Shipping a unit to the US

ForTheFight · 7th April 2008, 16:39

I have just arranged to buy Rasmus' Optima which will be shipped from Denmark. I have not had much occasion to ship things internationally in my life, is there anything that I need to know about customs or duties when it comes to receiving a unit in the US?

Any help would be appreciated

Meng_Tze · 7th April 2008, 17:49

Some countries have 'export duties' , most countries have import duties. Depending on what the 'status' is of the unit, you may have to pay duties.

If you send a 'present' to someone and it is of less than a certain value, usually no duties. If you send something off for 'repairs' and it comes back to you, usually it does not incur duties.

Also the declared value plays a role. If you buy something from abroad and it is above a certain value, you pay duties. I am not sure what the limits are for the US. The key is whether you are importing something into the country.

If you do not declare full value and it goes lost, you can only claim back the value noted. Insurance and declared value have to be the same, if not, it is at a minimum frowned upon.

Check with customs websites.

cramerdn · 7th April 2008, 17:55

Including the word Used" in the description will probably help as well

jkaterenchuk · 7th April 2008, 18:09

Importing is really quite complicated and time consuming if you have not done it before. I would strongly advise you to utilize a shipper not only transport the goods but act as a customs broker. You can then call their international shipping division or follow the instructions on there website and they handle the rest. The person shipping it to you might be able to advise you whom has good rates shipping from their country. You can also use Fedex, DHL and UPS. Be very sure to check around and ask if all cost are included in the quotation as the rates can vary significantly from one to the other.

You can expect to get a bill that would be made up of the following charges. they might not be outlined but they will be there somewhere:

1) Transportation Shipping charge
2) Possible over charges for cubic weight.
3) Customs Import Duties.
4) Insurance
5) Brokerage Fee.

The main thing you need to do is to determine what the US Harmonized Code is for the item you are importing. This is what determines if how much duty you will have to pay. Here is a link to the USA Harmonized Tarrif schedule.

By Chapter of HTS :2008-04-01 - Revision 1, Official Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated

Its in your best interest to find the code that fits but provides the lowest duty rate. I do not know if eCCR are directly named and frankly don't want to go thru the time to figure it out. You will know what I mean when you start looking at the US documents.

Here is another thread that gives some input on the tariff code you might want to consider.

http://www.rebreatherworld.com/inspi...stom-cost.html

Good Luck

John

undrh2o · 7th April 2008, 18:33

Having shipped items to the US - Country of manufacture has a big affect on customs costs -being a Dive Rite product is it not made in the USA? (or Canada by Farallon)?

***jradomski*** · 7th April 2008, 20:12

Quote: (Originally Posted by ForTheFight)

I have just arranged to buy Rasmus' Optima which will be shipped from Denmark. I have not had much occasion to ship things internationally in my life, is there anything that I need to know about customs or duties when it comes to receiving a unit in the US?

Any help would be appreciated

If you use the right code you will not pay any duty as watersports equipment is duty free from almost any country into the US.. The only fees you should have to pay is a brokerage fee.. here is the tarif code and a link to get more info

http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/tariff_current.asp

95062900 (tarif code)

ForTheFight · 7th April 2008, 20:26

Looks like the code is 9020004000 and its exempt...unless i am misunderstanding something.

ForTheFight · 7th April 2008, 22:01

Quote: (Originally Posted by jradomski)

The only fees you should have to pay is a brokerage fee..

Any idea how much brokerage fees are? UPS wont tell me, I called, the first woman said "we dont give estimates" and the second said "between $500 and $1000"

***jradomski*** · 8th April 2008, 00:56

Quote: (Originally Posted by ForTheFight)

Any idea how much brokerage fees are? UPS wont tell me, I called, the first woman said "we dont give estimates" and the second said "between $500 and $1000"

I have brough rebreathers in on the code I posted.. brokerage fees will vary depending on carrier, but I the most I have ever paid was $200..

I would not use UPS, they seem to have the highest fees.. If you are using a regular shipping cxr (not a freight company) I would use either DHL or fedex..

WHen I brought in 5 rEvos in september the fee was $60 plus a $180 customs bond..

7th April 2008, 16:39	#1 (permalink)
ForTheFight What's a custom title? Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Optima Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Optima Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 192	Shipping a unit to the US I have just arranged to buy Rasmus' Optima which will be shipped from Denmark. I have not had much occasion to ship things internationally in my life, is there anything that I need to know about customs or duties when it comes to receiving a unit in the US? Any help would be appreciated __________________ This post may be up to 80% accurate...
(Online)

7th April 2008, 17:49	#2 (permalink)
Meng_Tze 246 Bubbleless Cove Current Rebreather/s: Megalodon Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: FL, USA Posts: 105	Re: Shipping a unit to the US Some countries have 'export duties' , most countries have import duties. Depending on what the 'status' is of the unit, you may have to pay duties. If you send a 'present' to someone and it is of less than a certain value, usually no duties. If you send something off for 'repairs' and it comes back to you, usually it does not incur duties. Also the declared value plays a role. If you buy something from abroad and it is above a certain value, you pay duties. I am not sure what the limits are for the US. The key is whether you are importing something into the country. If you do not declare full value and it goes lost, you can only claim back the value noted. Insurance and declared value have to be the same, if not, it is at a minimum frowned upon. Check with customs websites. __________________ Homo Bonae Voluntatis
(Offline)

7th April 2008, 17:55	#3 (permalink)
cramerdn Living The Dream, Baby!! Current Rebreather/s: Evolution Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Dolphin Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Townsville QLD Posts: 458	Re: Shipping a unit to the US Including the word Used" in the description will probably help as well __________________ "Its better to live one day as a tiger than an entire life as a worm." "But who's ever heard of a worm skin rug?"
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7th April 2008, 18:09	#4 (permalink)
jkaterenchuk . Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Megalodon Classic Kiss Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lititz, PA Posts: 652	Re: Shipping a unit to the US Importing is really quite complicated and time consuming if you have not done it before. I would strongly advise you to utilize a shipper not only transport the goods but act as a customs broker. You can then call their international shipping division or follow the instructions on there website and they handle the rest. The person shipping it to you might be able to advise you whom has good rates shipping from their country. You can also use Fedex, DHL and UPS. Be very sure to check around and ask if all cost are included in the quotation as the rates can vary significantly from one to the other. You can expect to get a bill that would be made up of the following charges. they might not be outlined but they will be there somewhere: 1) Transportation Shipping charge 2) Possible over charges for cubic weight. 3) Customs Import Duties. 4) Insurance 5) Brokerage Fee. The main thing you need to do is to determine what the US Harmonized Code is for the item you are importing. This is what determines if how much duty you will have to pay. Here is a link to the USA Harmonized Tarrif schedule. By Chapter of HTS :2008-04-01 - Revision 1, Official Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States Annotated Its in your best interest to find the code that fits but provides the lowest duty rate. I do not know if eCCR are directly named and frankly don't want to go thru the time to figure it out. You will know what I mean when you start looking at the US documents. Here is another thread that gives some input on the tariff code you might want to consider. http://www.rebreatherworld.com/inspi...stom-cost.html Good Luck John
(Online)

7th April 2008, 18:33	#5 (permalink)
undrh2o Veteran Noob Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Other CCR Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 192	Re: Shipping a unit to the US Having shipped items to the US - Country of manufacture has a big affect on customs costs -being a Dive Rite product is it not made in the USA? (or Canada by Farallon)?
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7th April 2008, 20:12	#6 (permalink)
*jradomski* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "Da" Bronx Posts: 2,817	Re: Shipping a unit to the US Quote: (Originally Posted by ForTheFight) I have just arranged to buy Rasmus' Optima which will be shipped from Denmark. I have not had much occasion to ship things internationally in my life, is there anything that I need to know about customs or duties when it comes to receiving a unit in the US? Any help would be appreciated If you use the right code you will not pay any duty as watersports equipment is duty free from almost any country into the US.. The only fees you should have to pay is a brokerage fee.. here is the tarif code and a link to get more info http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/tariff_current.asp 95062900 (tarif code) __________________ Joe Radomski CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10 All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.
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7th April 2008, 20:26	#7 (permalink)
ForTheFight What's a custom title? Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Optima Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Optima Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 192	Re: Shipping a unit to the US Looks like the code is 9020004000 and its exempt...unless i am misunderstanding something. __________________ This post may be up to 80% accurate...
(Online)

7th April 2008, 22:01	#8 (permalink)
ForTheFight What's a custom title? Current Rebreather/s: Classic Kiss Optima Other CCR Dolphin Other Rebreather/s: Sport Kiss Optima Other CCR Dolphin Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 192	Re: Shipping a unit to the US Quote: (Originally Posted by jradomski) The only fees you should have to pay is a brokerage fee.. Any idea how much brokerage fees are? UPS wont tell me, I called, the first woman said "we dont give estimates" and the second said "between $500 and $1000" __________________ This post may be up to 80% accurate...
(Online)

8th April 2008, 00:56	#9 (permalink)
*jradomski* Moderator Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Sport Kiss Optima rEvo Other CCR Home Build Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Evolution Megalodon Classic Kiss rEvo Other CCR Home Build Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "Da" Bronx Posts: 2,817	Re: Shipping a unit to the US Quote: (Originally Posted by ForTheFight) Any idea how much brokerage fees are? UPS wont tell me, I called, the first woman said "we dont give estimates" and the second said "between $500 and $1000" I have brough rebreathers in on the code I posted.. brokerage fees will vary depending on carrier, but I the most I have ever paid was $200.. I would not use UPS, they seem to have the highest fees.. If you are using a regular shipping cxr (not a freight company) I would use either DHL or fedex.. WHen I brought in 5 rEvos in september the fee was $60 plus a $180 customs bond.. __________________ Joe Radomski CCR Trimix Instructor Trainer ANDI Instructor Trainer Director #10 All posts are personal opinions and DO NOT reflect any affiliated agency unless specifically stated.
(Offline)

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