Papering in the era of Tariffs - has anybody done this?

[rkg]

HI,

Has anybody in the US successfully had items papered got them back since the new tariffs have been put in place?  If so, what happened, and who did you use?  I've got a few items I should get papered, and...

 

Thanks,

rkg

(Richard George)

[Curran]

Don't. 

Give up on papering.

It is over.

 

Seriously.

 

No, -really-, don't second guess this.

DOA.

So many headwinds for USA collectors, unless the Supreme Court actually rules against the current Tariff regime.

 

I sent stuff before the Tariff shenanigans began.

At present, it looks like I actually have to go to Japan to retrieve them.

 

[lonely panet]

34 minutes ago, Curran said:

Don't. 

Give up on papering.

It is over.

 

Seriously.

 

No, -really-, don't second guess this.

DOA.

So many headwinds for USA collectors, unless the Supreme Court actually rules against the current Tariff regime.

 

I sent stuff before the Tariff shenanigans began.

At present, it looks like I actually have to go to Japan to retrieve them.

 

It sounds like a epic road trip like scenario curran my man. 

 

1 trip, a group of misfits trying to get stuff back into the US.

 

IM INNNNN

[Grey Doffin]

I recently tried to purchase a book from Japan. I was told that I had to pay the tariff up front; that the shipper wouldn't proceed unless the fee was paid. On top of that, the shipper would charge a service fee somewhere between $5 and $30. The deal didn't happen.

I recently sold a book to Europe and the buyer arranged with a 3rd party to have UPS do the shipping. I was required to forward an extra $20 to the 3rd party, to cover tariff in case the buyer didn't pay. The buyer wasn't charged the tariff so UPS probably paid it and I'm stuck with it.

I can't tell you how happy I am with our current government. Grey

[Brian]

Makes no sense. Pretty much everywhere in the world where import tariffs are charged (we almost always pay tariffs on everything here) the fees are paid by the buyer when the item clears customs, along with vat. I would be dubious if sellers are asking you to pay the tariffs, as who knows if the items sometimes go through without...then they just keep the extra?
I have a feeling UPS is well set up to sometimes clear items without the tariff and just pocket the extra. Tell the sellers to just ship, and you'll deal with any fees when it clears your customs.
For those of us what have always paid duties (Tariff) I can't see the big deal since most countries have some sort of duties to protect the local market. But there should be a clear guideline on how much.
As for us.... duties are paid on the invoice total with 10% added to that amount for "currency fluctuations" which is a real way of screwing us.
I

[Grey Doffin]

The book I tried to buy out of Japan was on ebay and it was ebay that told me I'd have to pay the tariff and service fee up front; didn't think I'd have much luck reasoning with ebay. The new tariff regime is stupid. It isn't going to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US (there has been a decline in those jobs already since January); it is just going to make a mess.

Grey

[Curran]

9 hours ago, lonely panet said:

It sounds like a epic road trip like scenario curran my man. 

 

1 trip, a group of misfits trying to get stuff back into the US.

 

IM INNNNN

 

I know that I'm venting.

I've got the mindspace and philosophical bend to try to Amor Fati this into a pleasant trip to Japan. I've never seen the sakura in spring.

My tsuba live in Japan now. It might be nice to visit them there. 

[Brian]

Only happens if sellers use that stupid Global Shipping program. I hate it. It's a big scam

[Lewis B]

58 minutes ago, Brian said:

 Global Shipping program. It's a big scam

How so? I've used the system on occasion, most recently to purchase a bicycle helmet from the UK with shipping to Germany. The price included the customs fees based on a  percentage of final price and then a shipping fee on top. On the 34 uk pound helmet I paid 12.70 shipping and 11.03 duties/tax (19% GST plus customs duty which I think applies to both item and shipping totals plus maybe some small processing fee). Not sure I would call this a scam and i think its actually a convenience not having to go to the PO, queue and pay on delivery. It aslo gives sellers the opportunity to ship overseas without having to deal with the customs forms and associated hassles, even if they only ship locally. 

[Brian]

2 hours ago, Lewis B said:

How so? I've used the system on occasion, most recently to purchase a bicycle helmet from the UK with shipping to Germany. The price included the customs fees based on a  percentage of final price and then a shipping fee on top. On the 34 uk pound helmet I paid 12.70 shipping and 11.03 duties/tax (19% GST plus customs duty which I think applies to both item and shipping totals plus maybe some small processing fee). Not sure I would call this a scam and i think its actually a convenience not having to go to the PO, queue and pay on delivery. It aslo gives sellers the opportunity to ship overseas without having to deal with the customs forms and associated hassles, even if they only ship locally. 

When I was still importing from eBay, it was common for me to get a USPS quote on shipping for around $20 or so for example, and then GSP asking sellers to charge $60 to $80. Even with vat/duties, I was consistently being charged about double what actual shipping would cost. Most SA'fricans experienced the same. They also way over estimated vat and duties by over 50% based on what we were actually paying. When queried, sellers said that is what the GPS program makes them charge, and there was no alternative. I stopped buying from anyone who uses it. The company who ran the GSP was Pitney Bowes, who were running it like a scam. I think eBay has maybe changed to a new program, so maybe it's better now.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Agree with Brian, total scam that adds non-existent tax and fees to items that don't require them. Also forget buying swords using the GSP, they aren't accepted and have heard stories of the item being seized, money refunded, and sword summarily 'destroyed'.