Thread: What does CONUS mean?

Question: Would a package from, say a friend in the U.S. attract customs attention? Are they more prone to look at stuff that comes from a company? I'm guessing it doesn't matter that they look at the customs declaration attached to the package and go from there. Is this right?

Having lived in Iceland for two and a half years, I know how much Scandanavian goverments love their hard stolen tax revenues. If you think a gift from an American friend would more easily pass, let me know.

Sometimes, you can mark the form as "gift" and zero value and it will slip by. But, these days, expect it to be opened and the recipient having to bail out their parcel.

Originally Posted by Danskeren

When I order things from the usa, then I risk having to pay a percentage of the value of the package. AND i have to pay them for doing it.

Must be trying to recupe costs since the value of the greenback has dropped so drastically in recent times...Who knows the reasons goverment bodies need to take without having to give in return .


Mick

Those of us "CONUS" should always send our shaving parcels as a "gift" and declare the value extremely low...works about 50% of the time on just "slipping thru". Even if it doesn't make it thru, the declared value helps the recipient on taxes.

If it makes you guys feel any better, HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) in the UK are just as keen to the extent that they will take the cost of postage into account and 'thoughtfully' charge an extra 20% on top of the value of the goods!

More of the same here in South Africa.

We get VAT, customs duties and handling fees.

Even a gift attracts the handling fee.

The way I see it, if there is a customs value that the revenue service wants to nail the recipient for, it's more likely that they will make sure that the honourable postal services employees deliver the packages !

God bless their .... souls.

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

Question: Would a package from, say a friend in the U.S. attract customs attention? Are they more prone to look at stuff that comes from a company? I'm guessing it doesn't matter that they look at the customs declaration attached to the package and go from there. Is this right?
It does matter! If you can prove that you know the sender, personally, you don't have to pay anything. And it is of course a good idea to send the invoice at a different time!!

Having lived in Iceland for two and a half years, I know how much Scandanavian goverments love their hard stolen tax revenues. If you think a gift from an American friend would more easily pass, let me know.

Thank you very much, i will keep that in mind. I have a guy like that, i hope!!? I am in the middle of a buy. Wish me

Originally Posted by MickR

Must be trying to recupe costs since the value of the greenback has dropped so drastically in recent times...Who knows the reasons goverment bodies need to take without having to give in return .


Mick

....greenback??? Are we talking Robin hood?

Custom taxes depend also if the item is new or vintage, and what is the purpose of it. With vintage or used items taxes are usually lower or there are no taxes at all. I've ordered some car and motorcycle parts from USA. Few sellers were kind enough to remove the original packing and mark the shipment as "second hand spare parts" (or something similar) and i didn't have top pay custom taxes. I do not know, but i would imagine that if the razor is marked as a "razor" or "shaving equipment" then the taxes are higher than if it were marked as "hygienic equipment" or something like that. Tax price groups can be found on both national and EU web pages.
Once i ordered two Orb Audio speakers from USA and paid about 12% custom taxes. The gently lady at the custom office explained that if such small speakers were computer parts then the taxes would be 0%. Well then i just ordered 3 more computer parts and paid zero customs


Off topic tip of today: If you folks there on the other side of the Atlantic want to support American workers, then try Orb Audio. It is one of the very few brands that still produce speakers in USA and not in China. Besides they are excellent speakers for the price.

Originally Posted by Matt31

If it makes you guys feel any better, HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) in the UK are just as keen to the extent that they will take the cost of postage into account and 'thoughtfully' charge an extra 20% on top of the value of the goods!

Sadly, we Norwegians top that quite easily, 25% on everything with a value over ≈€25. Including postage cost. And a fee of an additional €12 for doing us this big favor!