Shipping expensive lens to US - advise needed

[valdas]

I have sold and posted quite many items to US (from Europe), never had an issue. But, most of my previous sales were <100$ transactions. Buyers always got items in 10-14 days, I used regular local postal service (and then it was USPS when reached US). Now I sold something worth >2000 EUR and first question - do you guys pay any import duties on those expensive lenses? Second - what is the reputable global postal service that you trust in US (locally I can probably choose between UPS or DHL if i decide not to use local postal service).
Thanks for your input.

P.S. And now there is a twist to this story. The buyer replied to my message and asked if I could ship to a different address in Hong Kong... I guess there will be no deal...

 

[Rob-F]

I haven't had to pay import duty on any items from Europe (or asia either). I haven't kept track of the origin carrier from Europe, but I think it has generally been the local postal service of the originating country. I wouldn't use UPS, but DHL might be OK. But simply using your local postal service should be fine.

 

[ForestCap]

I always have to pay import duty when buying used camera gears from US and Japan to EU if the stated value is over a certain number (100 USD i guess?). I think it's the same other way around.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm not in USA, but I sold some expensive lenses and else to USA. Don't forget to pay for full insurance on shipping. It is optional, but...
Tracking in USA and full insurance.

 

[NeonKnight]

I bought a Leica M7 from France and the seller shipped through Chronopost. Unfortunately, this service did not have a customs broker and the package was held up for a few weeks and cost me a lot of time and money. I would stick to UPS/FedEx/DHL since they can get your item through customs the most efficiently.

 

[Larry H-L]

I have had several items come to me in the U.S. from Japan, Canada, China and have never had to pay a duty fee. However, all of the items were "used" and clearly marked as such on the package and paperwork.

Most of these packages were sent through the postal service of the country of origin as "air mail" and then transferred to the U.S. Postal Service. Luckily, I have never had a problem and the online tracking has worked very well.

As stated above, make sure you request insurance and tracking. If the item is "used" state so on the paperwork and label.

 

[B-9]

Those of us in the USA do not pay any sort of import tax/duty on foreign purchases.

The only fee I have had to pay was additional postage (something like .50$) for an item that seemed to have gained weight on the trip over.

 

[padtye]

If you do decide to ship via the postal service, make sure to send it EMS (Express Mail Service, which is treated the same by all countries’ postal departments). In the US, EMS parcels arrive at their destination post offices in separate containers (versus regular air mail, which is piled in with everything else before being sorted for delivery) and are far less likely to be dropped/thrown/or crushed. The carrier also has to sign for it before taking it out for delivery. I worked as a letter carrier myself, and EMS (or Priority Mail Express, if shipped domestically within the US) was always treated with extra care.

 

[JeffS7444]

If you ship via your postal system, there should be no duties or other fees for the USA recipient.

If you use a private carrier such as DHL, UPS or FedEx, there may be customs brokerage fees to pay.

 

[valdas]

Thanks all, very valuable input. It seems that local post or EMS is the way to go.

 

[f16sunshine]

All of the big Ebay sellers in Japan use EMS worldwide.
It's indeed the fastest and safest. Also maybe the most expensive on the surface... it seems worth it for high value items.

In the US, we don't pay VAT or import tax for second hand goods of small value (EU2000 is considered small).
Insure the package at full price and describe it as used/second hand in the custom description area.
Label the package Fragile even though they should know. The word on the box seems to help!
Good luck 🙂

 

[Paul T.]

Do try a courier comparison site (A UK one is parcel2go.com) as they tend to give more flexibility, and some couriers cost less via 3rd parties

In this instance I would tend to go for one of the big US names as that's where they're delivering and the chance of duty etc is low; perhaps even Fedex.

 

[ark8012]

Well.. it depends.. an used "film" camera does not have import duties/taxes on it. BUT Lenses have a duties/taxes on it. If you ship via Fedex/DHL, there will be more chance to have duties/taxes. USPS somehow does not charge those fees many times when it marked as "USED or Return"..

 

[valdas]

OK, now the funny part started. The buyer replied to my message and asked if I could ship to a different address in Hong Kong? Hacked account (it is a US buyer with PayPal address in CA will 100% feedback on more than 500 purchases)? Report to ebay, refund and cancel the transaction?

 

[Moto-Uno]

^ You already know what to do . Peter

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Buyer in US wants you to ship to Hong Kong? Fraud.

 

[bushwick1234]

I'm not in USA, but I sold some expensive lenses and else to USA. Don't forget to pay for full insurance on shipping. It is optional, but...
Tracking in USA and full insurance.

+ signature confirmation.

 

[ellisson]

If any doubt, Just call eBay!

If any doubt, Just call eBay!

OK, now the funny part started. The buyer replied to my message and asked if I could ship to a different address in Hong Kong? Hacked account (it is a US buyer with PayPal address in CA will 100% feedback on more than 500 purchases)? Report to ebay, refund and cancel the transaction?

The buyer, not you, should arrange the shipping to Hong Kong from the U.S. address. And I assume it is a verified PayPal address in the U.S.

If you have any doubt, just pick up your phone and call eBay. They actually answer and will steer you right: NOT to ship to an address other than that of the Verified PayPal Account address.

...And make sure that payment clears before shipping!

 

[mike rosenlof]

I am in the USA, and have never been charged duty from Canada or Japan. I think those are the only countries I've bought photo gear from. The highest price was probably about $1800.

I prefer USPS for shipments I receive from outside the country. FedEx charges a customs brokerage fee. For doing nothing, best I can tell.

 

[splitimageview]

Much incorrect info in this thread.

Import duties depend on the item(s), search the harmonized tariff schedule for commodities.

That said, shipments to individuals in the US often do not incur duties when shipped via post, even if duties are supposed to be collected.

Shipments to businesses and by freight companies such as UPS and Fedex will usually incur brokerage fees and duties on those items that are dutiable.