WARNING about basses from abroad !

[Johnny Crab]

Went to pickup a parts bass at the post office today. No one in Japan(Yahoo) would pay more than $59.46 so that's what I won it for. Tack on the EMS shipping cost and I'm still under $200 right? Even if customs wants their 0.0870 % right???

WRONG!!!
Customs decided to be lazy(or greedy) and not read the invoice on the edge of the box from Japan that stated 5099 Yen was the purchase price.
Their valuation on CBP form 3419ALT? $650.00
"Tax" due: $56.55 + fees = $67.40
More than the bass price.

Now my choices:
1) Not pay and lose the bass
2) Pay and mail in a "protest" for review and decision

Just letting folks know what to expect from a revenue-hungry system.
I'll follow up as I have 90 days to file the protest.

Moderators: let me know if this is the correct sub-forum. I just wanted to let others know about this for their own protection/preparation should they also shop outside the US.
Thanks.

[parsons]

That sucks. I would think that one would bring his receipt, but you said they wouldnt even read the invoice...

Something is only worth what someone will pay for it. There is a difference between value and worth.

[Rimshot]

If it's all the significant part for an electric bass (I doubt knobs would be a MUST have to make a working bass), it should be 5% tariff (HTS 9207.90.0040), if it's simply parts FOR a bass guitar (not enough to make one complete instrument) it should be 2.7% (HTS 9209.94.8000)...plus MPF and HMF fees.

[kenfxj]

I bought a bass from a broad once. Worked out fine.

[Infidelity]

I guess I just got lucky that my Sadowsky from Denmark arrived in my doorsteps w/o custom fees..

Anyways, lots of good luck in dealing with customs I know they could be a pain in the arse..

[ghostdog93]

This is really a warning about shipping from abroad.

[Alucard817]

I would be raising unholy hell with these dumbasses

[deaf pea]

Originally Posted by Infidelity

I guess I just got lucky that my Sadowsky from Denmark arrived in my doorsteps w/o custom fees..

Anyways, lots of good luck in dealing with customs I know they could be a pain in the arse..

The customs agents were probably confused as to the manufacturing origen of your bass . . . it WAS made in Japan, right?

[Farfetched]

I think I remember reading in a thread once that if the declared price looks fishy some customs officers will just look online for a similar instrument and set that as the price.

[dangnewt]

I'd pay and ask for a review.

This stuff gets complicated and it is easy to make an innocent mistake.

I once got a notice from the IRS that I calculated something wrong and it was a matter of a few hundred dollars. I explained my take on the matter and even though I didn't nail it exactly right (I'm not an accountant, but I have years of government and numbers work in my history), they amended their calculations and I agreed with their new number which was maybe 10-20% of their original number.

If the IRS was willing to admit to a mistake, then I would expect the Custom Service would also want to get it right.

[Jeff K]

Originally Posted by kenfxj

I bought a bass from a broad once. Worked out fine.

[Infidelity]

Originally Posted by deaf pea

The customs agents were probably confused as to the manufacturing origen of your bass . . . it WAS made in Japan, right?

Yessir! It is made in Japan..

[bass-flyer]

I bought a bass from a broad once.

He beat me to it.

[Mike Shevlin]

Originally Posted by kenfxj

I bought a bass from a broad once. Worked out fine.

I brought a broad in from abroad once. Worked out fine.

[number11]

Customs ROUTINELY use the insured value of a package to calculate duty and taxes. It saves them dealing with people who mark down values to avoid taxes.

I found this out when some bozo marked a Steinberger UP by 50% when declaring an insured value, so he'd be quids in for his hassle and time if it went missing in transit.

I had to direct them to the eBay page which had the winning bid, serial number and shipping charges and they charged me the correct amount.