Custom/duty/import fees from Japan to USA

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#122
hi guys,

if i buy something from an ebay seller, say in japan, do i pay any import taxes on the item? i am considering something not super expensive, like an agenda. please let me know if any of you have had any experience with it.

thanks!
 
#123
I have ordered from a seller from Japan a few time and never had to pay anything extra. But I do keep in the back of my mind that it could happen. I think if its not very expensive you shouldn't have any thing to worry about.
 
#124
We went through this yesterday! I think it depends on the seller. I got hit with $140 in charges for a $500 bag. I've order from japan before ( 11 or 12 times) and never incurred any charges. This recent purchase was from someone I had never dealt with before.
 
#126
mystique_nyc said:
hi guys,

if i buy something from an ebay seller, say in japan, do i pay any import taxes on the item? i am considering something not super expensive, like an agenda. please let me know if any of you have had any experience with it.

thanks!
Click to expand...

I think it depends on where your custom location is.
I've gotten many things from Japan and all ranges from $300 to $2000. Never charged any custom fees so Idk if amount matters as I've heard people buying an item for a couple hundred and charged a fee. I think it's the location you're at. Hope that helps a bit..
 
#128
phisigbb said:
Hi there,

Im looking at a Birkin from elady and I'm wondering if anyone has paid import duties for her?
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it really depends. some said it has to do with location and some say it depends on the seller declaring the value. IMO i think its a hit and miss with customs. you win some and you lose some. i order from her in the past and didn't get charge. it was a LV bag for $845. couple of week ago i order a card holder from her and it was $283, it got stuck in customs for a week and a half. finally got the package on Sat and got hit with a $33 fee. it really is a roll in the dice. the other seller i usually buy from Japan is Brandoff and (knock on wood) i haven't got hit with fees yet. HTH.
 
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#129
I have purchased numerous high value items from Brandoff and never incurred a customs fee. They ship their merchandise usually through USPS. I have also purchased several items from eLady, and only once have I had a customs fee, on a piece of jewelry. It was shipped via FedEx and I think by using FedEx that's where the fees come in. So far, USPS has never come after me for fees.
 
#130
So it really does seem like luck. I got in touch with customer service and they asked me what to declare. I asked them to declare $1500 so I really hope it doesn't raise any red flags for customs or get lost. Do you think $1500 is ok? Or should I ask them to declare more?
 
#131
phisigbb said:
Hi there,

Im looking at a Birkin from elady and I'm wondering if anyone has paid import duties for her?
Click to expand...

I bought many times from them. They (eLady) sometimes shipped with DHL/FedEx and for sure you will be charged with Custom fees. Communicate with them before buying, tell them that you want they ship it with Japan Post. I never have to pay Custom fees when they shipped with Japan Post.
 
#132
meandmylouis said:
I bought many times from them. They (eLady) sometimes shipped with DHL/FedEx and for sure you will be charged with Custom fees. Communicate with them before buying, tell them that you want they ship it with Japan Post. I never have to pay Custom fees when they shipped with Japan Post.
Click to expand...
She mentioned they were shipping EMS. Fingers crossed!
 
#134
I've ordered 2 LV purses on eBay from 2 separate sellers in Japan just this month (I'm in TX). Both items came via USPS and through the IS Chicago IL hub. 1st LV item worth $220 was received within 4 days of being shipped, no custom issues. 2nd LV item worth $570 was stuck in customs for 11 days...once released from customs I received it the next day. However, I had to pay $61 in custom duty fees in cash before the USPS postman would hand over my package. Item was declared correctly on the outside form...so it's just a hit or miss. I've ordered from Japan before...this is the 1st time I've had to pay duties.
 
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#135
I have a very similar situation as the post before me.

I purchased an authentic LV keepall 60 luggage off ebay. Was routed through Chicago and I received it in my hands in less than a week.
Problem is, the seller didn't have a box/dust bag, so I bought it separately from another seller on ebay. I even paid this guy extra $6 for "speedier shipping"...

Both items were shipped on January 17th, and the second package was in Chicago by January 19th, but as of today, January 30th, still no update on my tracking number

does anyone know is there anything I can do? I was really hoping to get this in time for my girlfriends birthday next week. Seller told me 6-10 days, so I thought I had plenty of time. But now time is running out, as I only have 1 week left before her birthday. I hate to give her the gift without the box :(

this is my last update

01/19/2015 10:09Arrival at inward office of exchangeCHICAGOUNITED STATES OF AMERICA
 
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