Customs Taxes/Fees HELP!

[Prada Psycho]

I'm sure there's a post or thread about this somewhere, but I've searched until I'm cross-eyed and can't seem to find my answer. So....new thread!

I'm trying to get an approximate guesstimate on what the customs fee will be on an H scarf, sent from Italy to me in US. I don't know that it means anything, but the package went from Italy into Paris briefly. The declared value was $200 and it was described as "Used Hermès Collector's Scarf" on one of the forms.

It was sent via FedEx and they told me I'd have to wait a week or so and call them for the amount. Not being a patient person and definitely not wanting to have a heart attack when I hear the amount, I'm hoping someone has a clue.

From what I've been able to piece together at the Customs web site (which is the PITS), it looks like it might be 9% at the most, but I honestly don't have a clue.

Anyone that can walk me through what to expect gets a gold star. I've bought things from all over the world, but this is the first time dealing with customs for me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[lulilu]

I've had stuff shipped from Europe without customs fees being charged. Is it because it's FedEx?

 

[Prada Psycho]

I've had stuff shipped from Europe without customs fees being charged. Is it because it's FedEx?

No idea. That thought crossed my mind though. The other thing being that it came from Italy and having dealt with shipping to Italy recently, I found out that Italian customs can be a real PITA.

 

[matt-g]

The worst one for me is UPS. They tack on a "brokerage" fee with no explanation whatever. Every time an international sender has used FedEx or a carrier that handed the package off to the USPS, I've never had to pay customs for packages <$1000 in declared value. I'm sure that there is some element of chance, but I just know if a seller can ship it using a carrier other than UPS, I'll always choose that option.

Shipping into Europe, however, you'll pretty much ALWAYS have the recipient deal with a customs agent.

 

[piperlu]

I'm sure there's a post or thread about this somewhere, but I've searched until I'm cross-eyed and can't seem to find my answer. So....new thread!

I'm trying to get an approximate guesstimate on what the customs fee will be on an H scarf, sent from Italy to me in US. I don't know that it means anything, but the package went from Italy into Paris briefly. The declared value was $200 and it was described as "Used Hermès Collector's Scarf" on one of the forms.

It was sent via FedEx and they told me I'd have to wait a week or so and call them for the amount. Not being a patient person and definitely not wanting to have a heart attack when I hear the amount, I'm hoping someone has a clue.

From what I've been able to piece together at the Customs web site (which is the PITS), it looks like it might be 9% at the most, but I honestly don't have a clue.

Anyone that can walk me through what to expect gets a gold star. I've bought things from all over the world, but this is the first time dealing with customs for me.

Thanks in advance!

^^Maybe, you'll get lucky and it will "slide" through. I have received 3 or 4 things from Italy and was lucky enough to never be taxed.