Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Dec 15th 2005, 12:32 am
#16
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Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Gregory Morrow <[email protected]> wrote:
>> >> EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
>> > I'm kind of surprised at the low limits on the appraised/stated value.
>> There is a significantly higher limit (EUR 175) for importing things when
>> traveling.
>> > Are the European customs authorities afraid that the rich Americans
>> > will send an over - limit amount of coffee or chocolate or something to
>> > their poor European cousins? :-)
>> I don't know. Maybe there is no real reason behind it, as I suspect for
>> a lot of tax and duty regulations.
>> Do you know the duty free limits for imports to the USA?
> Yes, generally, although I'll have to look them up...I'll provide
> cites.
I just got back from two months in Germany so I know that.
Each American can bring back up to $800 in goods duty-free. There
are some special categories - only 1 liter alcohol, something like 200
cigarettes (I am not a smoker, so that could be wrong).
You can mail back packages with value up to $50 as gifts.
Julie
--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
>> >> EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
>> > I'm kind of surprised at the low limits on the appraised/stated value.
>> There is a significantly higher limit (EUR 175) for importing things when
>> traveling.
>> > Are the European customs authorities afraid that the rich Americans
>> > will send an over - limit amount of coffee or chocolate or something to
>> > their poor European cousins? :-)
>> I don't know. Maybe there is no real reason behind it, as I suspect for
>> a lot of tax and duty regulations.
>> Do you know the duty free limits for imports to the USA?
> Yes, generally, although I'll have to look them up...I'll provide
> cites.
I just got back from two months in Germany so I know that.
Each American can bring back up to $800 in goods duty-free. There
are some special categories - only 1 liter alcohol, something like 200
cigarettes (I am not a smoker, so that could be wrong).
You can mail back packages with value up to $50 as gifts.
Julie
--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Dec 15th 2005, 12:33 am
#17
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Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Jens Arne Maennig <[email protected]> wrote:
> EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
>> Can anyone tell me how long an airmail parcel from Los
>> Angeles, California should take to arrive in Dortmund,
>> Germany?
> Your post office probably can. Doesn't even US mail have a tracking
> website in the meantime?
Yes, but there is an extra fee associated with this and you make a decision
up front to use it.
Julie
--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
> EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
>> Can anyone tell me how long an airmail parcel from Los
>> Angeles, California should take to arrive in Dortmund,
>> Germany?
> Your post office probably can. Doesn't even US mail have a tracking
> website in the meantime?
Yes, but there is an extra fee associated with this and you make a decision
up front to use it.
Julie
--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Dec 15th 2005, 12:41 am
#18
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Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Juliana L Holm:
[duty-free limits on packages to Germany]
>>> >> EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
> Each American can bring back up to $800 in goods duty-free. There
> are some special categories - only 1 liter alcohol, something like 200
> cigarettes (I am not a smoker, so that could be wrong).
There are special limits on alcohol and tobacco in Europe, too.
Are there different rules for non-Americans? The EUR 175 limit applies
to anyone traveling or returning to Germany from non-EU countries.
> You can mail back packages with value up to $50 as gifts.
That's about the same as the EUR 45 limit I mentioned above.
... Martin
[duty-free limits on packages to Germany]
>>> >> EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
> Each American can bring back up to $800 in goods duty-free. There
> are some special categories - only 1 liter alcohol, something like 200
> cigarettes (I am not a smoker, so that could be wrong).
There are special limits on alcohol and tobacco in Europe, too.
Are there different rules for non-Americans? The EUR 175 limit applies
to anyone traveling or returning to Germany from non-EU countries.
> You can mail back packages with value up to $50 as gifts.
That's about the same as the EUR 45 limit I mentioned above.
... Martin
Dec 15th 2005, 1:30 am
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Martin Bienwald wrote:
> Juliana L Holm:
> [duty-free limits on packages to Germany]
> >>> >> EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
> > Each American can bring back up to $800 in goods duty-free. There
> > are some special categories - only 1 liter alcohol, something like 200
> > cigarettes (I am not a smoker, so that could be wrong).
> There are special limits on alcohol and tobacco in Europe, too.
These days US Customs will pretty much look the other way if you exceed your
limit on alcohol, as long as you are honest and declare the amounts you have
you can pretty much bring in near a case. This is primarily because of the
US Paperwork Reduction Act, it's simply too much time and expense to levy
duty on a few extra bottles of booze...
AFAIK they are not quite as lenient for tobacco (I haven't been through US
customs with tobacco for a few years); a flight attendant friend used to
bring me back cheap duty free Dunhills (they retail for about &70.00+ per
carton here last I checked), twice he tried to bring in two cartons and he
got hit for the second one both times...
[The US tax authorities REALLY try to get all the revenue they can out of
tobacco. I live in Chicago and it's common for people to go over to the
state line to Indiana to buy cheaper tobacco, the police will "stake out"
the cheap tobacco/booze emporiums just over the Indiana state line and catch
and fine people when they attempt to come back to Illinois, they will even
confiscate the excess "goods"! A lot of folks use to buy their tobacco
cheap by mail from US Indian reservations [much cheaper, no tax], a whiles
back the Feds put the kibbosh on that too, they went through the records of
the Indian reservation retailers and sent tax bills to the buyers, one
person I know got an $800.00 tobacco tax bill! And they'll go after you
like bloodhounds to get payment, too...]
> Are there different rules for non-Americans? The EUR 175 limit applies
> to anyone traveling or returning to Germany from non-EU countries.
> > You can mail back packages with value up to $50 as gifts.
> That's about the same as the EUR 45 limit I mentioned above.
IIRC aren't some goods exempt, e.g. "printed matter", some sound recordings,
etc.?
--
Best
Greg
> Juliana L Holm:
> [duty-free limits on packages to Germany]
> >>> >> EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
> > Each American can bring back up to $800 in goods duty-free. There
> > are some special categories - only 1 liter alcohol, something like 200
> > cigarettes (I am not a smoker, so that could be wrong).
> There are special limits on alcohol and tobacco in Europe, too.
These days US Customs will pretty much look the other way if you exceed your
limit on alcohol, as long as you are honest and declare the amounts you have
you can pretty much bring in near a case. This is primarily because of the
US Paperwork Reduction Act, it's simply too much time and expense to levy
duty on a few extra bottles of booze...
AFAIK they are not quite as lenient for tobacco (I haven't been through US
customs with tobacco for a few years); a flight attendant friend used to
bring me back cheap duty free Dunhills (they retail for about &70.00+ per
carton here last I checked), twice he tried to bring in two cartons and he
got hit for the second one both times...
[The US tax authorities REALLY try to get all the revenue they can out of
tobacco. I live in Chicago and it's common for people to go over to the
state line to Indiana to buy cheaper tobacco, the police will "stake out"
the cheap tobacco/booze emporiums just over the Indiana state line and catch
and fine people when they attempt to come back to Illinois, they will even
confiscate the excess "goods"! A lot of folks use to buy their tobacco
cheap by mail from US Indian reservations [much cheaper, no tax], a whiles
back the Feds put the kibbosh on that too, they went through the records of
the Indian reservation retailers and sent tax bills to the buyers, one
person I know got an $800.00 tobacco tax bill! And they'll go after you
like bloodhounds to get payment, too...]
> Are there different rules for non-Americans? The EUR 175 limit applies
> to anyone traveling or returning to Germany from non-EU countries.
> > You can mail back packages with value up to $50 as gifts.
> That's about the same as the EUR 45 limit I mentioned above.
IIRC aren't some goods exempt, e.g. "printed matter", some sound recordings,
etc.?
--
Best
Greg
Dec 15th 2005, 2:21 am
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Gregory Morrow schrieb:
> These days US Customs will pretty much look the other way if you exceed your
> limit on alcohol, as long as you are honest and declare the amounts you have
> you can pretty much bring in near a case. This is primarily because of the
> US Paperwork Reduction Act, it's simply too much time and expense to levy
> duty on a few extra bottles of booze...
I think many European customs officers will also look the other way if you
exceed your limit by only a small amount. I'm not sure about alcohol (as
that's heavily taxed), but I guess nobody will check if the things you
brought are worth EUR 175 or EUR 180. It's been a long time since I last
encountered a customs inspection in Europe anyway.
With parcels, the real shock usually comes when you realize that taxes
and duties apply not only on the value of the items packed but also on
the cost of postage ... ;-)
... Martin
> These days US Customs will pretty much look the other way if you exceed your
> limit on alcohol, as long as you are honest and declare the amounts you have
> you can pretty much bring in near a case. This is primarily because of the
> US Paperwork Reduction Act, it's simply too much time and expense to levy
> duty on a few extra bottles of booze...
I think many European customs officers will also look the other way if you
exceed your limit by only a small amount. I'm not sure about alcohol (as
that's heavily taxed), but I guess nobody will check if the things you
brought are worth EUR 175 or EUR 180. It's been a long time since I last
encountered a customs inspection in Europe anyway.
With parcels, the real shock usually comes when you realize that taxes
and duties apply not only on the value of the items packed but also on
the cost of postage ... ;-)
... Martin
Dec 15th 2005, 2:37 am
#21
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Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Martin Bienwald <[email protected]> wrote:
> Juliana L Holm:
> [duty-free limits on packages to Germany]
>>>> >> EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
>> Each American can bring back up to $800 in goods duty-free. There
>> are some special categories - only 1 liter alcohol, something like 200
>> cigarettes (I am not a smoker, so that could be wrong).
> There are special limits on alcohol and tobacco in Europe, too.
The American ones are pretty much ignored if you are just brining stuff bck
for personal consumption. I regularly bring back a half dozen bottles of
wine and liquers and have no problem.
> Are there different rules for non-Americans? The EUR 175 limit applies
> to anyone traveling or returning to Germany from non-EU countries.
I don't believe so. They did not announce different limits for the Germans
on my flight.
>> You can mail back packages with value up to $50 as gifts.
> That's about the same as the EUR 45 limit I mentioned above.
Yes, I suspect they try to be mostly equal.
--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
> Juliana L Holm:
> [duty-free limits on packages to Germany]
>>>> >> EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
>> Each American can bring back up to $800 in goods duty-free. There
>> are some special categories - only 1 liter alcohol, something like 200
>> cigarettes (I am not a smoker, so that could be wrong).
> There are special limits on alcohol and tobacco in Europe, too.
The American ones are pretty much ignored if you are just brining stuff bck
for personal consumption. I regularly bring back a half dozen bottles of
wine and liquers and have no problem.
> Are there different rules for non-Americans? The EUR 175 limit applies
> to anyone traveling or returning to Germany from non-EU countries.
I don't believe so. They did not announce different limits for the Germans
on my flight.
>> You can mail back packages with value up to $50 as gifts.
> That's about the same as the EUR 45 limit I mentioned above.
Yes, I suspect they try to be mostly equal.
--
Julie
**********
Check out the blog of my 9 week Germany adventure at www.blurty.com/users/jholm
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Dec 15th 2005, 3:06 am
#22
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Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Juliana L Holm wrote:
>
> Martin Bienwald <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Are there different rules for non-Americans? The EUR 175 limit applies
> > to anyone traveling or returning to Germany from non-EU countries.
>
> I don't believe so. They did not announce different limits for the Germans
> on my flight.
>
There IS a different (considerably smaller) allowance for non US residents,
but I don't remember what it is. It's in the fairly small print on the
customs declaration forms that you fill out before landing. The difference
is based on residence, not citizenship.
>
> Martin Bienwald <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Are there different rules for non-Americans? The EUR 175 limit applies
> > to anyone traveling or returning to Germany from non-EU countries.
>
> I don't believe so. They did not announce different limits for the Germans
> on my flight.
>
There IS a different (considerably smaller) allowance for non US residents,
but I don't remember what it is. It's in the fairly small print on the
customs declaration forms that you fill out before landing. The difference
is based on residence, not citizenship.
Dec 15th 2005, 3:06 am
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
On 15 Dec 2005 04:18:03 -0800, "Gregory Morrow"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
>> Can anyone tell me how long an airmail parcel from Los
>> Angeles, California should take to arrive in Dortmund,
>> Germany? My only experience with inter-continental parcels
>> have been CD's I bought form France and the UK. Those have
>> always arrived much sooner than I expected them. I sent my
>> niece's parcel out last Monday (at horrendous cost for
>> airmail), figuring it would only take a week to reach her.
>> However, she has not yet received it. Should I be worried?
>> (The package was clearly marked as containing only
>> commercially packaged "snack" foods, and identified as a
>> gift - both on the box itself, and on the customs declaration.)
>It should get there in time Evelyn, I wouldn't be too worried about
>it...at this time of year postal services on both ends add extra staff
>in order to cope with the mountains of extra mail.
>AFAIK (and for your future reference) surface parcels sent by USPS to
>some places in Europe will be sent by airmail on a "space available"
>basis. There is no way to know this or to request this, but apparently
>it happens rather often...
Our parcels and letters to our daughter in Paris used to take
2/3 weeks, we now add insurance, about a $1.50, this seems to
speed things up as the Xmas parcel got there in 5 days.
We just put "Cadeux pour Noel" on the Customs declaration
form, it seems to work.
<[email protected]> wrote:
>EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
>> Can anyone tell me how long an airmail parcel from Los
>> Angeles, California should take to arrive in Dortmund,
>> Germany? My only experience with inter-continental parcels
>> have been CD's I bought form France and the UK. Those have
>> always arrived much sooner than I expected them. I sent my
>> niece's parcel out last Monday (at horrendous cost for
>> airmail), figuring it would only take a week to reach her.
>> However, she has not yet received it. Should I be worried?
>> (The package was clearly marked as containing only
>> commercially packaged "snack" foods, and identified as a
>> gift - both on the box itself, and on the customs declaration.)
>It should get there in time Evelyn, I wouldn't be too worried about
>it...at this time of year postal services on both ends add extra staff
>in order to cope with the mountains of extra mail.
>AFAIK (and for your future reference) surface parcels sent by USPS to
>some places in Europe will be sent by airmail on a "space available"
>basis. There is no way to know this or to request this, but apparently
>it happens rather often...
Our parcels and letters to our daughter in Paris used to take
2/3 weeks, we now add insurance, about a $1.50, this seems to
speed things up as the Xmas parcel got there in 5 days.
We just put "Cadeux pour Noel" on the Customs declaration
form, it seems to work.
Dec 15th 2005, 4:19 am
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
B Vaughan wrote:
> On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:52:55 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>Can anyone tell me how long an airmail parcel from Los
>>Angeles, California should take to arrive in Dortmund,
>>Germany? My only experience with inter-continental parcels
>>have been CD's I bought form France and the UK. Those have
>>always arrived much sooner than I expected them. I sent my
>>niece's parcel out last Monday (at horrendous cost for
>>airmail), figuring it would only take a week to reach her.
>>However, she has not yet received it. Should I be worried?
>> (The package was clearly marked as containing only
>>commercially packaged "snack" foods, and identified as a
>>gift - both on the box itself, and on the customs declaration.)
>
>
> The gift doesn't mean anything for customs in Europe. The package has
> probably been delayed by customs processing. Unfortunately, that
> probably also means that it's going to socked with a "processing"
> charge. The USPS has farmed out their parcel delivery to a private
> courier who handle the customs process and charge for the service.
>
> Was the value of the items marked on the parcel? Things that arrive in
> Europe have to pay both customs and VAT. The latter is often more than
> the customs, plus there's the processing charge.
Yes, the value was clearly marked as "under US $50" - both
on the package itself and on the customs declaration.
(Actually the cost of the postage was more than that of the
contents.) Since when did gifts of negligible value become
taxable? Or incur customs duty?
> On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:52:55 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>Can anyone tell me how long an airmail parcel from Los
>>Angeles, California should take to arrive in Dortmund,
>>Germany? My only experience with inter-continental parcels
>>have been CD's I bought form France and the UK. Those have
>>always arrived much sooner than I expected them. I sent my
>>niece's parcel out last Monday (at horrendous cost for
>>airmail), figuring it would only take a week to reach her.
>>However, she has not yet received it. Should I be worried?
>> (The package was clearly marked as containing only
>>commercially packaged "snack" foods, and identified as a
>>gift - both on the box itself, and on the customs declaration.)
>
>
> The gift doesn't mean anything for customs in Europe. The package has
> probably been delayed by customs processing. Unfortunately, that
> probably also means that it's going to socked with a "processing"
> charge. The USPS has farmed out their parcel delivery to a private
> courier who handle the customs process and charge for the service.
>
> Was the value of the items marked on the parcel? Things that arrive in
> Europe have to pay both customs and VAT. The latter is often more than
> the customs, plus there's the processing charge.
Yes, the value was clearly marked as "under US $50" - both
on the package itself and on the customs declaration.
(Actually the cost of the postage was more than that of the
contents.) Since when did gifts of negligible value become
taxable? Or incur customs duty?
Dec 15th 2005, 4:24 am
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Gregory Morrow wrote:
> Martin Bienwald wrote:
>
>
>>B Vaughan:
>>>The gift doesn't mean anything for customs in Europe.
>>It does mean something: gifts are free of taxes and duties up to a value of
>>EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
>
>
>
> I'm kind of surprised at the low limits on the appraised/stated value.
> Are the European customs authorities afraid that the rich Americans
> will send an over - limit amount of coffee or chocolate or something to
> their poor European cousins? :-)
>
> I guess it must be part of the European mania that nothing escapes the
> VAT tax or whatever...
Gosh, I HOPE not! (The most expensive item of the contents
was a box of Belgian chocolates - presumably already taxed
to the retail merchant from whom I bought them in the U.S.)
>
> Martin Bienwald wrote:
>
>
>>B Vaughan:
>>>The gift doesn't mean anything for customs in Europe.
>>It does mean something: gifts are free of taxes and duties up to a value of
>>EUR 45, while the limit for commercial goods is EUR 22.
>
>
>
> I'm kind of surprised at the low limits on the appraised/stated value.
> Are the European customs authorities afraid that the rich Americans
> will send an over - limit amount of coffee or chocolate or something to
> their poor European cousins? :-)
>
> I guess it must be part of the European mania that nothing escapes the
> VAT tax or whatever...
Gosh, I HOPE not! (The most expensive item of the contents
was a box of Belgian chocolates - presumably already taxed
to the retail merchant from whom I bought them in the U.S.)
>
Dec 15th 2005, 4:25 am
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Gregory Morrow wrote:
> Gregory Morrow amends:
>
>
>>AFAIK (and for your future reference) surface parcels sent by USPS to
>>some places in Europe will be sent by airmail on a "space available"
>>basis. There is no way to know this or to request this, but apparently
>>it happens rather often...
>
>
>
> At OFF - PEAK times might I add, this would not ordinarily happen
> during the December rush...
That's why I spent all that money for airmail postage!
>
> Gregory Morrow amends:
>
>
>>AFAIK (and for your future reference) surface parcels sent by USPS to
>>some places in Europe will be sent by airmail on a "space available"
>>basis. There is no way to know this or to request this, but apparently
>>it happens rather often...
>
>
>
> At OFF - PEAK times might I add, this would not ordinarily happen
> during the December rush...
That's why I spent all that money for airmail postage!
>
Dec 15th 2005, 4:25 am
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
S Viemeister wrote: The difference
is based on residence, not citizenship.
That is correct, as an American living abroad I am allowed to brng in
only $100 as gifts, just as any other American non-resident. However,
when I have declared more customs was never interrested in having me
pay, and they incorrectly apply the $400 figure.
George
is based on residence, not citizenship.
That is correct, as an American living abroad I am allowed to brng in
only $100 as gifts, just as any other American non-resident. However,
when I have declared more customs was never interrested in having me
pay, and they incorrectly apply the $400 figure.
George
Dec 15th 2005, 5:39 am
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Did someone ask for you?
"Gregory Morrow" <[email protected]> a �crit dans le message de
news: [email protected]. com...
> gRunge wrote:
>> We're not the post office.
> No worries gRunge, you'll be getting no holiday gifts from any of us
> (perhaps a switch and lump of smelly sulfurous coal maybe...)
> --
> Best
> Greg
>
"Gregory Morrow" <[email protected]> a �crit dans le message de
news: [email protected]. com...
> gRunge wrote:
>> We're not the post office.
> No worries gRunge, you'll be getting no holiday gifts from any of us
> (perhaps a switch and lump of smelly sulfurous coal maybe...)
> --
> Best
> Greg
>
Dec 15th 2005, 5:40 am
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
Dear dear me
"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> a �crit dans le
message de news: [email protected]...
> Gregory Morrow wrote:
>> Gregory Morrow amends:
>>>AFAIK (and for your future reference) surface parcels sent by USPS to
>>>some places in Europe will be sent by airmail on a "space available"
>>>basis. There is no way to know this or to request this, but apparently
>>>it happens rather often...
>> At OFF - PEAK times might I add, this would not ordinarily happen
>> during the December rush...
> That's why I spent all that money for airmail postage!
>
"EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)" <[email protected]> a �crit dans le
message de news: [email protected]...
> Gregory Morrow wrote:
>> Gregory Morrow amends:
>>>AFAIK (and for your future reference) surface parcels sent by USPS to
>>>some places in Europe will be sent by airmail on a "space available"
>>>basis. There is no way to know this or to request this, but apparently
>>>it happens rather often...
>> At OFF - PEAK times might I add, this would not ordinarily happen
>> during the December rush...
> That's why I spent all that money for airmail postage!
>
Dec 15th 2005, 7:37 am
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Parcel post from U.S. to Germany - time?
On Thu, 15 Dec 2005 09:19:07 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>B Vaughan wrote:
>> On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:52:55 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Can anyone tell me how long an airmail parcel from Los
>>>Angeles, California should take to arrive in Dortmund,
>>>Germany? My only experience with inter-continental parcels
>>>have been CD's I bought form France and the UK. Those have
>>>always arrived much sooner than I expected them. I sent my
>>>niece's parcel out last Monday (at horrendous cost for
>>>airmail), figuring it would only take a week to reach her.
>>>However, she has not yet received it. Should I be worried?
>>> (The package was clearly marked as containing only
>>>commercially packaged "snack" foods, and identified as a
>>>gift - both on the box itself, and on the customs declaration.)
>>
>>
>> The gift doesn't mean anything for customs in Europe. The package has
>> probably been delayed by customs processing. Unfortunately, that
>> probably also means that it's going to socked with a "processing"
>> charge. The USPS has farmed out their parcel delivery to a private
>> courier who handle the customs process and charge for the service.
>>
>> Was the value of the items marked on the parcel? Things that arrive in
>> Europe have to pay both customs and VAT. The latter is often more than
>> the customs, plus there's the processing charge.
>Yes, the value was clearly marked as "under US $50" - both
>on the package itself and on the customs declaration.
>(Actually the cost of the postage was more than that of the
>contents.) Since when did gifts of negligible value become
>taxable? Or incur customs duty?
There seems to be a difference if you send by Air Letter
rather than Air Parcels. The parcel mode requires you fill out
a comprehensive customs declaration form, the Air letter
mode just requires a small Green Customs form that sticks
on the letter. The air letter limit is 4lbs (64 ozs), which is quite
a lot. The rates range from $7.55 for 1 oz up to $23 for 4lbs.
This for US to France.
You can get the full information at http://usps.gov
just scroll to Country Conditions for Mailing, then
the country of choice.
<[email protected]> wrote:
>B Vaughan wrote:
>> On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 17:52:55 -0800, "EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque)"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Can anyone tell me how long an airmail parcel from Los
>>>Angeles, California should take to arrive in Dortmund,
>>>Germany? My only experience with inter-continental parcels
>>>have been CD's I bought form France and the UK. Those have
>>>always arrived much sooner than I expected them. I sent my
>>>niece's parcel out last Monday (at horrendous cost for
>>>airmail), figuring it would only take a week to reach her.
>>>However, she has not yet received it. Should I be worried?
>>> (The package was clearly marked as containing only
>>>commercially packaged "snack" foods, and identified as a
>>>gift - both on the box itself, and on the customs declaration.)
>>
>>
>> The gift doesn't mean anything for customs in Europe. The package has
>> probably been delayed by customs processing. Unfortunately, that
>> probably also means that it's going to socked with a "processing"
>> charge. The USPS has farmed out their parcel delivery to a private
>> courier who handle the customs process and charge for the service.
>>
>> Was the value of the items marked on the parcel? Things that arrive in
>> Europe have to pay both customs and VAT. The latter is often more than
>> the customs, plus there's the processing charge.
>Yes, the value was clearly marked as "under US $50" - both
>on the package itself and on the customs declaration.
>(Actually the cost of the postage was more than that of the
>contents.) Since when did gifts of negligible value become
>taxable? Or incur customs duty?
There seems to be a difference if you send by Air Letter
rather than Air Parcels. The parcel mode requires you fill out
a comprehensive customs declaration form, the Air letter
mode just requires a small Green Customs form that sticks
on the letter. The air letter limit is 4lbs (64 ozs), which is quite
a lot. The rates range from $7.55 for 1 oz up to $23 for 4lbs.
This for US to France.
You can get the full information at http://usps.gov
just scroll to Country Conditions for Mailing, then
the country of choice.
