Have you ever paid duty when buying Louis Vuitton from Japan?

TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others

I purchased a bag from a seller in Japan for $770 and did not have to pay a duty. It was marked as a used bag and shipped via EMS. It sat at LAX customs for three days and was mailed to me the following day. It seems that it just depends.
 
Not sure how they do it. But I have heard from my courier that you're more likely to pay duty tax on items entering the country (US) with a value of $2100+.

Tax on leather goods, I was told ranged from 3-12%. The upper limit are for expensive (exotic) leathers.

I've had bags sent to me from all over. Some came from Paris (ordered a LV in store and they had to ship it because I had personalized it) and was declared full value ($7000) but I didn't get hit with any import tax. I've had sunglasses sent in from Italy that were valued at $650 and I was hit was a $40 import tax. Not sure how they decide which ones to tax...maybe it's just luck.
 
I'm in Canada and lately have been charged duty for nearly everything that comes from outside the country :sad:

I recently purchased a bag from Japan and had to pay duty, but I was expecting it, so I had worked it into the total cost before buying. It does make buying outside of Canada much less appealing.
 
My customs is in Chicago as well! I hope my situation is the same! Been there since Sunday and I'm getting nervous. My items never sat in customs this long and I've gotten tons of preloved from Japan. Hoping for it!

Maybe it just has to do with how much incoming volume they receive as to how long it takes to process?? Mine was checked into customs a week ago Sunday ( your same situation), was released from customs on Thursday, and I got it Friday!!! So good luck, axcarter, I bet you have yours by this weekend! ;)
 
I purchased from Brandoff a couple months ago. The bag was $ 499 U.S. I paid another $ 144 when I picked it up from the post office (duty/taxes/brokerage fee).
Before that, I've purchased from 2 other ebay sellers from Japan and wasn't charged any other fees. I don't think I'll buy from Brandoff anytime soon.
 
Last edited:
I'm in Canada and lately have been charged duty for nearly everything that comes from outside the country :sad:

I recently purchased a bag from Japan and had to pay duty, but I was expecting it, so I had worked it into the total cost before buying. It does make buying outside of Canada much less appealing.

I hear ya…bought a few items from Japan, never been hit with fees, then before Christmas I bought a bag from Brandoff (Japan) and got hit with $ 144, for a $ 499 purchase. I've since been looking on Kijiji, since bags (and I know which are real, which are not), are ALOT less than what US sellers (even overseas sellers) are charging. I'm sticking with buying ONLY within Canada , especially with our dollar being worth. 80 cents. It sucks!! Everything is more expensive for us Canadians. I spotted a "like new" Suhali leather bag on Kijiji for $ 600 here in Canada, while another U.S seller was selling the same one for $ 2200. YIKES!! Unfortunatley for me, it wasn't my style, otherwise for $ 600, I would have jumped at it!
 
I bought from Brand-off a few times and have been lucky enough not to be hit with any fees.
I have been eyeing a Watercolor but it's in Japan and its over $2000.
Don't think I will take the chance. Would hate to get hit with a duty bill of $200+
 
I hear ya…bought a few items from Japan, never been hit with fees, then before Christmas I bought a bag from Brandoff (Japan) and got hit with $ 144, for a $ 499 purchase. I've since been looking on Kijiji, since bags (and I know which are real, which are not), are ALOT less than what US sellers (even overseas sellers) are charging. I'm sticking with buying ONLY within Canada , especially with our dollar being worth. 80 cents. It sucks!! Everything is more expensive for us Canadians. I spotted a "like new" Suhali leather bag on Kijiji for $ 600 here in Canada, while another U.S seller was selling the same one for $ 2200. YIKES!! Unfortunatley for me, it wasn't my style, otherwise for $ 600, I would have jumped at it!

I've been trying Kijiji lately, too. But, I rarely see anything locally and if I ask someone in another province to ship to me, I think they might think it's a scam.

I have also been trying to only purchase inside Canada. But even on eBay, the exchange rate makes it hardly worth while. Oh well, I guess I'll just save money instead.
 
I've purchase a few things from Japan and got hit with about a 9-10% duty on my 2 handbags. Both were marked as used handbags. One was marked for what I purchased it for but one seller marked it for way less (I guess she was trying to get me to pay less duty). That one got stuck in customs awhile and I got a letter asking me for proof of purchase to assess the proper duties. The 2 SLG's I got that was about $200 and didn't have to pay anything.
 
I've been trying Kijiji lately, too. But, I rarely see anything locally and if I ask someone in another province to ship to me, I think they might think it's a scam.

I have also been trying to only purchase inside Canada. But even on eBay, the exchange rate makes it hardly worth while. Oh well, I guess I'll just save money instead.
We started a FB group for Canadian LV lovers…it stems from the best group on FB (made up of authenticators, and only authentic pieces are sold). I spotted something I wanted and contacted the gal (she was in Canada) and asked if she'd sell for the same asking price in CDN dollars (not U.S) and ship to me…she did. If any Canadian gals are interested in joining this FB group, message me on FB ( Kimber Lii ). Its just getting going, as there seems to be more U.S sellers…buts its a safer alternative than buying from Kijiji for the most part! :)
 
I hope you don't have to pay!! I got my first grail bag, this is a second. I sure hope no duty is involved!

Any update with your item? Mine is still in custom! :laugh::laugh:
This is seriously the longest I've had an item in custom. Usually it goes thru the same day. This is going on day 4 now.. Ahh I guess we'll see.. :sad:
 
Top