I know you may not be lawyers (nice if you were though) but I have a legal question.
Here's the situation: I sold a new Silence of the Lambs Criterion DVD on Ebay. The buyer was German (I am American). He told me to list is as a gift valued at $5.00 U.S. I assume this was so that he could save money on customs. Obviously, the DVD is worth more, around $25-$30. Question: if I do what he asks and lie on a U.S. Customs form, can I be arrested and charged with a felony. What
if I put a more realistic price of $15 or $20 on the form and still left it as a GIFT. Would he still be Customs FREE. Please give me some advice.

Don't know about Germany, but to Finland you can ship package worth ~27$ (incl. S&H) without customs. Packages over that limit cost ~25% extra if caught. Might be around same amount in Germany, though can't promise anything. Someone might check details on Germany's customs webpages.

And still that doesn't sound like grand felony, most propably you wouldn't get any more than few years...

I can't give you legal advice but I know the following: in The Netherlands everything under $30 (INCLUDING shipping) is duty free so I assume it won't be that different in the Germany. Mark your package as a gift with a value of $20 and you will be fine. If the buyer has to pay duty than that's his risk (although I doubt it): if you buy something from the USA you know that you might get caught by customs as a foreig buyer.

Good luck and I'm sure you can work it out.

[This message has been edited by exm (edited December 01, 2000).]

Most of the american retailers declare a lower value on the customs declaration, if they can get away with it on what must be a vast amount of orders I'm sure diesteldorf will have no problems.

Even if it is opened, how will they know how much you sold it to him for.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by 13:
Even if it is opened, how will they know how much you sold it to him for.<HR>

The usual guidelines that customs use for determining the value of second hand goods is to take the "as new" market value, and adjust it downwards as they see fit, depending on the condition of the goods.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by TheyCallHimJim:
The usual guidelines that customs use for determining the value of second hand goods is to take the "as new" market value, and adjust it downwards as they see fit, depending on the condition of the goods.<HR>

Exactly!

Dont know if this applies to Germany but it might do as its in Europe.

From America to the UK you can send over upto $400 (from yourself, not a business) in one go without the person in the UK being stung by customs.