Paying Customs question

[Tintaglia]

[Tintaglia]

I want to order a book from Amazon.UK (I live in the US) and I was wondering how do I estimate what I might pay in custom when this book is shipped to me. The book (The Fire Eternal by Chris D’Lacey) won’t be available in the US until March or so, next year. It’ll be available in the UK early next month. So, if it isn’t too expensive, I’d like to order the book now rather than wait until next year. I just have no idea how the custom charges work. Any ideas? Thanks!

[dragonmedley]

Wish I could help, but I only have experience with the confusing custom’s taxation program in Canada.

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[Lokie]

Do you know how Amazon.UK ships things? Through UPS (or a similar shipper) or do they use their postal system? I’ve purchased things numerous times from the UK and when shipped through their postal system, I’ve never payed any custom fees. Completely fee free and the package was dropped off with my mail. Not sure about fees associated with other shippers they may use instead of the postal system.

[Tintaglia]

They offer airmail and priority express to the US, so it sounds like regular postal service. Thanks for the information. I may just order it and see what happens.

[Maria]

Cheap things shouldn’t get charged at all. Of course I’m not much of a help since I pay Swiss customs and not American, but in Switzerland they only come knocking if the item has a value over a certain limit.

[dragonmedley]

Come to think of it, I ordered 2 bras from the UK. I didn’t pay any customs on them, got them in the mailbox, but they were tagged “Light packet” or something like that. If the book is softcover, you might be ok.

Read my books! Volume 1 and 2 of A Dragon Medley are available now.
http://www.sarahjestin.com/mybooks.htm
I host the feedback lists, which are maintained by drag0nfeathers.
http://www.sarahjestin.com/feedbacklists.htm

[RiDuvessa]

I have some familiarity on this subject because of my Navy experience. Customs will not charge you a fee on items purchased overseas unless it’s one of two things:

1. Over the specified amount
2. Tariff items

The specified amount is pretty high (like over $500) so it’s pretty hard to go over. Tariff items will always be charged for trade reasons. Your books shouldn’t be covered by either of these instances.

Obviously you can’t bring in things that are banned for diplomatic reasons (Cuban cigars and Iranian saffron spring to mind) but again, your books shouldn’t fall in that category.

[Author]

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