buying items from the USA.

ok im looking at buying some gear from the USA (not actually VW but i figured many here have done so before)

my items will come to less than 1000 so i will not attract tax and duty however i am told i will need to do a self assessed clearance if the items arrive via sea or air freight. for which i would need to use a customs broker.

does anyone have any experience with this or do things normally just come through post and not need this?

thanks

Nicko

I've only bought things worth a few hundred dollars

and have come surface mail which is very slow...

there is a declaration on the parcels
and what they are worth..
is filled in over there..

I sent some parts to the US and i wrote on the declaration
Used Car Parts - No value -

I know many people have bought wheels from the USA so they will know for sure about IMPORT DUTY...

it seems that around the $1000 dollar mark the Parcels can get the attention of the Import Duty people...

Lee

easy pesy
send them usps. get the customs declaration number. heavy items should be sent surface/sea mail (2-3mths), air mail (7-10days)the light stuff. if you are getting wheels sent that are more than a $1000 dollars send in 2 parcels with 2 declarations. Have only had 1 item I had to pay duty on and have had a few inspected and had 1 that got lost for 6 weeks but no delivery failures ...yet.

its actually a new rockclimbing rack that im buying, (way cheaper to buy direct from the USA) so its not particularly heavy all the metal is light alloy. rope would be the heaviest item at a cpl of kilos. it wont be a very large package phisically either

im not worried about duty and tax because my item will be under 1000 bucks.

im more just worried about having to pay for a customs broker to do this SAC thing?

I have had items sent before marked as gift and sent via USPS to post office here, no probs or anything to do, was just like buying from Aust.