try to get past customs

[papajohns]

have just a bit of question for all ye geniuses on this forum because people here seem to know how to get around anything but aybe not this.

i am trying to buy in a few copy jerseys from china to sell to my friends the only problem is if i do they will be more than likely seized by customs when they enter ireland.

so has anyone any tricks or ways around customs seizing items by maybe packing them differently or labelling the box or something like that so they dont check through it.

any advice welcome thanks

[mantisinc]

To sell to your friends? Hmmm...

Customs won't ususally check them, if sent via EMS and marked down in value.

[papajohns]

only getting a few because they are goood quality not for profit really just because there very good quality.

any thank ya i will mark them down low alright

[GreenBean]

Careful of what you call a 'few'. Don't push your luck.Problem is at this time of year more such jerseys are around. Customs know and watch.

[papajohns]

ok thanks man i know its tricky business mightened bother

[brandon1984]

mark it as a gift?

[memphis]

Don't do it as a gift, I've had more problems shipping things as a gift. Customs will hold it in some countries if it is marked as a gift. Mark it as "sample merchandise" for every countries rules and regulations look at this Index of Countries and Localities

[Hottest_eBay_Goddess]

I've never had anything snagged by EMS Customs. My boxes always have a low value, but never labeled as gifts. When I order $800 of product, they usually write about $200 on the box. I've had stuff confiscated through FedEx and UPS though. :(

-HeG

[aking]

does it take a few days for the tracking number to show up in EMS? Some of my items were shipped like 3 days ago and tracking still says no information...??

[philly387]

Some times yes it does take 3-5 days to show up on EMS. I don't know if it takes a while for it to process or what but It has taken a few days for mine.

[Here We Go Again]

You guys do know the links to search for your package right....
The USPS one is easy:
USPS - Track & Confirm
China Courier Service Corporation - The Whole-path EMS Tracking Result

The China Courier Service Corporation link will show a package that is moving around China.
It will let you know that your item is moving BEFORE the USPS site even knows it exist.

[GREMLIN]

Hi I also have a supplier that is exporting branded items to america, Namely atkinsons, echo, enyce and much more. These items are overly produced by the manufacturer and the label is snipped of from the collor. The distributor i know buys these items as mixed lots and takes them to his warehouse where they get sorted. They trade from the east. The prices are very and i mean very good that there is room to make over a 1000% profit if not more.

The only problem with these items is when they need to be imported. I contacted a clearing agent who advised me that i would need to get a certificate of the manufacturers origin. This is something that the manufacturer will not provide the distributor. Some how this distributor manages to send many containers to America and they get cleared by the reciving end. If there is a way around the customs or another way of getting these items then please advise.

[mmac900]

Is the customs strict in the uk? My Chinese supplier/friend says he sells there with no problems.

[Lyda]

Yea, our Chinese friends seem to have no problem selling anywhere in the world. Got to love them!

[nobody999]

Originally Posted by hottest_ebay_goddess

i've never had anything snagged by ems customs. My boxes always have a low value, but never labeled as gifts. When i order $800 of product, they usually write about $200 on the box. I've had stuff confiscated through fedex and ups though. :(

-heg

what does fedex/ups do when they confiscate it? Also what grounds do that have in confiscating the item? Counterfeit or something?

FedEx and UPS do not DO the confiscating. All they do is transport the goods. They have to submit to Customs. Customs decides what to seize and why. FedEx and UPS have no choice but to comply.

[biglouis999]

Customs in the UK can be very strict or very lax - just the luck of the draw mate. I import stuff via DHL from the USA - mostly vintage - every 2 weeks or so. Not huge quantities - say a 5-9 lb box. My shipper provides a commercial invoice and labels it "used xxx not for resale" or "personal use only" and marks the invoice "special offer free shipping!. They invoice me separately by email.

I have had a few consignments stopped by customs and the documentation inspected but never held for more than 24-48 hours. And I have never paid import duty. Most of my packages get cleared while still in the air and go straight through.

[Werfella]

customes can be a real pain but the best system i have found is to use dhl i have not had a problem with them

[GreenBean]

^^^Agreed. I have had an account with them for years. Good rates and great service to land the goods, 'specially the RPGs. Have found DHL go the extra mile to get goods released.

[biglouis999]

Although this is an "older" thread I just wanted to add something relevent.

Once got jumped on and cussed at by a "gentleman" here for doing that because I had not noticed the date!

Here in the UK you pay import duty and VAT (value added tax) not only on the value of the goods but also on the transport costs. This seems to me to be a real scam. So if you can persuade your sender to mark down the cost of shipping or put something like "special offer free shipping" as my US shipper does you can save yourself a packet.

I have imported a few things from China and India and usually find the senders there very obliging so far as customs declarations are concerned.

[nobody999]

Originally Posted by Werfella

customes can be a real pain but the best system i have found is to use dhl i have not had a problem with them

i've had customs confiscate dhl shipments before

[nobody999]

Originally Posted by GreenBean

^^^Agreed. I have had an account with them for years. Good rates and great service to land the goods, 'specially the RPGs. Have found DHL go the extra mile to get goods released.

what are RPGs? rocket propelled grenades?