Watch out for customs duties!

[ptfjjj]

Some of our retailers are complaining about the $1000 duty free bracket as they think it is impacting hugely on their business.

If I understand it right from breezing through some of the verbage in the agreement, tariffs are fazed out annualy til 2015 when they are eliminated. Many items are completely duty free now, no matter how much they cost. I would anticipate that there will still be trouble with the customs guys until they all understand the changes that are fazing in.

 

[AL-58]

If I understand it right from breezing through some of the verbage in the agreement, tariffs are fazed out annualy til 2015 when they are eliminated. Many items are completely duty free now, no matter how much they cost. I would anticipate that there will still be trouble with the customs guys until they all understand the changes that are fazing in.

Looking back I got the wording wrong anyway. Customs duty is another issue. We pay 10% GST (like VAT) on just about all goods and services locally, If I ship in goods from overseas, I don't pay GST if the goods come in under $1000AUD, so it's not a tarriff or a duty just a local tax. Tarrifs and duties would likely still stand on some goods. The retailers still aren't happy about the people buying goods OS to avoid the GST and the local retailers ambitiously expensive pricing.

Al

 

[Motorrad]

Hi Guys,

Greg has just informed me about this site and in particular this thread.So to try and clarify things and provide more info i today spoke with our shipping Co and received the following info in relation to the $8 charge.
Some entry points may call it a surcharge,security charge,brokerage fee, admin fee, customs fee or customs clearance fee. Basically this is a charge by your customs people to enter this particular piece of freight into their system.
Here`s the kicker, due to the volume of freight arriving into the US, customs will generally pick out items that are over a certain $ value, or items that meet the description of products that they want to look at at this particular point in time.There is no real rhyme or reason.Some will get stopped and checked, some wont.
I do not know what your threshold is before items attract any taxes etc, but NO item we send should.
The reason we chose this method of delivery is for the fact that the consignment can be tracked by you the purchaser, and its there in 3-4 business days.Maybe that's not so critical given the delivery times of the bike there?
Greg came around earlier and picked up some items is out now looking at other alternatives through Aust Post and the different services they provide. If they were to go through the post it would bypass the $8 charge however the time frame may blow out , and we may lose the ability to track and trace.I guess it would be the same a comparing UPS to USPS.

I dont mind being screwed , but i like to be kissed at the same time, so i do understand where you are coming from
Once Greg gets back here today with some alternatives, i'm sure he will post up and you can choose the delivery method that best suits your needs and expectations.

 

[fredz43]

Hi Michael,

As it ended up, I didn't mind the $8 clearance fee or whatever they call it, that we ended up with, but the first jerk that called argued with me that in addition to that fee, there would be customs duty. He said the threshold was $200. We were lucky that Paul did a lot of homework for us and found the regulations and that our brackets and his exhaust were exempt. We are also lucky that Paul found the right person to talk to at the Air Freight company, who took care of this problem for us.

Thanks for getting on to this forum and posting about this. We appreciate all you and Greg have done as far as developing and manufacturing these items and offering them to us in the USA.

This is another example of the value of this young forum and the many good, helpful people we are fortunate to have on board.

 

[colorider]

This is another example of the value of this young forum and the many good, helpful people we are fortunate to have on board.

Well said Fred!!! This forum and the GREAT people have done so much to help me allready!!!

 

[Waspworks]

Hi Guys,

Greg has just informed me about this site and in particular this thread.So to try and clarify things and provide more info i today spoke with our shipping Co and received the following info in relation to the $8 charge.
Some entry points may call it a surcharge,security charge,brokerage fee, admin fee, customs fee or customs clearance fee. Basically this is a charge by your customs people to enter this particular piece of freight into their system.
Here`s the kicker, due to the volume of freight arriving into the US, customs will generally pick out items that are over a certain $ value, or items that meet the description of products that they want to look at at this particular point in time.There is no real rhyme or reason.Some will get stopped and checked, some wont.
I do not know what your threshold is before items attract any taxes etc, but NO item we send should.
The reason we chose this method of delivery is for the fact that the consignment can be tracked by you the purchaser, and its there in 3-4 business days.Maybe that's not so critical given the delivery times of the bike there?
Greg came around earlier and picked up some items is out now looking at other alternatives through Aust Post and the different services they provide. If they were to go through the post it would bypass the $8 charge however the time frame may blow out , and we may lose the ability to track and trace.I guess it would be the same a comparing UPS to USPS.

I dont mind being screwed , but i like to be kissed at the same time, so i do understand where you are coming from
Once Greg gets back here today with some alternatives, i'm sure he will post up and you can choose the delivery method that best suits your needs and expectations.

As Mike Said, I looked into the (4) available alternatives through Australia Post.
There are only two products cheaper than the Toll service that Mike uses, and only one of those could be considered a partially viable "plan B".
Out of the two, I have ruled out standard airmail as the service is listed as 3 to 6 weeks delivery and has no tracking or insurance option.
Registered International Post offers a saving of around 30% with 7 to 10 day delivery (questionable) and no tracking ability or insurance option.
I have drawn the conclusion that, bang for the buck, the Toll service at 3 days delivery and 100% trackable is probably the best alternative.
Express post International and Express Courier International are both more expensive than Mikes service even including the $8 charge through Toll and Australia Post dont seem to scan there products anywhere near as much as Toll do.
I guess our only other alternative is to call in reps from some of the other International freight forwarders and see what they can offer. Consider though that Australia is the arse end of the word when it comes to this sort of thing and are always a little backward with pricing.

One thing that would definitely help us to help you is if you guys can find out what the American duty/tarrif exemption code is for the Exhaust + W/S adjuster kits + suspension links etc is we can include that on the contents description. This will stop the agencies from automatically assuming the product attracts duty.

Greg.

 

[ptfjjj]

Hi Greg, and thanks for your efforts on this. Using the U.S. tariff schedule, I cited paragraph 8714.19.00 which is "other" in motorcycle parts. Parts, like frame pieces, rims, spokes, etc do have small duties, but I believe that everything that you offer would fall into this "other" category. Here is the link for the agreement. Go the this link and click on the link for U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and schroll down to page 494. Motorccycles are on the previous page under 8711, but the parts fall under 8714. Hopefully this helps.

http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/australian-fta/final-text

BTW, reading through some of the text in the agreement itself may be helpful in finding something that you can cite on shipping documents to avoid problems on our end. All in all, typical red ass government gobledy gook.

 

[colorider]

It will be good to get this resolved, either from an "other" exemption a US distributer of Greg's fine products!!

 

[20valves]

typical red ass government gobledy gook.

Yep, the parasites will not be easily denied !

Good to see all you folks working toward a solution though. As to some of these these customs employees, reminds me of a line from the original "Ghostbusters" movie when they're faced with going out into the world to start a business after working on government grants all their lives. It goes something like "...I tried the private sector once, you don't want to to work there, those people expect RESULTS!"

 

[fredz43]

Got our two Wasp adjustable brackets today via FedEx. PM sent for shipping info, japako.

 

[jajpko]

That's great Fred!! Sent PM.

 

[ptfjjj]

My carbon exhaust from WaspWorks arrived on Friday while I was at work. Looks great. I've already removed the baffle and have it set up so I can toot it like a horn during March Madness college basketball. Got me a can of BBQ grill flat black spray paint for the pipe. This and CalSci windscreen will probably go on the bike the day I take delivery.

 

[TooTall]

My Motorradworks windshield bracket arrived yesterday. 5 days from Aus to Belgium, not bad. 120€ item with 50€ added customs fee + taxes equals 170€. The Touratech bracket would have been 104€ to my door. I prefer the Motorradworks because of the hours and hours of entertainment provided by the Wasp evolution thread. My small way of contributing to his work

I always calculate 25% custom fee's when I order overseas. Then figure out if it's still worthwile to get it. This case was an exception!

 

[colorider]

This and CalSci windscreen will probably go on the bike the day I take delivery.

Paul,
What size CalSci windscreen did you order - and how tall are you? I have one on my FJR and am quite happy with it. I thought about ordering one for the SuperT, but Greg suggested it was not required when using his windscreen adjuster.

 

[ptfjjj]

I ordered a large. I am 5'10", but with short legs so upper body is taller than typical 5'10" person. I plan to use the stock windscreen most of the time and then switch to CalSci during the cooler months.

 

[colorider]

I ordered a large. I am 5'10", but with short legs so upper body is taller than typical 5'10" person. I plan to use the stock windscreen most of the time and then switch to CalSci during the cooler months.

I know we are comparing apples to oranges, but let me know how the large works out for you. I ordered a large for my FJR (based on CalSci's "recommendation) and it was too much windscreen. I cut it down over an inch and should have just ordered a medium in the first place.

 

[ptfjjj]

let me know how the large works out for you.

Will do. You may have to remind me late this year, next year, or whenever the bikes arrive.