Dealing with courier / shipping / duty when buying from websites abroad

frankmehta · 29th April 2009, 13:28

13 days is too short a time to get peeved. sometimes it takes atleast a month for some stuff to come to india. ive ordered a perfume a month back. i know it will reach me, but at its own sweet time. lets wait and watch!

lurker · 29th April 2009, 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjstyles69

Looks like I put my foot in the wrong place for once !! Thanks to EMS and my package is yet to be delivered.

I ordered a bag from ebay and the item was shipped from Hong Kong. The tracking info from hongkong post is as below

Date Location Delivery Status

16-Apr-2009 Hong Kong Processed for departure.
16-Apr-2009 Hong Kong The item left Hong Kong for its destination on 16-Apr-2009
18-Apr-2009 India Arrived.
18-Apr-2009 India In transit.

The sellers website clearly states that in India EMS Speedpost would be handling the package. Tried the Speedpost website and no luck with the tracking, also the number provided on their website don't work.

I have been buying expensive stuff off ebay for the last 5 years and have never faced any issues till date. Except for this package which is to be delivered by speedpost.

Any pointers folks ?

yes, I have been in same situation as yourself.

Please contact your local Speed Post Centre ASAP, and get in touch with their representative and (be polite) yet persistent about you package. Surely they will get it across because there is no one on behalf of Speed Post at customs to expedite customs deliveries.

Yet at the same time what comes by Speed Post rarely raise an eyebrow at customs clearance.

rjstyles69 · 29th April 2009, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurker

Please contact your local Speed Post Centre ASAP, and get in touch with their representative and (be polite) yet persistent about you package. Surely they will get it across because there is no one on behalf of Speed Post at customs to expedite customs deliveries.

LOLz I will take that with a pinch of salt

!! Will pay them a visit tomorrow and clarify on the status of the package.

lurker · 29th April 2009, 18:08

You need not pay them a visit necessarily. Just get in touch with the Speed Post customer service rep over phone. She/he will manage the rest for you.

Don't lose your temper with them.

Hopefully your package is insured in case unforeseen contingencies.

sk456 · 29th April 2009, 18:17

Have ordered DVD's/CD's/books through amazon quite often. Takes about 15-20 days.Regular shipping . No problem faced so far.

mail4ajo · 29th April 2009, 22:44

I recently ordered some RC items from tower hobbies. It took a month to reach here. It was held by customs who said that I am going to use the items for industrial applications and needed a IE code. I downloaded the catalogue of the items and submitted a statement the items were for personal use.

I ended paying duty of Rs 537 for a total value of Rs 2800.

rjstyles69 · 1st May 2009, 09:15

yahoooooo

got my package.Went to the local post office yesterday and checked with them, the parcel was right there and as was told it reached them a week back.

No questions asked, signed and collected the package. Guess EMS is the way to go, if you can go over and collect it. BTW I was told when its India POST no questions are asked at the customs.

frankmehta · 1st May 2009, 10:49

awesome! i think its time for me to go and check at the local post office if any of the postal workers are using that hugo boss element that's supposed to be mine :-P

esteem_lover · 1st May 2009, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjstyles69

BTW I was told when its India POST no questions are asked at the customs.

Information that needs to be passed to the right people. Hmmmm...

Venom · 9th June 2009, 23:37

Hey!
Anyone know how I can get a Paintball Marker shipped from the States to India?
Is it allowed? What's the minimum amount on which I can be charged custom duties...
Has anyone ever brought in or shipped in a Paintball marker?
I'm sorry this found it's way in the Gadgets thread. Didn't know where else it's fit.
Thanks!

ST7677 · 17th June 2009, 18:03

I forgot to update this thread earlier.
I finally got my item Visiontec GPS - mentioned on previous page, after about 2 months.

It was stuck in Customs office at Bangalore. They said that invoice is not available (actually invoice was right there on the box when I finally received the item). So I had to go to their office and give them a letter and my copy of invoice.

So for others help here are the steps I followed...
1. Called up International post office in Bangalore (25589993) and gave them the international tracking number, to get the local tracking number

2. Called up Postal Customs office and asked them to locate the parcel with Local tracking number, and get it's status (here I came to know that it is stuck as the invoice is missing)

3. Went to their office on Mission road, (on the turn, opposite some school) and gave them the invoice and came back.

4. They calculated the customs duty and sent the item via courier, where I paid the customs money.

Ideally customs office should have called me or dropped me a letter saying that my parcel is stuck because of so and so reason so I could act on it, but they didn;t. The status on the tracking website also said cleared Indian customs, so I was just lost where to search.

Hope this helps... Finally, I was immensely helped by some of the Team-bhpians in getting through the process, thanks to all of them.

BAKIYA_2K12 · 17th June 2009, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ST7677

I forgot to update this thread earlier.
I finally got my item Visiontec GPS - mentioned on previous page, after about 2 months.

It was stuck in Customs office at Bangalore. They said that invoice is not available (actually invoice was right there on the box when I finally received the item). So I had to go to their office and give them a letter and my copy of invoice.

So for others help here are the steps I followed...
1. Called up International post office in Bangalore (25589993) and gave them the international tracking number, to get the local tracking number

2. Called up Postal Customs office and asked them to locate the parcel with Local tracking number, and get it's status (here I came to know that it is stuck as the invoice is missing)

3. Went to their office on Mission road, (on the turn, opposite some school) and gave them the invoice and came back.

4. They calculated the customs duty and sent the item via courier, where I paid the customs money.

Ideally customs office should have called me or dropped me a letter saying that my parcel is stuck because of so and so reason so I could act on it, but they didn;t. The status on the tracking website also said cleared Indian customs, so I was just lost where to search.

Hope this helps... Finally, I was immensely helped by some of the Team-bhpians in getting through the process, thanks to all of them.

I think you parsal was detained,for some reason or might be they thought the item was under valued,If you want to avoid the hassle always ship it through ups or other courier serives and avoid usps shipping some time your item can also be damaged in shipping.

aadix · 17th June 2009, 23:40

did manson post up on this thread? he is one person who i know who has ordered up tons of stuff on ebay uk.

ordered up few bike parts on ebay uk, a few weeks back, they were delivered within 3 weeks, the post man told us about the parcel, went to the post office, paid a duty of rs 700, picked up my parcel and came.

but i guess i wouldnt take risk on high value items, have a self set limit of 5k. and anything more than that, guess would ask someone coming from us/uk to get it.

bj96 · 21st June 2009, 23:43

Googled these two links on the topic:

1. Clearance by Post

2. IMPORTS

These are from CBEC offices in Gujarat and Managlore, but, should be useful to understand the process elsewhere in the country too.

-BJ

vdiatech · 24th June 2009, 15:38

Hi, I recently bought an exhaust muffler from ebay (usa)

The parcel has today arrived at chennai and detained by customs.
The Foreign Post Office , when contacted, gave me a reference number for the detained item and asked me to get in touch with their department in 'air comple'.

When I contacted 'air complex' they told me that the item has to go on table tomorrow and asked me to call after 4:30pm.

How much duty can I anticipate? I want to keep everything ready so as not to waste time.

Cost of the item 40 USD
Cost of postage 45 USD

How much duty , would I end up paying ?

Thank you

ps: previously, my K&N replacement filter did not incurr any duty, despite being higher value of item (30GBP, item alone). It came straight to my door as normail post

29th April 2009, 13:28	#76
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	13 days is too short a time to get peeved. sometimes it takes atleast a month for some stuff to come to india. ive ordered a perfume a month back. i know it will reach me, but at its own sweet time. lets wait and watch!
	() Thanks

29th April 2009, 18:08	#79
lurker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Tura Posts: 1,592 Thanked: 1,423 Times	You need not pay them a visit necessarily. Just get in touch with the Speed Post customer service rep over phone. She/he will manage the rest for you. Don't lose your temper with them. Hopefully your package is insured in case unforeseen contingencies.
	() Thanks

29th April 2009, 18:17	#80
sk456 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: @Noida/Gurgaon Posts: 570 Thanked: 7 Times	Have ordered DVD's/CD's/books through amazon quite often. Takes about 15-20 days.Regular shipping . No problem faced so far.
	() Thanks

29th April 2009, 22:44	#81
mail4ajo Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1,957 Thanked: 331 Times View My Garage	I recently ordered some RC items from tower hobbies. It took a month to reach here. It was held by customs who said that I am going to use the items for industrial applications and needed a IE code. I downloaded the catalogue of the items and submitted a statement the items were for personal use. I ended paying duty of Rs 537 for a total value of Rs 2800.
	() Thanks

1st May 2009, 09:15	#82
rjstyles69 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bengalooru.. Posts: 4,343 Thanked: 842 Times View My Garage	yahoooooo got my package.Went to the local post office yesterday and checked with them, the parcel was right there and as was told it reached them a week back. No questions asked, signed and collected the package. Guess EMS is the way to go, if you can go over and collect it. BTW I was told when its India POST no questions are asked at the customs.
	() Thanks

1st May 2009, 10:49	#83
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	awesome! i think its time for me to go and check at the local post office if any of the postal workers are using that hugo boss element that's supposed to be mine :-P
	() Thanks

9th June 2009, 23:37	#85
Venom BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 61 Thanked: Once	Shipping from the States - Need Customs Info Hey! Anyone know how I can get a Paintball Marker shipped from the States to India? Is it allowed? What's the minimum amount on which I can be charged custom duties... Has anyone ever brought in or shipped in a Paintball marker? I'm sorry this found it's way in the Gadgets thread. Didn't know where else it's fit. Thanks!
	() Thanks

17th June 2009, 18:03	#86
ST7677 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,054 Thanked: 73 Times	I forgot to update this thread earlier. I finally got my item Visiontec GPS - mentioned on previous page, after about 2 months. It was stuck in Customs office at Bangalore. They said that invoice is not available (actually invoice was right there on the box when I finally received the item). So I had to go to their office and give them a letter and my copy of invoice. So for others help here are the steps I followed... 1. Called up International post office in Bangalore (25589993) and gave them the international tracking number, to get the local tracking number 2. Called up Postal Customs office and asked them to locate the parcel with Local tracking number, and get it's status (here I came to know that it is stuck as the invoice is missing) 3. Went to their office on Mission road, (on the turn, opposite some school) and gave them the invoice and came back. 4. They calculated the customs duty and sent the item via courier, where I paid the customs money. Ideally customs office should have called me or dropped me a letter saying that my parcel is stuck because of so and so reason so I could act on it, but they didn;t. The status on the tracking website also said cleared Indian customs, so I was just lost where to search. Hope this helps... Finally, I was immensely helped by some of the Team-bhpians in getting through the process, thanks to all of them.
	() Thanks

17th June 2009, 23:40	#88
aadix Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: hyderabad Posts: 1,597 Thanked: 14 Times	did manson post up on this thread? he is one person who i know who has ordered up tons of stuff on ebay uk. ordered up few bike parts on ebay uk, a few weeks back, they were delivered within 3 weeks, the post man told us about the parcel, went to the post office, paid a duty of rs 700, picked up my parcel and came. but i guess i wouldnt take risk on high value items, have a self set limit of 5k. and anything more than that, guess would ask someone coming from us/uk to get it.
	() Thanks

21st June 2009, 23:43	#89
bj96 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pune Posts: 1,045 Thanked: 1,370 Times View My Garage	Procedure for import via post Googled these two links on the topic: 1. Clearance by Post 2. IMPORTS These are from CBEC offices in Gujarat and Managlore, but, should be useful to understand the process elsewhere in the country too. -BJ
	() Thanks

24th June 2009, 15:38	#90
vdiatech BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 414 Thanked: 10 Times	Hi, I recently bought an exhaust muffler from ebay (usa) The parcel has today arrived at chennai and detained by customs. The Foreign Post Office , when contacted, gave me a reference number for the detained item and asked me to get in touch with their department in 'air comple'. When I contacted 'air complex' they told me that the item has to go on table tomorrow and asked me to call after 4:30pm. How much duty can I anticipate? I want to keep everything ready so as not to waste time. Cost of the item 40 USD Cost of postage 45 USD How much duty , would I end up paying ? Thank you ps: previously, my K&N replacement filter did not incurr any duty, despite being higher value of item (30GBP, item alone). It came straight to my door as normail post Last edited by vdiatech : 24th June 2009 at 15:44.
	() Thanks