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

greenh0rn · 24th June 2009, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdiatech

Hi, I recently bought an exhaust muffler from ebay (usa)
Cost of the item 40 USD
Cost of postage 45 USD

How much duty , would I end up paying ?

I think India Customs Duty and Import Duty in India Custom Tariff and Import duties and Tax. can answer your query with great authority and accuracy.

Here you go for your specific query: 87089200,Silencers (mufflers) and exhaust pipes; parts thereof Import & Custom Duty Calculator.

PS: How much time did it take for the shipment to reach you- both this and earlier?

vdiatech · 24th June 2009, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenh0rn

PS: How much time did it take for the shipment to reach you- both this and earlier?

1. Exhaust muffler, from USA . It has taken 11 working days to reach Chennai Customs from the day it was posted.
( 3" T304 Stainless Oval Tip Exhaust Muffler Universal:eBay Motors (item 260411226399 end time Jun-14-09 12:39:28 PDT) )

2. K&N replacement, from UK . It took 6 working days to reach me.

nishantgandhi · 24th June 2009, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankmehta

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!

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankmehta

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

I ordered from the same website. Their records state that it was shipped on May 15th. However, its yet to reach me.

Any idea where it could be stuck? Would I have to go to the Customs office or the Post Office to check on it?

MY delivery address is actually quite a major landmark (Fort, GPO) so there is no chance they can say 'did not find address'. Plus, its next to the Port area as well.

I am clueless why they would with hold perfume worth $25 and $40.

vdiatech · 28th June 2009, 07:18

Hi, Update .

Online tracking of my item clearly described as item being ' out of foreign customs '. This is such a misleading status message from USPS.com .

I was in touch every day with the Foreign Post Office. I used to call them every day , very politely for an update.

Finally, they advised me that the parcel had been detained by customs and asked me to wait for a memo from them. I was given a reference to identify the detained item.

Customs, Postal Apraisals was situated right over the foreign post office in Meenambakam (chennai).

I went there, the same day with a covering letter with ref to detained item no , explaining that the item was for my own personal use with no commercial interest. I even mentioned the value of the item. I requested that the customs, clear my item.

I had also attached proof of purchase, payment, copy of drivining license, coy of RC BOOK .

The supervisor at the customs was not too happy that I had barged in without a memo and all required documents in hand. Neverthless, he asked the clerk to write out a memo and attach my paper work to the memo.
Once that was done, the attempt to obtain bribe began. They warned me that duty would be 24% and some documentation missing and they have to go out of the way to help me.

I replied saying, I had all documents as requested on the memo and since the item was under 20K and not prohibited and as it was for my personal use, duty should not be levied. The clerk did not look very happy !

I waited for the senior officer to come by, only she is authorised to release the item without duty. She offered me a chair and with a smiling face, asked to see my documents. After going throughh them and asking me what i did, why i bought from ebay etc, she signed and ordered it to be released !

I am happy now.

Ps: I dont have the habbit of carrying cash in my wallet. This helps me when police stop me, I could also show them I have only 50rs and get away with that ! The same trick helped here. I showed the clerk that I had an empty wallet ! lol

vcash · 27th July 2009, 11:06

Hey Guys,
I bought some classic parts for my Merc from a reputed seller on ebay and the items were shipped on May 12rg from Vermont, USA to Jamshedpur, India via USPS Parcel Post. The package was insured and the paid and declared value was $85 (Including Shipping).

Unfortunatley it has bee over 2 months and I have not received the package yet. The seller has offered to recreate the package for me incase I do not receive it soon. Now the tracking number on USPS is not providing any results and before I ask the seller to recreate the items, I am thinking that I could try and do some investigation on my end? Any ideas on where the package could be stuck in India - One could be customs and the other could be FPO. But the question is where - Mumbai or Kolkata? Can anyone advise on where I should be calling to get some more information on my package's whereabouts?

Thanks!

aburagohain · 28th July 2009, 22:08

I am too stuck with the feeling of "will I get my stuff alright and when" right at the moment, USPS tracking says my item, an old lens purchased from EBay US, is cleared from Indian Customs on July 22nd, no further update.
A little bit of searching around has yielded this address, may come in handy to someone in Bangalore at some point of time, so logging it in here, the phone number of the same office has been already mentioned on page 6 of this thread. Need to visit them one of these days and find out personally. I have been trying the numbers of the India Post Bangalore office whole day today (National Speed Post Centres), it is either busy or ringing all the time, no one picks up.. maybe they use that phone there only for making their personal calls, which time it shows busy

Foreign Post Office
Shoolay Complex
Museum Road
Bangalore G.P.O.
Bangalore - 560001
Phone: 080-25589993

given2fly · 28th July 2009, 23:16

So going by last few posts, are items under 20K which are marked for personal use, exempted from import duty? I'm just starting to order from eBay in US and other places and trying to find out if USPS is any better in getting away with duty than UPS or DHL etc.

aburagohain · 29th July 2009, 00:16

I am not sure if an item can be marked as personal use, gift marking is one option but from what I read, items marked as gift attract the most attention at the customs office of late.
I have multiple good experiences with DHL and TNT in the past, fast and trackable delivery to the last despatch from local agency to your doorstep, a must for peace of mind knowing where your item is, not paid any duty till now, the highest transaction being close to $400; tried USPS for the first time and that's how I arrive at this thread..

knp · 29th July 2009, 12:58

guys, I am looking to buy few stuff like mobile phones from ebay.com and the seller is from Hong kong. My phone cost would be max. of 150USD and does this attract customs?
Is it okay to order? or any other suggestions please?

sgiitk · 29th July 2009, 15:34

I suspect they are stuck in some obscure corner of customs. You may be contact in a year about them.

I had such an experience with an electronic Ignition Unit ages ago. First got a notice after six monthe then it showed up after another 13 months with a hefty duty. Never tried importing again!

lurker · 29th July 2009, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcash

Hey Guys,
I bought some classic parts for my Merc from a reputed seller on ebay and the items were shipped on May 12rg from Vermont, USA to Jamshedpur, India via USPS Parcel Post. The package was insured and the paid and declared value was $85 (Including Shipping).

Unfortunatley it has bee over 2 months and I have not received the package yet. The seller has offered to recreate the package for me incase I do not receive it soon. Now the tracking number on USPS is not providing any results and before I ask the seller to recreate the items, I am thinking that I could try and do some investigation on my end? Any ideas on where the package could be stuck in India - One could be customs and the other could be FPO. But the question is where - Mumbai or Kolkata? Can anyone advise on where I should be calling to get some more information on my package's whereabouts?

Thanks!

1. Take up the telephone directory or your phone book or Internet Speed Post website.
2. Locate the nearest Speed Post centre. (If your parcel was sent via EMS)
3. Else ask your nearest Post Office for the address of the State/District level Parcel Centre.
4. Talk politely to all the personnel involved.
5. Ask them to trace your parcel and do you a favor.
6. If you establish a rapport with them then parcel should be in your hands by evening.

Ajaybiz · 29th July 2009, 16:12

I imported many things from UK, US, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia etc and never faced any issue apart from paying duty and waiting time, earlier i use to pay bribe at customs post office but looks like they got raided and some strict instructions came for imported stuff, for small amout they wont charge any duty now and stuff over 75$ they are charging 30% duty of the products cost, whenever you buy anything from eBay make sure that seller is shipping via USPS Priority Mail Service as in that case you can track the item, also if consignment gets missing via other ordianary post you can file a case in paypal with in 45 days which is quite affective and worked for me many times.

aburagohain · 29th July 2009, 20:26

Called up the Foreign Post Office at Bangalore today, my item is indeed there, the guy gave me a local tracking number and told me that the item is with customs and gave me the number 080-25589992, I guess this is the same office, both Post Office as well as the Customs, guessing by the original number I dialed which was 080-25589993

Now the customs guy enquired what my item was and if it was for personal or company use, told him that it was a lens for my personal use, then he says there is no invoice for the same and I must visit him with an invoice.

So guys please help me with suggestions, my item is worth $250, a second hand camera lens about 23 years old, postage combined value is $286. If there is any clause like below 20K, exemption for personal usage item etc. that you are aware of and that I can readily show to the guys there on some authoritative website perhaps, please let me know. I am planning to visit the customs people this coming friday or saturday, so all the suggestions are very much welcome, though at short notice. If nothing helps, then I have to pay 30 odd percent duty and take possession of the package.

bigman · 30th July 2009, 13:01

aburagohain.

See import of gifts

Looks like only RS5K limit unless the web page has not been updated for years.

aburagohain · 30th July 2009, 22:07

Thanks for the suggestion BigMan, I have been searching the net around too but haven't come to anything concrete yet that I can use as a reference. Planning to go there tomorrow if they are open.

BTW, is there any duty exemption on used goods that have been imported? I can make good use of this as the item I bought is almost a quarter century old and has rolled many hands already probably if not the first count.

28th June 2009, 07:18	#94
vdiatech BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 414 Thanked: 10 Times	Hi, Update . Online tracking of my item clearly described as item being ' out of foreign customs '. This is such a misleading status message from USPS.com . I was in touch every day with the Foreign Post Office. I used to call them every day , very politely for an update. Finally, they advised me that the parcel had been detained by customs and asked me to wait for a memo from them. I was given a reference to identify the detained item. Customs, Postal Apraisals was situated right over the foreign post office in Meenambakam (chennai). I went there, the same day with a covering letter with ref to detained item no , explaining that the item was for my own personal use with no commercial interest. I even mentioned the value of the item. I requested that the customs, clear my item. I had also attached proof of purchase, payment, copy of drivining license, coy of RC BOOK . The supervisor at the customs was not too happy that I had barged in without a memo and all required documents in hand. Neverthless, he asked the clerk to write out a memo and attach my paper work to the memo. Once that was done, the attempt to obtain bribe began. They warned me that duty would be 24% and some documentation missing and they have to go out of the way to help me. I replied saying, I had all documents as requested on the memo and since the item was under 20K and not prohibited and as it was for my personal use, duty should not be levied. The clerk did not look very happy ! I waited for the senior officer to come by, only she is authorised to release the item without duty. She offered me a chair and with a smiling face, asked to see my documents. After going throughh them and asking me what i did, why i bought from ebay etc, she signed and ordered it to be released ! I am happy now. Ps: I dont have the habbit of carrying cash in my wallet. This helps me when police stop me, I could also show them I have only 50rs and get away with that ! The same trick helped here. I showed the clerk that I had an empty wallet ! lol
	() Thanks

27th July 2009, 11:06	#95
vcash BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 453 Thanked: 22 Times	Hey Guys, I bought some classic parts for my Merc from a reputed seller on ebay and the items were shipped on May 12rg from Vermont, USA to Jamshedpur, India via USPS Parcel Post. The package was insured and the paid and declared value was $85 (Including Shipping). Unfortunatley it has bee over 2 months and I have not received the package yet. The seller has offered to recreate the package for me incase I do not receive it soon. Now the tracking number on USPS is not providing any results and before I ask the seller to recreate the items, I am thinking that I could try and do some investigation on my end? Any ideas on where the package could be stuck in India - One could be customs and the other could be FPO. But the question is where - Mumbai or Kolkata? Can anyone advise on where I should be calling to get some more information on my package's whereabouts? Thanks!
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 22:08	#96
aburagohain BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 152 Thanked: 3 Times	I am too stuck with the feeling of "will I get my stuff alright and when" right at the moment, USPS tracking says my item, an old lens purchased from EBay US, is cleared from Indian Customs on July 22nd, no further update. A little bit of searching around has yielded this address, may come in handy to someone in Bangalore at some point of time, so logging it in here, the phone number of the same office has been already mentioned on page 6 of this thread. Need to visit them one of these days and find out personally. I have been trying the numbers of the India Post Bangalore office whole day today (National Speed Post Centres), it is either busy or ringing all the time, no one picks up.. maybe they use that phone there only for making their personal calls, which time it shows busy Foreign Post Office Shoolay Complex Museum Road Bangalore G.P.O. Bangalore - 560001 Phone: 080-25589993
	() Thanks

28th July 2009, 23:16	#97
given2fly BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 214 Thanked: 0 Times	So going by last few posts, are items under 20K which are marked for personal use, exempted from import duty? I'm just starting to order from eBay in US and other places and trying to find out if USPS is any better in getting away with duty than UPS or DHL etc.
	() Thanks

29th July 2009, 00:16	#98
aburagohain BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 152 Thanked: 3 Times	I am not sure if an item can be marked as personal use, gift marking is one option but from what I read, items marked as gift attract the most attention at the customs office of late. I have multiple good experiences with DHL and TNT in the past, fast and trackable delivery to the last despatch from local agency to your doorstep, a must for peace of mind knowing where your item is, not paid any duty till now, the highest transaction being close to $400; tried USPS for the first time and that's how I arrive at this thread..
	() Thanks

29th July 2009, 12:58	#99
knp BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 243 Thanked: 44 Times	guys, I am looking to buy few stuff like mobile phones from ebay.com and the seller is from Hong kong. My phone cost would be max. of 150USD and does this attract customs? Is it okay to order? or any other suggestions please?
	() Thanks

29th July 2009, 15:34	#100
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,809 Times	I suspect they are stuck in some obscure corner of customs. You may be contact in a year about them. I had such an experience with an electronic Ignition Unit ages ago. First got a notice after six monthe then it showed up after another 13 months with a hefty duty. Never tried importing again! Last edited by sgiitk : 29th July 2009 at 15:40.
	() Thanks

29th July 2009, 16:12	#102
Ajaybiz BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,440 Thanked: 321 Times View My Garage	I imported many things from UK, US, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia etc and never faced any issue apart from paying duty and waiting time, earlier i use to pay bribe at customs post office but looks like they got raided and some strict instructions came for imported stuff, for small amout they wont charge any duty now and stuff over 75$ they are charging 30% duty of the products cost, whenever you buy anything from eBay make sure that seller is shipping via USPS Priority Mail Service as in that case you can track the item, also if consignment gets missing via other ordianary post you can file a case in paypal with in 45 days which is quite affective and worked for me many times.
	() Thanks

29th July 2009, 20:26	#103
aburagohain BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 152 Thanked: 3 Times	Called up the Foreign Post Office at Bangalore today, my item is indeed there, the guy gave me a local tracking number and told me that the item is with customs and gave me the number 080-25589992, I guess this is the same office, both Post Office as well as the Customs, guessing by the original number I dialed which was 080-25589993 Now the customs guy enquired what my item was and if it was for personal or company use, told him that it was a lens for my personal use, then he says there is no invoice for the same and I must visit him with an invoice. So guys please help me with suggestions, my item is worth $250, a second hand camera lens about 23 years old, postage combined value is $286. If there is any clause like below 20K, exemption for personal usage item etc. that you are aware of and that I can readily show to the guys there on some authoritative website perhaps, please let me know. I am planning to visit the customs people this coming friday or saturday, so all the suggestions are very much welcome, though at short notice. If nothing helps, then I have to pay 30 odd percent duty and take possession of the package.
	() Thanks

30th July 2009, 13:01	#104
bigman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NA Posts: 1,225 Thanked: 94 Times	aburagohain. See import of gifts Looks like only RS5K limit unless the web page has not been updated for years.
	() Thanks

30th July 2009, 22:07	#105
aburagohain BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 152 Thanked: 3 Times	Thanks for the suggestion BigMan, I have been searching the net around too but haven't come to anything concrete yet that I can use as a reference. Planning to go there tomorrow if they are open. BTW, is there any duty exemption on used goods that have been imported? I can make good use of this as the item I bought is almost a quarter century old and has rolled many hands already probably if not the first count.
	() Thanks