Custom/duty/import fees from Japan to USA

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#110
Kitties Are Cute said:
I'm expecting something from Japan any day now. The seller shipped via EMS, but every time I try to track it, nothing comes up for status! Does this happen to anyone else? I'm worried it's not even in customs yet.
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Cest La Vie said:
I just received an item via EMS from Japan yesterday. I used the tracking number that the seller gave me and tracked it through japanpost.jp, and I was able to track it from the origin to final delivery.
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Kitties Are Cute said:
Thanks! I just messaged the seller. Now here's to hoping there's no customs on it! It's a $1700 bag so customs could be hefty!
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Cest La Vie said:
I'll keep my fingers crossed! I never paid any customs for packages coming via EMS, hoping the same for you :)
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I saw that your item arrived. However, sometimes, ebay tracking does not work well, even if the seller put the number into ebay. It might say "Tracking information not found" or it might track perfectly. That's why it's always a good idea to do what Cest La Vie did, and put the number directly into Japan Post track and trace or your local service USPS. You can always check the tracking this way from Japan, using your local carrier. ebay do this process too, if there is any case of an item not received, so ebay can always check the details too.
 
#111
Hello!

Has anyone recently purchased a Chanel bag of $1000 or up from Japan to be shipped to the United States? It seems like the tax and custom fees are random, and the added fees to a luxury bag seem like they can be hefty. I'm trying to weigh the options of purchasing from Japan, or from home. Any advice given will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
#112
BagsAreMyPoison said:
Hello!

Has anyone recently purchased a Chanel bag of $1000 or up from Japan to be shipped to the United States? It seems like the tax and custom fees are random, and the added fees to a luxury bag seem like they can be hefty. I'm trying to weigh the options of purchasing from Japan, or from home. Any advice given will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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Look at it this way ... can you afford to purchase a bag from Japan AND have custom fees charged? You can't afford this then buy only from home.

You can't count on custom fees not being charged. If you have a purchase and fees are not charged, consider yourself lucky. But you have to be realistic and have the funds available if you are charged.
 
#113
The customs fees could be charged but usually aren't, in my experience.

If it would be a great deal without customs fees and still a decent deal with them then it's worth the purchase. If the customs fees would be a deal breaker then buy closer to home.

You also have to consider the potential cost of return shipping should there be a problem with the item.
 
#114
Jennie's Aunt said:
Look at it this way ... can you afford to purchase a bag from Japan AND have custom fees charged? You can't afford this then buy only from home.

You can't count on custom fees not being charged. If you have a purchase and fees are not charged, consider yourself lucky. But you have to be realistic and have the funds available if you are charged.
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That's a great way of looking at it. Thank you for the help!
 
#115
uadjit said:
The customs fees could be charged but usually aren't, in my experience.

If it would be a great deal without customs fees and still a decent deal with them then it's worth the purchase. If the customs fees would be a deal breaker then buy closer to home.

You also have to consider the potential cost of return shipping should there be a problem with the item.
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Everything you said is very very true! Thanks for giving me another perspective on this matter.
 
#116
uadjit said:
The customs fees could be charged but usually aren't, in my experience.

If it would be a great deal without customs fees and still a decent deal with them then it's worth the purchase. If the customs fees would be a deal breaker then buy closer to home.

You also have to consider the potential cost of return shipping should there be a problem with the item.
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I didn't pay custom fees ordering from Japan, but I have kept one bag, because I didn't want to deal with an international return. Unless it's a great deal, I would probably try to get the bag from a domestic seller.
 
#118
I bought many from Japan from past and got to pay custom from time to time in lasT 2 years most if it's large package and have 2 or more bags even low value , use bag declared. 9% of value that they estimated( not from seller declare value) they inspected and open the box , most sellers are very nice and know how to declare. Last 2 bag I bought one $150 another $700 both came with same custom fees $43 each . My recent one hermes I just got notice
Today $281. Wow I guess I'm done with Japan seller, may be custom already marked my name .or this is tough economy. They want to make money .
 
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#119
coco09 said:
I bought many from Japan from past and got to pay custom from time to time in lasT 2 years most if it's large package and have 2 or more bags even low value , use bag declared. 9% of value that they estimated( not from seller declare value) they inspected and open the box , most sellers are very nice and know how to declare. Last 2 bag I bought one $150 another $700 both came with same custom fees $43 each . My recent one hermes I just got notice
Today $281. Wow I guess I'm done with Japan seller, may be custom already marked my name .or this is tough economy. They want to make money .
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I noticed that some Japanese sellers report the full price, others don't. Do you know how much the last seller declared for your purse?
 
#120
coco09 said:
I bought many from Japan from past and got to pay custom from time to time in lasT 2 years most if it's large package and have 2 or more bags even low value , use bag declared. 9% of value that they estimated( not from seller declare value) they inspected and open the box , most sellers are very nice and know how to declare. Last 2 bag I bought one $150 another $700 both came with same custom fees $43 each . My recent one hermes I just got notice
Today $281. Wow I guess I'm done with Japan seller, may be custom already marked my name .or this is tough economy. They want to make money .
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Thanks for sharing your experience, coco09.
 
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