topic Re: Import Charges and Over $1000... in Buying

Import Charges and Over $1000...

bradley154985 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 07:13:59 GMT

Hi guys!

So, this silver ring I want to buy costs $2,000 AUD.

The import charges are then an additional ~$350.

How does Australian Customs actually KNOW the price of the ring?

The ring is silver with black diamonds. How do they actually know it's worth? If the eBay seller must say what's in the package, can't he just lie and say it's silver with onyx (much cheaper than diamonds), and that it indeed costs below $1,000?

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

foxette-in-sox — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 07:21:07 GMT

@bradley154985 wrote:
Hi guys!

So, this silver ring I want to buy costs $2,000 AUD.

The import charges are then an additional ~$350.

How does Australian Customs actually KNOW the price of the ring?

The ring is silver with black diamonds. How do they actually know it's worth? If the eBay seller must say what's in the package, can't he just lie and say it's silver with onyx (much cheaper than diamonds), and that it indeed costs below $1,000?

(chokes on coffee)

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

putney32 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 07:36:49 GMT

@bradley154985 wrote:
Hi guys!

So, this silver ring I want to buy costs $2,000 AUD.

The import charges are then an additional ~$350.

How does Australian Customs actually KNOW the price of the ring?

The ring is silver with black diamonds. How do they actually know it's worth? If the eBay seller must say what's in the package, can't he just lie and say it's silver with onyx (much cheaper than diamonds), and that it indeed costs below $1,000?

er yeah of course he can, but he shouldn't . It is a Criminal offence to mis quote the value of an item and very strick $ and custodial penalties apply depending onn the degree of fraud your seller is committing.

why would / should anyone do that for you?

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

i-love-my-sheep — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 07:40:27 GMT

It would be no different to someone sending a container full of cigarettes and writing that they were crayons on the customs form. Very naughty, and very important looking people with badges and nicely ironed shirts tend to come after you with nice, shiny, silver bracelet looking things.

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

bradley154985 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 07:51:13 GMT

I don't get it though.

I'm going to the USA in 2 weeks.

What's stopping me from getting it delivered to my hotel (thus paying no import fees, as the seller is based in USA), and simply putting it on my finger?

No customs officer harrasses you at airports asking where the ring on your finger was bought.

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

foxette-in-sox — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 08:23:37 GMT

Some light reading for you Bradley

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page5549.asp

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

kopenhagen5 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 08:27:20 GMT

Because rules are there for a reason and exist because of dishonest people.

Wouldn't it be great to have a world with no checking, no locks and no police.

But as some decide to break the rules, all the extra things we need exist and ruin it for the rest.

Nothing stopping you, but when you get older certain things happens in the mind. One of those is questioning what one has left behind and whether there is anything that should be set right. So there are no shortcuts.

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

lyndal1838 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 08:31:07 GMT

It should be declared on your Customs forms as having been purchased in the USA but if you want to take the chance on being caught then it is up to you.

But there is a $900 limit on General Goods being bought into Australia for your own use...you will have to produce your receipts to prove the price and if you are bringing back other goods as well you may be well over the limit.

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

digital*ghost — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 08:42:22 GMT

@bradley154985 wrote:
I don't get it though.

I'm going to the USA in 2 weeks.

What's stopping me from getting it delivered to my hotel (thus paying no import fees, as the seller is based in USA), and simply putting it on my finger?

No customs officer harrasses you at airports asking where the ring on your finger was bought.

You're actually supposed to declare everything upon your return, including jewellery, and there's a lower duty free limit on items you bring back with you ($900 as opposed to the $1000 for mail etc you order / receive while in Oz).

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4352.asp

Edit: What lyndal said.

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

phorum_junkie* — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 09:34:51 GMT

If you ask the seller to make a false declaration or you try and bring the ring in yourself without declaring it was bought while out of the country you are committing a criminal offense. I am pleased you think that is acceptable just because you think the law shouldn't apply to you. Will your opinion be the same when I break into your home and steal things because I don't think laws against property theft should apply to me?

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

a_beautiful_room — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 11:29:06 GMT

I can see the future.

Anyone stupid dense dumb inexperienced enough to buy a silver ring with black diamonds on ebay for $2000 will get exactly what they deserve.

Customs duty paid or not.

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

bradley154985 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 11:35:16 GMT

I don't understand your sarcasm!

It's silver with black diamonds - resold from a very famous global jewellery company.

Also fyi, the seller has more reviews and a higher positive feedback than yourself ^_^

So I think I would trust him more than you 🙂

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

lyndal1838 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 11:51:11 GMT

No reputable jeweller would set black diamonds in silver....the metal is too soft. True black diamonds are so rare and expensive that they deserve at the very least 18ct white gold settings if not platinum.

The number of positive feedback the seller has is immaterial....how many neutrals and negatives does he have?

What about posting the number of one of his items so we can judge for ourselves.

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

davewil1964 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 12:01:20 GMT

It seems the consensus is that you try to circumvent Austraian law at your peril. With the proviso you don't complain here when reality hits you in the face.

If the seller is as pure as you claim it is doubtful they would be prepared to perjure themselves and put their entire business at risk for a single sale anyway

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

cherry*135 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 12:23:06 GMT

If the seller of the ring is as reputable as you claim, then they would never entertain the idea of lying on a customs declaration.

If a ring worth $2000, was mailed to Australia with incorrect value stated on the customs dec, say $900, and customs decided to open it and check it. If they thought it was worth more than $1000 they wouldn't release it until you provided the invoice for the amount you paid for it. So, then you would have to pay the full customs tax plus a fine.

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

a_beautiful_room — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:05:01 GMT

@bradley154985 wrote:
I don't understand your sarcasm!

It's silver with black diamonds - resold from a very famous global jewellery company.

Also fyi, the seller has more reviews and a higher positive feedback than yourself ^_^

So I think I would trust him more than you 🙂

Well maybe that's true.

But let me assure you, I am waaaaaay more experienced than you. And in my experience, what will happen is that the ring will arrive - customs paid or not, and then you'll take it to a jeweller and, with a straight face he will tell you that the silver is silver but the black diamonds are probably not diamonds. I have seen it happen here so many times. Why don't you go and have a look in a bricks-and-mortar jewellers at your local shopping centre. Can you buy that ring, or equivilent for around that price? Have you googled black diamonds so you are arming yourself with knowledge on what to look for and whether you're getting a good deal? Is the sellers feedback all positive or do they have negative reviews, and what about for that actual item. What do other people say?

Of course it may be true that you've found a great deal. But based on the questions we get from buyers who have been stung by jewellery scams on ebay, I'd be extremely skeptical.

Re: Import Charges and Over $1000...

tstore — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 03:32:45 GMT

Like everyone said but one more point

A seller would be crazy to put a lower value on the customs form than the true value as then it means they have under insured the item. If the item gets lost, they will only be able to claim the value they put on the customs form ... For a $2K item I don't think the seller would oblige.