US Customs discussion - airports, importing

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#676
Hi all, just wanted to share my experience in case it may be helpful to someone. I purchased a used Birkin from one of the premier Japanese resellers for an amazing price which I negotiated. The total customs (including extra fees) ended up being about 9.5% of my purchase price (pretax). So a little under $700 for a $7K bag. The description that my seller wrote was “Used women’s bag.”

Just a tip, knowing that you have to pay customs of avg. 10% in the US is a good bargaining chip to get a reseller to lower their price! Lol
 
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#677
I just arrived back from Europe and had my bags and shopping inspected upon US arrival. I wanted to cry, yes, but I learned a lot though. I think they didn’t wave me through or give me a break, because they had a trainee shadowing a senior with the supervisor looking on. They mentioned a few times that I would pay taxes no matter if I bought it here at a store or brought the goods home into the US. I had to show all receipts. For $7.5k of purchases (base price excluding vat), I ended up paying $475. Taxes depend on the item…. textiles so like wool and clothing or fabric items are taxed at 19-20%, non leather bags are text at 19%, leather bags at 9%, and sunglasses at 3-4%, gold jewelry at 20%. I actually spent more buying a small Cartier ring than if I would have bought it stateside and very minimal savings for things small textile accessories as scarves and fabric items.
 
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#678
jennyy said:
LAX :sad:
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Omg I think I got the same trainer/trainee duo who were being watched by their supervisor. The were nice but did everything straight from the book. The trainee kept mentioning he had so much to learn and was a bit overwhelmed having to learn everything. They did everything by the books and opened up all my receipts and also asked to see the items which I mentioned was all in one bag. The trainee even waited as I went to grab my bags off the carousel. They weren’t mean but kept mentioning you need to declare that everyone had to pay taxes even them. They were very thorough. I was scared of getting my global entry revoked.
 
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#680
When you shop internationally, just think of it as momento of the wonderful trip. The savings doesn’t always work out, but you may be able to get things you can’t get from home. For reference, the first $800 is tax free, then the next $1000 is taxed at flat 3%. And the remainder will be more variable. If you travel with your family, sometimes they will allow you to use all the exemptions to pool all the purchases together. And most importantly, you declare at your first US port of entry. If you are connecting flights… it will be a rush… plan more time to connect.
 
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#681
BagsofOC said:
LAX must be getting really strict, as each time I’ve been waved though, even when I want to declare
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Di
bernpl said:
Omg I think I got the same trainer/trainee duo who were being watched by their supervisor. The were nice but did everything straight from the book. The trainee kept mentioning he had so much to learn and was a bit overwhelmed having to learn everything. They did everything by the books and opened up all my receipts and also asked to see the items which I mentioned was all in one bag. The trainee even waited as I went to grab my bags off the carousel. They weren’t mean but kept mentioning you need to declare that everyone had to pay taxes even them. They were very thorough. I was scared of getting my global entry revoked.
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Thank you for sharing! Were you waved over during passport control or as you were leaving the luggugae carousel? I had an intense experience with customs too where they went by the book but it was a flat 3% on everything other than bags. Bags were 9% but I’m wondering if the percentages have changed since that happened last year for me.
 
#682
It was the first time I got off an international flight and didn’t have to fill out their standard form or go through the machines. The young female officer asked me straight out… do you have anything to declare and also also did I do any shopping oversees? I don’t have a poker face or can’t lie plus I was scared of getting my goods confiscated and my gl Bal entry revokedl. I answered yes. Then she asked me was it over $800 and I aid yes. I was then told to wait in the sidelines for over 10 minutes; she had called the guys inspecting the goods. The trainee then asked me what I bought that I needed to declare warning me that I and need to declare everything and asked me if I had luggage on the carousel. He escorted me to the carousel and waited for me to get my bags. He then lead me to another area where I had to open up my bag to show the trainee/trainer/recipes and show them the items. I honestly felt that my voice cracked a little as I was trying not to cry, and they just kept assuring me that everyone had to declare and pay duty just like people pay taxes for items both statesides. On even said that they were sorry this was a unenjoyably, bad experience for me it I had to pay duties since I had bought it tax free oversees. one was a bit stern saying bring out all the receipts and take out your items. I had tried to show them a note where I had jotted down the duties but quickly said no, that they needed to verify the receipts and items themselves and enter everything in their computer. They imfomd me the other tax rate percentage as they entered it in the computer,… how much the percentage of each of the item were line by line. I honestly felt they could have let me go if they wanted to but since they had the trainee, the mentor, and the supervisor watching, they did everything by the books. No discounts or a warning.
 
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#683
bernpl said:
It was the first time I got off an international flight and didn’t have to fill out their standard form or go through the machines. The young female officer asked me straight out… do you have anything to declare and also also did I do any shopping oversees? I don’t have a poker face or can’t lie plus I was scared of getting my goods confiscated and my gl Bal entry revokedl. I answered yes. Then she asked me was it over $800 and I aid yes. I was then told to wait in the sidelines for over 10 minutes; she had called the guys inspecting the goods. The trainee then asked me what I bought that I needed to declare warning me that I and need to declare everything and asked me if I had luggage on the carousel. He escorted me to the carousel and waited for me to get my bags. He then lead me to another area where I had to open up my bag to show the trainee/trainer/recipes and show them the items. I honestly felt that my voice cracked a little as I was trying not to cry, and they just kept assuring me that everyone had to declare and pay duty just like people pay taxes for items both statesides. On even said that they were sorry this was a unenjoyably, bad experience for me it I had to pay duties since I had bought it tax free oversees. one was a bit stern saying bring out all the receipts and take out your items. I had tried to show them a note where I had jotted down the duties but quickly said no, that they needed to verify the receipts and items themselves and enter everything in their computer. They imfomd me the other tax rate percentage as they entered it in the computer,… how much the percentage of each of the item were line by line. I honestly felt they could have let me go if they wanted to but since they had the trainee, the mentor, and the supervisor watching, they did everything by the books. No discounts or a warning.
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I'm sorry to hear that. CBP should up the personal exemption given inflation too. It's not a great process, especially after a long flight! I don't blame you - my voice might have cracked too if i was under such strict scrutiny! Reading this thread, it seems like LAX is more strict compared to other airports. A couple of posters mentioned they were given a flat 3% duties rate or they were waived through. LAX is my home airport as well. I self declared at passport control and they made me wait almost 30 minutes off to the side before someone felt bad and escorted me down to the customs station. I had to collect my luggage and the officer was waiting for me with my passport in hand near the exit. I had two ladies and while it was not a supervisor/trainee team, i did feel that the two female officers judged me extensively for what i picked up. They even asked me for my salary and when i asked if it was mandatory to share that, the one watching the process (and checking the other officer's math) said that it seemed like a lot of money for someone to have on hand and could seem suspicious. I did end up sharing and that shut her up but still.....so awkward. Even though I self declared, i wonder if they have me flagged in the system going forward so they'll assume i went shopping on every european trip.

Prior to going, I built this massive spreadsheet that tracked price comparison factoring in US customs duties, VAT refund, currency conversation and US sales tax. Having gone through this process, i'm only going to buy things in europe that are significantly cheaper lol! Usually that's Hermes, Celine, Dior and LV. But I'm going to avoid VCA, Cartier, and Chanel since retail price is usually very close to US prices before tax. And the VAT refund really doesn't result in much savings. After the fee Global Blue charges when they transfer your refund, a VAT refund of 10-12% usually comes down to less than what's on the receipt. I usually lose some the actual refund due to me when i see it on my credit card statement (and i have a no foreign exchange fee credit card). And now that we have to add in customs duties, it makes the savings not even that worthwhile lol
 
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#685
LilyLA said:
I'm sorry to hear that. CBP should up the personal exemption given inflation too. It's not a great process, especially after a long flight! I don't blame you - my voice might have cracked too if i was under such strict scrutiny! Reading this thread, it seems like LAX is more strict compared to other airports. A couple of posters mentioned they were given a flat 3% duties rate or they were waived through. LAX is my home airport as well. I self declared at passport control and they made me wait almost 30 minutes off to the side before someone felt bad and escorted me down to the customs station. I had to collect my luggage and the officer was waiting for me with my passport in hand near the exit. I had two ladies and while it was not a supervisor/trainee team, i did feel that the two female officers judged me extensively for what i picked up. They even asked me for my salary and when i asked if it was mandatory to share that, the one watching the process (and checking the other officer's math) said that it seemed like a lot of money for someone to have on hand and could seem suspicious. I did end up sharing and that shut her up but still.....so awkward. Even though I self declared, i wonder if they have me flagged in the system going forward so they'll assume i went shopping on every european trip.

Prior to going, I built this massive spreadsheet that tracked price comparison factoring in US customs duties, VAT refund, currency conversation and US sales tax. Having gone through this process, i'm only going to buy things in europe that are significantly cheaper lol! Usually that's Hermes, Celine, Dior and LV. But I'm going to avoid VCA, Cartier, and Chanel since retail price is usually very close to US prices before tax. And the VAT refund really doesn't result in much savings. After the fee Global Blue charges when they transfer your refund, a VAT refund of 10-12% usually comes down to less than what's on the receipt. I usually lose some the actual refund due to me when i see it on my credit card statement (and i have a no foreign exchange fee credit card). And now that we have to add in customs duties, it makes the savings not even that worthwhile lol
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They asked me what I do for living. It was a long process. That’s why I don’t even bother with Clear because all the time I save in going through the lines will be spent in customs. They should have a simple system since we are honest and declared our goods. Unfortunately, I bought VCA because last year none of the pieces I wanted were in stock. I did noticed the VAT refund was more than in my Hermes Kelly. It looks like VAT refund for jewelry is higher than Hermes bags and scarves.
 
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#686
LilyLA said:
Di

Thank you for sharing! Were you waved over during passport control or as you were leaving the luggugae carousel? I had an intense experience with customs too where they went by the book but it was a flat 3% on everything other than bags. Bags were 9% but I’m wondering if the percentages have changed since that happened last year for me.
Click to expand...
I was waved though passport control
 
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#687
@LilyLA Thank goodness I didn't get asked what I do for a living. That just seems like such an intrusive question to be asked.

@bernpl It sounds like we might have gotten the same officers. It was such a hard experience to swallow. Next time I go to Europe to shop, I will always be super mindful of what I purchase and only purchase things with a much better discount.

Whatever I had saved through Global Blue was eaten up by what I had to pay in duties at the airport. I had chosen to declare my purchases, too. I wonder how I would have been treated if they had randomly picked me out of a crowd? I do have to say that I was treated "respectfully" and cordially during the declaration process and maybe it's because I had come forward to declare...?
 
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#688
bernpl said:
I just arrived back from Europe and had my bags and shopping inspected upon US arrival. I wanted to cry, yes, but I learned a lot though. I think they didn’t wave me through or give me a break, because they had a trainee shadowing a senior with the supervisor looking on. They mentioned a few times that I would pay taxes no matter if I bought it here at a store or brought the goods home into the US. I had to show all receipts. For $7.5k of purchases (base price excluding vat), I ended up paying $475. Taxes depend on the item…. textiles so like wool and clothing or fabric items are taxed at 19-20%, non leather bags are text at 19%, leather bags at 9%, and sunglasses at 3-4%, gold jewelry at 20%. I actually spent more buying a small Cartier ring than if I would have bought it stateside and very minimal savings for things small textile accessories as scarves and fabric items.
Click to expand...
Curious how did it end up only $475 if you had over $7K+ worth of goods and the taxes are 10-20%+?

It seems a lot lower than expected given the tax rates.
 
#689
jennyy said:
@LilyLA Thank goodness I didn't get asked what I do for a living. That just seems like such an intrusive question to be asked.

@bernpl It sounds like we might have gotten the same officers. It was such a hard experience to swallow. Next time I go to Europe to shop, I will always be super mindful of what I purchase and only purchase things with a much better discount.

Whatever I had saved through Global Blue was eaten up by what I had to pay in duties at the airport. I had chosen to declare my purchases, too. I wonder how I would have been treated if they had randomly picked me out of a crowd? I do have to say that I was treated "respectfully" and cordially during the declaration process and maybe it's because I had come forward to declare...?
Click to expand...
I will always declared all my purchases. I was not searched or they didn’t even asked to see the goods. As a matter fact I opened the luggage and they said not necessary. I read somewhere that the systems of VAT and in our case, US customs, were connected. The officer in DTW confirmed it.
 
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