Have you had to pay hefty customs fees when buying from Japan?

[Dan Fromm]

Couldn't you pay for a proof of mailing receipt to the package and force the agent to give you a receipt? You might also consider a proof of receipt to get the signature of the person accepting the package.

Alan, have you heard of Certified and Registered Mail?

[Oren Grad]

Couldn't you pay for a proof of mailing receipt to the package and force the agent to give you a receipt? You might also consider a proof of receipt to get the signature of the person accepting the package.

He is entitled to a receipt without having to pay extra. The post office I use most of the time gives me one every time without my even needing to ask.

[Joseph Kashi]

As per USPS:
“International mailpieces that require a customs declaration form and bear postage stamps must be presented by the customer to an employee at a retail service counter at a Post Office location.”

To obtain proof of mailing, you must bring your packages, along with the necessary customs forms, to the post office counter to be scanned and accepted. While you can purchase postage online and receive a tracking number, this doesn’t guarantee that the package has been shipped. The receipt you receive at the counter serves as the only official proof that the USPS has accepted your package.

Yes, agreed. That's just what was done at the Post Office counter with the counter clerk, customs forms and all. US Mail/Customs has not been reliable to Canada. They are pretty OK thought with in-bound shipments from Japan and provide more detailed tracking information as well.

[Joshua Dunn]

So I just recently purchased an expensive lens from Japan and it was shipped to me in the United States via DHL. I received communication from them that I needed to pay an import duty of about 5.5% to receive the package. From the paperwork if the item was listed as less than $800 I would not be charged a duty. I paid it and now have my lens.

-Joshua

[PhillyPete]

So I just recently purchased an expensive lens from Japan and it was shipped to me in the United States via DHL. I received communication from them that I needed to pay an import duty of about 5.5% to receive the package. From the paperwork if the item was listed as less than $800 I would not be charged a duty. I paid it and now have my lens.

-Joshua

Intertesting. I just bought a very expensive lens from Japan and it shipped Fedex. I had to supply a form 5106 to them for it to clear, it's still in customs limbo 24 hours past form submission. By the percentage you provided above, I might have to fork over another $275 to get it delivered.

Otherwise I have never had to pay customs fees on anything coming into the U.S. at least thus far.

[Alan Klein]

Intertesting. I just bought a very expensive lens from Japan and it shipped Fedex. I had to supply a form 5106 to them for it to clear, it's still in customs limbo 24 hours past form submission. By the percentage you provided above, I might have to fork over another $275 to get it delivered.

Otherwise I have never had to pay customs fees on anything coming into the U.S. at least thus far.

Maybe you are paying the sales tax in the US state you live in and not an import duty? See this link.
https://www.shoppinginjapan.net/customs-duty/

[PhillyPete]

Maybe you are paying the sales tax in the US state you live in and not an import duty? See this link.
https://www.shoppinginjapan.net/customs-duty/

I already paid that through eBay, it is mandatory now. It could just free up and deliver but I am prepared to pay a customs fee I guess.

[otto.f]

I prefer not to buy from outside the USA, but it seems I cannot find a decent Super Ikonta 531/2 in this country, so I've identified one offered by a seller in Japan. As the title of this post asks, I wonder - since I know some of you have experience with this - whether you've had to pay hefty customs fees for equipment bought from Japan?

Yes I did, almost 1/3, for a Nikon LF 300mm lens, which is a beauty btw and very handy. But it wasn’t a nice experience because the information about in advance is lacking or unclear, on ebay that was. It was from Tokio to the Netherlands and I felt they are just doing something, not transparant.

[domaz]

US Customs seems to be enforcing existing customs laws a bit more frequently than usual. Case in point you used to be able to simply order Contacts lenses from companies in Canada, no prescription required. Well that loophole has apparently been closed recently, and I suspect this is similar. Now back to making an appointment with my eye doctor that insists on I need a separate contact lens appointment even though my glasses prescription didn't change.

[PhillyPete]

I ended up paying $129 in duties for an item costing $4,400 from Japan last month, could have been worse I guess. Fedex did it automatically out of my account and then mailed an explanatory invoice.