Thread: Shipito and Customs Value

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Ok it seems shifting to another warehouse will cost more than I save....... though I might run the maths again.

I finally got to the bottom of the TNT issue. TNT seem to not like that I put "North" in front of my suburb and not after it.

Stuart

Yairs.....beats the hell out of me why it doesn't just work on the postcode. It's not like the 'Mericans would know where the place is anyway.....

I guess its used as a cross check, but boy did it lead to some head scratching lol

Well they should be on the way shortly.
Things don't seem to have gone exactly to plan. I asked them to consolidate 4 packages into 2 packages, a large item some what delicate item and a small unbreakable item and to add extra bubble pack..... the idea being to get the large delicate item some extra protection by adding another layer of bubble and cardboard. That doesnt seem to have worked, it looks like the small item was put into the large items box the only plus is its be plactis wrapped so at least I'm not likely to lose anything. I dicided to suck it up as I'd rather take risk than have someone repacking "angry".
The rest of the items went in one box. As TNT have a limit of 3 on MPS (DHL is 10, and unless you are going to remove a lot of packaging in consolidate, MPS can be about the same price)

Stuart

Stu,

I mentioned to you that I was fearful of opening my consolidated package and finding the Reglus clinometer turned to Swiss confetti because I had asked Shipito to remove the original shipper's packaging. Well, to my delight everything was neatly encased in bubble wrap and everything survived the journey unscathed. The, still in it's unopened plastic wrappers complete with 1976 grease, TESA depth micrometer was the prize in the box. I do like Shipito.

I will be keen to find out how the collimator fares.

BT

Great to hear it made it Bob, along with your other goodies (I assume pictures to follow ).

I have my fingers crossed. If things go as quickly as last time, I'll find out Monday. If only I had somewhere to put them lol

Stuart

I booked my very first Shipito package at 9am one day and it arrived at the destination (Sydney) at 11am THE NEXT DAY! 26 hours from booking to delivery.

Never been the same since though (but still pretty good).

The other consideration is that if the amount goes over $1000, then Customs Duty may also apply.
There are import duties, usually around 5%, still applicable to 1000s of products.
This is applied before GST.

You can check them here: http://customs.gov.au/tariff/tariff2012.asp#Schedule3
Interestingly, this includes sharpening media such as cutoff wheels, grinding wheels, oil stones, water stones, diamond plates etc.
http://customs.gov.au/webdata/resour...les/HT68AW.pdf

Happily I wont be going over $1000 I had a quick look at the links and my eyes started to close! lol I wasnt fussed about the GST but working out duty looks like it could be painful, makes me glad I didn't got to 1000

Tracking hasnt gone live yet

Well it all made it here at 1pm today.... visual inspection its mostly intact. One book has a slash in the dust cover from shipito(you can even see it from their pictures) the auto-collimator's box had opened but it looks ok(for what thats worth).

I'll post pictures shortly in the normal place.

Thanks to all

Stuart

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

Domestic shipping cost within the USA is not included.

That's actually NOT the case. I have just read a PDF from the Customs site, and I quote:
"However, any inland freight and inland insurance costs incurred
by the purchaser before the goods leave the ‘place of export’ are
included in the Customs value."

And some more info from the website:

http://www.customs.gov.au/faq/DutyGST2.asp
How is the exchange rate calculated? Rates of Exchange are determined by the export date of the goods. (i.e. NOT the day you paid for them)

If you have several mail articles arriving from the same sender within a few days of each other, the mail articles are considered to be a single consignment. If the total value of the combined mail articles exceeds $1000, an import declaration is required.


That first point is something I've long been aware of, and it can be a right PITA. If the value of the package is $990 on the day you pay for it, and the $A drops in between then and when it is sent then the value could easily go over $1000. That's why I aways work on getting the package filled to only about $950-960 which allows 4-5% fat in the ex.rate.

This is particularly important when you cannot govern when the goods will be despatched - say something goes on backorder for a while and the exchange rate drops in the interim.

Many is the time I've had to fool around getting things taken out of packages and put into others to stay within the limits.

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

That's actually NOT the case. I have just read a PDF from the Customs site, and I quote:
"However, any inland freight and inland insurance costs incurred
by the purchaser before the goods leave the ‘place of export’ are
included in the Customs value."

Well its to late now!
It wouldn't have made a difference anyway, I was under $1k.... though it would have meant needing to do the TNT paper work for being over $700. I would have been over if I'd had to include postage to Australia but that's not the case.

I doubt there will be a "next time"

Seems barkers had it right. Why couldnt I find that pdf when I was looking?
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/re...ril2011WEB.pdf

Stuart

I haven't imported much since retiring, but before then I always requested that quotes and invoices were "Free on Board" (FOB) and include insurance. This was on the advice of my accountant and we never had any problems or queries from relevant authorities.

Another option may be to request quotes and invoices based on "Cost, insurance and freight" (CIF). This was preferred by one supplier who claimed it overcame potential problems with customs at thier end - I don't know what those problems might have been.

Bob

Originally Posted by Oldgreybeard

I haven't imported much since retiring, but before then I always requested that quotes and invoices were "Free on Board" (FOB) and include insurance. This was on the advice of my accountant and we never had any problems or queries from relevant authorities.

Another option may be to request quotes and invoices based on "Cost, insurance and freight" (CIF). This was preferred by one supplier who claimed it overcame potential problems with customs at thier end - I don't know what those problems might have been.

Bob

I thought that was only relevant if you imported something and "rented" space on a container and used the services of a freight forwarder, paid port charges etc. etc. That's a lot different to just going through the post or using a freight company.

FOB or CIF is the go with importing, otherwise the supplier just dumps it at the port at their end and you have to organise the rest.

Simon

Michael, you are right, we did use the services of a freight forwarder - that may be the reason for the accountant's advice.

Bob