Sorry, David, but I don't think you can blame the shipper. In
international shipments it is assumed that the purchaser knows and will
take care of import duties in their respective country. I think you'll
find that our customs tariffs are so complex that it is impossible for
anyone, much less an exporter in another country, to figure them out.
There are different tariffs for different items from different countries.
Try browsing the tariff database at http://www.customs.treas.gov/. Your
head will soon be swimming.
I'd look into the amount of duty you were charged, however. I thought
there was some exemption or reduction of duty for used car parts. The
idea being that the thing is already manufactured and used and importing
it won't take away anyone's job. I'm not sure about this however, and
you should contact the Customs office to find out. Maybe another lister
knows?
David Littlefield
'62 MGA MkII
'51 MGTD
'74 MG Midget vintage racer
'88 Jaguar XJ-S
On Fri, 27 Oct 2000 10:36:11 -0400 David Deutsch <mgman@optonline.net>
writes:
>
> I just returned from JFK International Airport w/ a UK imported O/D
> transmission.
> The unit was listed on Ebay and I had bit on it but missed it by $5.
> I
> was contacted a couple of days later by the seller who advised me
> that
> he had another that he'd willing to sell for high bid price of $320.
> +
> $185 shipping and handling. I agreed and asked for details on
> getting
> the unit. Was given flight # info and ETA but was in for a surprise.
> Was
> contacted on Monday and faxed forms from shipping company that I
> needed
> to sign and fax back. Notifyed yesterday that my unit had cleared
> customs, was ready for pick-up and that there was a customs charge,
> documentation, duty, cartage and terminal fee, adding up to $168.22,
> due
> . This caught me off guard. $505. was all ready making this the
> most
> expensive O/D I have ever purchased.
>
> Just wanted to warn anyone who maybe thinking about similar
> purchase. I
> have contacted the seller Mechspec MG Centre in the UK and expressed
> my
> disappointment with them not including these fees in his Ebay post,
> will
> let you know if I hear back from them.
>
> Safety Fast,
> David Deutsch
>
>
>
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