Buying on ebay, and customs

[wendellt]

Hi people

just testing the waterin regards to buying a high value item overseas and importing them

I am thinking of buying a $2000+ lens on ebay and gettign it sent down her, now I am very familiar with ebay but have only dealt with many high value transactions, what bothers me is the procedures set byAustralian customs. On a number of occassions i have had high value items stuck at customs for weeks because they neglected to notify me that i had to pay customs.

any item over AU$100 is subject to GST and duty

anybody have an issue of customs holding parcels for GST and not notifying them till weeks or months after the siezure?

I am asking this because i need something quite fast and delivery time is estimated to be 3 days max but the 'customs' issue comes into play.

[birddog114]

Hi people

I am thinking of buying a $2000+ lens on ebay and gettign it sent down her, now I am very familiar with ebay but have only dealt with many high value transactions, what bothers me is the procedures set byAustralian customs. On a number of occassions i have had high value items stuck at customs for weeks because they neglected to notify me that i had to pay customs.

You have to follow up with your sender/ seller and contact ACS for quick clearance, don't sit there waiting and ranting about your order. It's the rules of engagement if you want your stuff out of their hand more quickly.

any item over AU$100 is subject to GST and duty

Who said it? all are hot manure! limitation is AU$500.00, anything over this amount then GST is applied but you may get caught with ACS sometimes with the value under AU$500.00, depend on your luck.

anybody have an issue of customs holding parcels for GST and not notifying them till wekes or months after the siezure?

Perhaps you're the only one

I am asking this because i need something quite fast and delivery time is estimated to be 3 days max but the 'customs' issue comes into play.

This is your dream, if anything in ACS, may take from 5 working days to a month, depend on how do you deal with them.

We have these answers repeating posted here in the past and recently with Hilop purchases.

[ajax]

wendellt,

you can find more here.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4376

However the boys in blue are not consistent in charging duty. If you'r lucky, your package may escape. I have heard good and sad stories. Last week my colleague bought a cannon 300 on ebay and paid A$1250 for it. He expected to pay gst on whole lot + postage. For strange reason they charged gst only on a$600 + customs processing fees.

hth

cheers,
ajax

[gstark]

Wendell,

This is exceedingly simple.

Step 1: ALWAYS - and I mean ALWAYS - assume that you'll be asked to pay GST.


Step 2: See step 1.


Step 3: Buy from somebody that you trust. If you have the slightest doubt, do NOT waste your time, and do not waste our time either.

Step 4: See step 1.

Step 5: When you're making your purchase, DO NOT USE UPS.

Step 6: Make sure that you get a tracking number. At that time, you are in the hands of the courier, and the vendor is out of the picture. Forget 'em. They're not worth taking home to meet momma!

Step 7: See step 4.

Step 8: Follow the bouncing ball, using your tracking number. If it tells you that your item is awaiting clearance, you call your shipper.

Step 10: See step 4.

That's it.

[DaveB]

Step 5: When you're making your purchase, DO NOT USE UPS.

UPS as in the shipping company? Why not?
I've had no problems using UPS and regard them at the same level as Fedex.
Last package I had through UPS did spend a few days sitting at US Customs for some reason, but the tracking showed me where it was and it came through in the end no problem.

[birddog114]

Step 5: When you're making your purchase, DO NOT USE UPS.

UPS as in the shipping company? Why not?
I've had no problems using UPS and regard them at the same level as Fedex.
Last package I had through UPS did spend a few days sitting at US Customs for some reason, but the tracking showed me where it was and it came through in the end no problem.

UPS is a big sucker!
Yes, it took few days to sit somewhere in the US and their tracking told me the goods is arrived in Sydney, rang them up they said it still in the US, next day got a phone call from their Sydney office with the demand of a ransom, ask more they said they do a pre-clearance and the actually good is still in the US, it's a f....king liar!
Not only me, few guys on this board had been hit by the same theme with UPS

[wendellt]

Gary creative points, well taken

I will avoid sellers who ship EMS

I think Fed Ex is best because they handle all the GST stuff and they invoice you at your door - easy good thing about fed ex is if there is a customs problem they get right onto it, instead of standing around fiddling with their Arses.

[birddog114]

Since then, I only use USPS and happily to head to Granville ACS gateway to talk to couple blondes there! applied to all the suppliers which I order from the US or HKG today.

5 minutes after, I'm out with the goodies which I want with a big smile.

I'm at Granville ACS gateway nearly twice a week, we talked about photography, tit and tat, they asked I answered, lot of fun too!

[birddog114]

Gary creative points, well taken

I will avoid sellers who ship EMS

You'll regret which what you thought!

I think Fed Ex is best because they handle all the GST stuff and they invoice you at your door - easy good thing about fed ex is if there is a customs problem they get right onto it, instead of standing around fiddling with their Arses.

Better than UPS one level but finally all the same! Don't you know this: shipping via UPS & FeDex the limitation is AU$250.00 and they collect GST and charge you around $50.00 for Customs Clearance fees, they have their own Customs Agent and they process your package not ACS.

On the other side, EMS is with limitation of $500.00, over $1K then you'll be charged Customs Fees at $45.00 with clearance form.

[gstark]

Step 5: When you're making your purchase, DO NOT USE UPS.

UPS as in the shipping company?

I do.

Why not?

Because ...

I've had no problems using UPS and regard them at the same level as Fedex.
Last package I had through UPS did spend a few days sitting at US Customs for some reason, but the tracking showed me where it was and it came through in the end no problem.

In all seriousness, they will rip you off.

They will charge you to use their (so-called) customs agency (you don't need to) for each and avery shipment. Add $55 to the shipping cost.

They will assess customs and GST before the products have even landed, and (obviously) before the goods have ghad a chance to even be looked at by Oz Customs. Add $Whatever for GST to your order, each and every time.

With Fedex, USPS, and etc it's more like a lottery, whereby you can get lucky. With UPS it's not a lottery, it's a rigged race, and your horse was knobbled before the race began!

[fozzie]

Birddog114,

Since then, I only use USPS and happily to head to Granville ACS gateway to talk to couple blondes there! applied to all the suppliers which I order from the US or HKG today.

5 minutes after, I'm out with the goodies which I want with a big smile.

I'm at Granville ACS gateway nearly twice a week, we talked about photography, tit and tat, they asked I answered, lot of fun too!

When are you going to invite the blondes to Mini Meets in Sydney to overcome any financial payouts

[gstark]

Gary creative points, well taken

Apparently not.

I will avoid sellers who ship EMS

Why?

Where did I say to not use EMS?

I did say to not use UPS; one is very different from the other.

Pay attention, boy, pay attention!

I think Fed Ex is best because they handle all the GST stuff and they invoice you at your door - easy good thing about fed ex is if there is a customs problem they get right onto it, instead of standing around fiddling with their Arses.

It depends upon whether we're talking about black or white arses, actually.

FedEx is fine, so too is EMS, so too is USPS.

But not UPS.

Are we there yet?

[birddog114]

Birddog114,

Since then, I only use USPS and happily to head to Granville ACS gateway to talk to couple blondes there! applied to all the suppliers which I order from the US or HKG today.

5 minutes after, I'm out with the goodies which I want with a big smile.

I'm at Granville ACS gateway nearly twice a week, we talked about photography, tit and tat, they asked I answered, lot of fun too!

When are you going to invite the blondes to Mini Meets in Sydney to overcome any financial payouts

Next trip, when you're in Sydney, I'll take you there!

[wendellt]

nearly gary
I understood your points but form my past experience EMS and USPS parcel services are more suseptable to customs issues.

these services don't care about what happens when the parcel reaches our shores just that it did and if it happens to be held at customs they wont try to expediate the customs process or follow it up - hence the problem

I used to import large silicon graphics computers to re-market them years back and i found out fed ex and airborne express was the best way to go they handle all the paperwork

[birddog114]

nearly gary
I understood your points but form my past experience EMS and USPS parcel services are more suseptable to customs issues.

these services don't care abotu what happens when the parcel reaches ourt shores just tht it did and if it happens to be held at customs they wont try to expediate the customs process or follow it up.

I used to import large silicon graphics computers to re-market them years back and i found out fed ex and airborne express was the best way to go they handle all the paperwork

You're talking this story about 10 yeears ago?

[gstark]

nearly gary
I understood your points but form my past experience EMS and USPS parcel services are more suseptable to customs issues.

these services don't care abotu what happens when the parcel reaches ourt shores just tht it did and if it happens to be held at customs they wont try to expediate the customs process or follow it up.

I used to import large silicon graphics computers to re-market them years back and i found out fed ex and airborne express was the best way to go they handle all the paperwork

Please read Birddog's posts on this matter.

[jberth1]

Hi people

just testing the waterin regards to buying a high value item overseas and importing them

I am thinking of buying a $2000+ lens on ebay and gettign it sent down her, now I am very familiar with ebay but have only dealt with many high value transactions, what bothers me is the procedures set byAustralian customs. On a number of occassions i have had high value items stuck at customs for weeks because they neglected to notify me that i had to pay customs.

any item over AU$100 is subject to GST and duty

anybody have an issue of customs holding parcels for GST and not notifying them till weeks or months after the siezure?

I am asking this because i need something quite fast and delivery time is estimated to be 3 days max but the 'customs' issue comes into play.

I've found delivery of items via USPS to take approx 6 days from the US. Recent deliveries from the UK via Royal Mail took approx 8 days, but that included interception by Aust Post for inspection by Quarantine !

I've bought itemes from the US over $500 in value and not had to pay any duty via USPS. I believe that any item via Fedex might be quicker, but you'll be guaranteed that you'll have to pay duty.

Getting anything from OS within 3 days is a BIG ask - doesn't matter whether you get caught up in Customs or not.

Cheers

Justin

[birddog114]

jberth1

He just want to be a "REAL DREAMER"

[DaveB]

Gary, Birddog,

Thanks for the info on UPS.
While I've been sortof happy with them up til now (I've seen the pre-clearance [while the package was still over the Pacific somewhere] work well - the processing when it hit the country was quick) your comments about customs processing fees and always getting processed do ring true.

I'll keep this in mind when selecting a carrier for my next delivery.
Thanks again!

[DaveB]

Just had two packages delivered by AustPost. One was USPS Global Priority and one was CanadaPost XpressPost International. Taking on board the feedback in this thread about UPS, I took the mail option and I'm very glad I did (this was the first time I used something other than Fedex or UPS for sizeable items).

For each package I could track it via the web (not quite to the same precision as Fedex or UPS, but I could tell when they hit Customs and when they hit my local post office for delivery). They took less than a week to get here, and neither package attracted GST or brokerage fees!

[birddog114]

Just had two packages delivered by AustPost. One was USPS Global Priority and one was CanadaPost XpressPost International. Taking on board the feedback in this thread about UPS, I took the mail option and I'm very glad I did (this was the first time I used something other than Fedex or UPS for sizeable items).

For each package I could track it via the web (not quite to the same precision as Fedex or UPS, but I could tell when they hit Customs and when they hit my local post office for delivery). They took less than a week to get here, and neither package attracted GST or brokerage fees!

DaveB,
New toys huh? great toys for the play! congrats!
I believe these are with small purchases not a big one.

[DaveB]

They took less than a week to get here, and neither package attracted GST or brokerage fees!

I believe these are with small purchases not a big one.

Yep. One was just over AU$800 (including shipping) which was the G1348 (new from a store with all paperwork!) and the other was about AU$350 (inc shipping).
As long as you don't end up paying too much in shipping, there's something to be said for making "small" purchases...

[birddog114]

They took less than a week to get here, and neither package attracted GST or brokerage fees!

I believe these are with small purchases not a big one.

Yep. One was just over AU$800 (including shipping) which was the G1348 (new from a store with all paperwork!) and the other was about AU$350 (inc shipping).
As long as you don't end up paying too much in shipping, there's something to be said for making "small" purchases...

It's considered as a small purchase, and they were shipped by USPS.
If by FedEx or UPS then the ransom is already demamnded by them (NOT ACS).

** Big purchases here means over US$1.5k** in one shipment.

[Zeeke]

Had an issue with customs only once.. when i got my D70 from t-dimension.. it sat in customs for 4 weeks.. i was chewing the knuckles off my hands by then.. my fingernails and fingers were gone by then lol.. tracked it to customs.. all got sorted out in 2 days

Tim