nothing to pay just a slow service.

I got my side of the trade today. I think figuring the value of used
equipment in unknown condition, with a screw wandering around in one of
the boxes, is probably non-trivial.

His cleared his customs and should be in his hands today or tomorrow.

He got the prettier camera but not using a really pretty camera out
walking in Philadelphia has some advantages. The name place is missing
-- I've thought about putting Kiev on it, but only camera people would
get the joke.

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Duncan - 04 Jul 2007 16:52 GMT

Good to hear it arrived Rebecca.

These days saying it's an old film camera is enough to turn them off.
They're only interested in digital if they were looking to sell it after a
mugging.

Duncan

>> Customs and tax authorities don't regard a swap as a means to 'avoid'
>> duty
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> -- I've thought about putting Kiev on it, but only camera people would
> get the joke.

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