mace
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,491
Likes โข 288
August 2008
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Advice needed - US Import via Espresso Beans, by mace on Apr 8, 2009 8:48:49 GMT 1, Hi Folks,
I plan to buy a print from a seller in the US which I got to know via Espresso Beans. Two questions:
1. How do I make sure that he won't run away with my money without sending me the print (is PayPal a secure way ?)
2. How do I avoid customs charges (I live in Hamburg). The print costs around 200 BP, so I would have to pay around 40 โฌ charges. (should the seller write the declaration 'gift' or 'poster 19,95 $' or something like that on the tube ?)
Cheers, mace
Hi Folks,
I plan to buy a print from a seller in the US which I got to know via Espresso Beans. Two questions:
1. How do I make sure that he won't run away with my money without sending me the print (is PayPal a secure way ?)
2. How do I avoid customs charges (I live in Hamburg). The print costs around 200 BP, so I would have to pay around 40 โฌ charges. (should the seller write the declaration 'gift' or 'poster 19,95 $' or something like that on the tube ?)
Cheers, mace
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Advice needed - US Import via Espresso Beans, by sand on Apr 8, 2009 8:57:28 GMT 1, Best bet is to pay using paypal, funded by a credit card (NOT by bank transfer, or paypal balance). This way if anything goes wrong you can make a paypal claim, and if that does not work you can always call your credit card company to issue a chargeback.
In terms of avoiding custom charges you can ask the seller to double tube the print and mark it as a gift with a $20 value. This will mean you will avoid customs charges but I believe it also means that if it goes missing it will only be insured to $20 as well.
The other option I have used in the past is to mark on the customs form ยดreturning personal propertyยด.
Hope that helps!
Best bet is to pay using paypal, funded by a credit card (NOT by bank transfer, or paypal balance). This way if anything goes wrong you can make a paypal claim, and if that does not work you can always call your credit card company to issue a chargeback.
In terms of avoiding custom charges you can ask the seller to double tube the print and mark it as a gift with a $20 value. This will mean you will avoid customs charges but I believe it also means that if it goes missing it will only be insured to $20 as well.
The other option I have used in the past is to mark on the customs form ยดreturning personal propertyยด.
Hope that helps!
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Advice needed - US Import via Espresso Beans, by wiz on Apr 8, 2009 9:09:30 GMT 1, Credit card, also customs know ALL the tricks about marking up as gifts etc. so thats not guaranteed to work, just assume you will have to pay it.
Credit card, also customs know ALL the tricks about marking up as gifts etc. so thats not guaranteed to work, just assume you will have to pay it.
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yapsey
Junior Member
Posts โข 1,217
Likes โข 227
November 2007
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Advice needed - US Import via Espresso Beans, by yapsey on Apr 8, 2009 9:19:22 GMT 1, use a credit card through paypal and ask him to write GIFT on the side in large letters.....
use a credit card through paypal and ask him to write GIFT on the side in large letters.....
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Karl Read
Artist
Junior Member
Posts โข 3,555
Likes โข 628
April 2008
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Advice needed - US Import via Espresso Beans, by Karl Read on Apr 8, 2009 9:24:22 GMT 1, Gift will do nothing, they always go on the value inc shipping. Sand is right in saying the only way to avoid is by marking at a lower value, then you obviously risk the fact of not getting insurance if it gets damaged or goes missing, i personally think it's worth just paying the customs charges.
Gift will do nothing, they always go on the value inc shipping. Sand is right in saying the only way to avoid is by marking at a lower value, then you obviously risk the fact of not getting insurance if it gets damaged or goes missing, i personally think it's worth just paying the customs charges.
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