I need to address the "trick" word - I may have used it in a way that
appears to have misled some folks.
The trick I mentioned was not a trick to get out of doing what was
requested by law.
I have killed several deals because I did not want to break the law -
however odd it might be - if it even is a law to fully declare value.
But I have heard for instance if you are sending books in an order and
books are noted - or used material is noted -
It does not go through customs - (this is true of Brazil, I think).
One buyer from Germany a couple of years ago gave me some word in
German (forgot it now) that printed on the invoice somehow did not
send it through customs!
.
But it is obvious just from the few posts we've seen -
There appears to be few common sense elements in this area of
international shipping.
I am merely searching for legitimate and legal protocols to make the
system work for my buyers and stay within the rules.
While at the same time fully declaring the value of the item.
Alan
On Oct 14, 2008, at 10:05 PM, MotionPictureArt.com wrote:
Wait a minute here, this is what Alan wrote:
"Also, there are evidently some trick words - like magic - that you
can
write on the outside of certain Intl. packages or on their customs
forms - and voila, they evidently slip through customs more readily"
I probably misunderstood this because of the language barrier. I
always thought that tricking someone (as he used in trick words)
meant something else.
I just gave this info. Also, only the first suggestion of the gift
with a low value is against the law.
All the other suggestions are just ways to describe the products,
but with the full value. I believe these are some of the magic words
he was asking for.
I respect every seller and how he/she works.
Also, in the Netherlands Customs has to prove the value of the
package. So it's easier for them if the value is already on it.
However, if the value is not on it they sometimes bluff and put an
estimated value on it.
If you reply to them and tell them there is no real value because
the package contains used posters they actually drop the extra taxes.
I also want to add that I have never had any poster or lobby card
packages opened by customs in the past 10 years. This usually only
happens when there are other goods involved.
So I personally don't see a problem with the high value in that
perspective.
Ron
----- Original Message ----- From: "lobby card invasion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
To: <MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 12:17 AM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Under-Declaration of Value on International
Shipments
My apologies, Wim. My post addressed your compatriot, Ron, as
well, who wrote:
"There are indeed a few ways that usually trick customs".
Sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate anything. I do agree with your
point regarding the dangers facing packages with expensive
contents, and posted as much in my sunsequent email.
Zeev
----- Original Message ----- From: "bqjansen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "lobby card invasion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 5:51 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Under-Declaration of Value on International
Shipments
With all due respect Zeev I think you haven't understand my post.
As others have also noticed there's a higher risk for high
valutions packages for the buyer. That's the point. Nobody asks
sellers to bend the rules or otherwise. We just try to bring
forward the buyer's perspective.
Wim
Op 14 okt 2008, om 21:41 heeft lobby card invasion het volgende
geschreven:
Ron, Wim, and others. You are missing the point. Alan Adler is
not asking you for "tricks" to outsmart various Customs. My
understanding is that he doesn't think its right, and doesn't
want to do it. Sometimes he looses some business.
What he wants to know is, is there a way to be completely honest
and yet not miss those "problematic" sales?
That's my understanding.
Zeev
----- Original Message ----- From: "MotionPictureArt.com" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
To: <MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 1:31 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Under-Declaration of Value on International
Shipments
Hi Alan, Wim and all others,
I'm also from the Netherlands and have noticed that usually
rolled posters in tubes slip by customs if mailed through the
regular postal service.
They probably figure that stuff inside tubes can not have a
very high value. Folded posters get picked out more often
simply because the package is larger.
Customs also (almost) always checks packages shipped via UPS/DHL
or any other express service.
Customs charges almost 30% of the total value of the package
plus the shipping. This can be very expensive.
You can ask sellers to mark the packages as a gift with a low
value, but if they don't want to do this it's fine too. I
usually calculate in the extra 30%.
Only with expensive orders I check with the seller first.
There are indeed a few ways that usually trick customs.
Marking the package as a gift with a low value or just any other
description with a low value (almost) always works.
One seller I know marks the packages as Commercial Samples
(something like this can be found on the shipping or customs
forms) with the full value.
Describing the items as "Used Posters", "Printed Matter",
"Paper", "Advertisement Material", "Second Hand Goods" or any
other term not implying a high value also often works.
Why is there this value added tax?
According to some sources (including customs) it's just a trick
to keep business and thus money in your own region.
In other words: stick to where you come from and keep that
economy alive. ;-)
Within Europe there is free trade, but when I get an order from
the US, Canada or Australia I'll have to pay 30% extra.
Ron
----- Original Message ----- From: "bqjansen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
To: <MoPo-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: [MOPO] Under-Declaration of Value on International
Shipments
Hi Alan,
As an international buyer I like to say this. It is indeed a
lot of bother. The problem is that it is a VAlue Added Tax.
This means that the value you put on it is considered to be
the value of the parcel. That is not per se the market value
of collectible. So this is your first problem, what is the
value of the poster? ISuppose I buy a Touch Of Evil poster for
a $100 (unfortunately that hasn't happen so far) is it's value
then $100?
Secondly in Holland they use this crazy system that books,
paper etc has a VAT of 6%, while most other stuff is 19%. You
can't imagine how much a hassle it is to get your point across
as a buyer that this paper, old paper at that and that the
"value" is in the eye of the collector. Customs services are
alas a bastion of bureaucracy.
This is only money of course and is a thing you can/have to
consider as a buyer.
There's a third point. The moment a package has a value on it,
mysteriously this set customs in action. I haven't
investigated this scientifically, but I am convinced that High
value packages are tampered with, looked in etc, by customs
(sometimes with devasting effects on old paper) far more often
than packages that don't have a high value on. If something is
damaged and I am pretty sure that has happened to me twice,
thyere;'s nothing you can do.
Wim
Mopo-Mailing-Mavins -
Just blew another sale because I would not under-declare value
of parcel for an international shipment.
Anybody care to speak to this issue?
International buyers continually ask me to not place true
value on contents of their shipments so they can avoid customs.
It is always a deal breaker for me.
Is this not against International Postal Law or something
like that?
And for those in the know -
Why the heck is there an import duty on something like a movie
poster, anyway?
Also, there are evidently some trick words - like magic -
that you can write on the outside of certain Intl. packages
or on their customs forms -
and voila, they evidently slip through customs more readily.
Anybody got the answers on this end of the operation?
Alan
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