anyone up on import charges from US?

fatphilb

fatphilb

Well-Known Member
heres the script, im wanting to buy a cdj 1000 mk2 but its out my price range just now over here.

so i figured buying one in america is my best bet. now, im aware if i buy online and get one shipped i need to pay some kind of import duty on it, but what if i were to buy from ebay on a good price, have it delivered to my brother in san francisco, and have him give it to me as a "present" when i visit at christmas?

am i likely to get charged by customs if i try and bring it back across?

what if i bought 2 cdj 800's, would they not let me bring them home with me?

if anyone has done anything similar id appreciate some help as this could make the extortionate xmas airfare a tad more bearable.

thanks!!

ps. what sort of power converter would i need to run the cdj's over here if they were intended for US use??
 
when you bring them back you might need to declare them - but if you just unwrap them and say you brought them over to use them on a gig or something (i.e. don't say anything at all and say that if they ask) you should be ok.
 
If it's for personal use, why would you pay customs on it at all?? I haven't exported electronics but I used to order "care packages" of hundreds of dollars in CDs from Amazon and I never got charged customs (and that's out here in E. Europe where they love to hit you up for money!)

As for power converter, first check the device itself to see if it's rated 110-240V. A lot of high-end electronics (laptops, for example) already are.

If it's rated 110-120V, then you'll need a transformer. I wouldn't use a travel convertor on something that valuable. You can pick a little transformer up at any electrical shop. They're small but heavy little buggers. Make sure you've got one with a fuse or circuit breaker.
 
If they where shipped to the UK from the US you would have to Pay VAT and an import Charge. Which basicaly makes them the same price as buying them from here

You could get away with it if you picked them up your self but as Zarbtron points out you would have to put them in a bag and carry them home and hope you didnt get checked on the way through customs.

Edit: And im not sure that the Guarantee would still be valid on imports
 
yeah but what i mean is, can customs make you pay for items that were technically bought for you as presents from relatives? technically, im not importing them from a supplier, i've been given them without paying for them from my brother. I'd have no problems declaring them, in fact im sure id have to coming out of the US (big electrical device in hand luggage etc.).

my folks go over in october, was thinking bout getting them to bring me one back then but I doubt they would carry off the "yeah i was just over for a gig" story :lol:

the reason i wouldnt order them to save cash is they would effectively cost the same as they do in the uk.

and i am definately going over at christmas. was thinking this might offset against the expense of flying at that time of year. ie. make it even more worth my while...

ya get me?
 
I personally wouldn't go with the gift idea because either way you are bringing american bought goods of considerable value into a foreign country, gift or not I believe they would still tax you if you declared them (not any kind of expert on such things, mind you). I would probably go with opening them up and using the gig excuse (pretend you brought them in with you and are bringing them out again). Good luck!
 
International Music Goods laundering being discussed on Spotlight. Gotta love it.:lol:

On another note, Phil, you should make a trip down to San Diego. Mi Casa Su Casa.:)
 
haha, well technically if its a gift i shouldnt have to pay tax should I, or can someone correct me on this. i understand if i bought something from the us id have to pay vat if i imported it through the post, or declared it as a purchase when i re-entered the country. but if i declare it as a gift from my brother..... im hoping it'll be waived since i never paid for the goods themselves (and they will look second hand)

HAS ANYBODY ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH CUSTOMS WITH ELECTRICAL GOODS?? :lol:

cheers Laguna btw. may do that some day.
 
I'm not sure why you're so concerned, Phil...

I can't speak for the UK on electronics, but I've brought back new laptops to Russia (where sometimes they'll stop you in the green corridor and x-ray your bags) without a problem.

Actually, I always bring a laptop with me to the UK and no one's ever asked "is that new? how much did you pay for it?" For all they know, I could be bringing it to sell!

Once at Stansted, I was with some people who brought in 2 cases of vodka and walked through the green corridor. When I stopped them to tell them to go declare it, a customs guy (despite not understanding the conversation, which was in Russian) walked up and said don't worry about it. I guess he was fooled by the couple of magazines sitting on top of the boxes even though they were clearly labled "vodka" :lol:

In short, I seriously doubt the customs guys would a) check you going through the green corridor or b) give you problems with unpacked electronic goods.
 
fatphilb said:
haha, well technically if its a gift i shouldnt have to pay tax should I, or can someone correct me on this. i understand if i bought something from the us id have to pay vat if i imported it through the post, or declared it as a purchase when i re-entered the country. but if i declare it as a gift from my brother..... im hoping it'll be waived since i never paid for the goods themselves (and they will look second hand)

HAS ANYBODY ACTUALLY GONE THROUGH CUSTOMS WITH ELECTRICAL GOODS?? :lol:

cheers Laguna btw. may do that some day.
Click to expand...

just call customs
 
im a born worrier what can i say? :lol:

nah im gonna be making frequent trips to the US now while he's over there, just trying to work out if i can buy things i wouldnt normally be able to afford. ie the cdj's.

just didnt wanna have a grand plan of buying this stuff then getting slapped with a big fee when i come through. its cool. i'll take it out its box etc. and wrap it up in good packing and stick it in my hand luggage.

im back next june or july so if christmas mission is a success i can repeat it with pricier gear then 8)
 
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