Customs duties on Amazon.com packages?
05-06-00 | 10:07 AM
#1
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From: Manila
For those of you who have had Amazon ship your packages internationally, how does Amazon describe DVDs on the package label? Is it books or movies or music? Also, does Amazon display the MSRP value, or the discounted Amazon price, or just the actual payment paid?
I'm asking because I'm planning to have X-Files Season One shipped here, and usually orders above $100 are taxed heavily. The MSRP of X-Files is $150, but the Amazon price is $90, so I don't really know value which Amazon will display. I'm paying for the order entirely with gift certificates -- I'm hoping that the cost displayed will be $0. Did this ever happen with you?
I'm asking because I'm planning to have X-Files Season One shipped here, and usually orders above $100 are taxed heavily. The MSRP of X-Files is $150, but the Amazon price is $90, so I don't really know value which Amazon will display. I'm paying for the order entirely with gift certificates -- I'm hoping that the cost displayed will be $0. Did this ever happen with you?
05-06-00 | 10:43 AM
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From: England (w00t!)
Couldn't say for certain, but I'd take a pretty educated guess and say that it won't be $0. I was thinking about this the other day, contemplating ordering some stuff from them, and from their website it looks like they're pretty uncooperative about giving things custom-friendly descriptions. I would be shocked if they listed the full MSRP on there, I'd expect them to list their price, before coupons and the like. And since gift certificates aren't a discount as such, rather a payment method, I shouldn't think they'd deduct the GC value from there.
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05-06-00 | 02:05 PM
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From: Berlin
Amazon sends all thier dvd's just like Ferg said and on the top they do list the amount unless yoou ask for it to be gift wraped i think. Then they might not. Try putting a message...like Happy Birthday. Usually my packages to Malaysia run free of custom hassle. 
05-06-00 | 05:19 PM
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From: Wales
If you order from Amazon, when it says "This order contains gifts", if you check the box, you can enter a gift message, and amazon will add this message and omit the price from the order.
BTW - there is no charge for this!
BTW - there is no charge for this!
05-07-00 | 03:47 AM
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From: Manila
Thanks for the advice! I had to pay an extra $3 for gift wrapping to make it look like a real gift, but that sure beats the $25 in customs duties that I'd have to fork over if it wasn't a gift!
05-07-00 | 05:54 AM
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From: Wales
quote:<HR>Originally posted by anali:
Thanks for the advice! I had to pay an extra $3 for gift wrapping to make it look like a real gift, but that sure beats the $25 in customs duties that I'd have to fork over if it wasn't a gift!<HR>
If you just say there is gifts in the box, add a gift message and say you don't require gift wrapping, then they simply omit the price, and add your message - this service is fre, and customs have never caught on!
05-07-00 | 07:24 AM
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Does this gift thing work with Reel as well as I put gift messages on both my X Files Boxsets to try and avoid charges. Customs have got really crappy recently. Two of my orders from Reel had been opened and held together with flimsy elastic bands, and another two discs were held on to for 2 months. And they weren't in the slightest bit dodgy.
05-07-00 | 08:50 AM
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From: OFF-WORLD
Being the large well-organised companies that they are, both Reel and Amazon ship from European distribution hubs for deliveries within Europe thereby bypassing International customs restrictions. MrB I don’t think customs would have held on to your items as all European Reel shipments originate from:
Postbus 2750
1000 CT Amsterdam
therefore within the EC.
««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»
More human, than Human
Postbus 2750
1000 CT Amsterdam
therefore within the EC.
««««««««««««»»»»»»»»»»»»»
More human, than Human
05-07-00 | 10:42 PM
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Jonathan.e, They sometimes (1 out of 40 packages) do open a package from Reel, but it only takes about 10 extra days to arrive if they do.
I live in The Netherlands, so the packages are being sent to the rest of Europe from the same place as where they open them (Amsterdam).
I live in The Netherlands, so the packages are being sent to the rest of Europe from the same place as where they open them (Amsterdam).
05-08-00 | 11:02 AM
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From: Gosford Area, NSW, Australia
I have received two shipments from Amazon here in Australia and they have arrived through the mail
They were not opened and they stated the value (USD) and Digital Versatile Discs (no titles though)
Boris
They were not opened and they stated the value (USD) and Digital Versatile Discs (no titles though)
Boris
05-09-00 | 08:46 AM
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From: Oulu, Finland
1) They can't make you pay anything for the prices shown on the case, since it's the final invoice from which the customs (et al.) must be calculated. Most preferrably the invoice should be in the packet instead of you bringing a print which you may have made of your own.
2) I'm not totally sure if the Reel's (nor Amazon's) packets are really delivered from EC rather than only the return-address is stated as Amsterdam. Not sure about this, but I think it makes enough confuse at customs since only 1 of my orders have been stopped and billed for customs. I might be wrong about this, so don't take my word for it.
My 2¢
2) I'm not totally sure if the Reel's (nor Amazon's) packets are really delivered from EC rather than only the return-address is stated as Amsterdam. Not sure about this, but I think it makes enough confuse at customs since only 1 of my orders have been stopped and billed for customs. I might be wrong about this, so don't take my word for it.
My 2¢
05-09-00 | 08:52 AM
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From: Manila
If you choose the more expensive shipping method (Express Priority instead of Worldmail), are you charged higher Customs taxes? What's the general trend for taxes on shipping in your respective countries?
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05-09-00 | 10:01 AM
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From: Oulu, Finland
Anali: At least here the customs are applied towards full price including p&p, as well as any other costs, so selecting higher rate shipping would affect the customs somewhat more. Here customs & taxes make ~25%, so if your shipment costs rises with 10$, it makes 2.5$ more customs.
