customs, import, duties, taxes etc into the USA

[swartzfeger]

Hey all,

There's a european luthier with a bass in stock that is perfect for me so I'm about to pull the trigger... pre shipping, the bass is €2890 or just about $3000 USD and change.

No CITES issues -- walnut body, maple fingerboard, nothing rosewood/endangered.

What can I expect from customs and how much am I going to have to pay UPS/FedEx etc to pry it loose from their hands?

Thanks!

 

[jellymax]

My experience from 2022 was approx 10% import tax plus shipping.

 

[swartzfeger]

My experience from 2022 was approx 10% import tax plus shipping.

Thanks Jelly, that's what I thought (feared!), lol.

 

[blastoff99]

This is probably going to get more traction in Misc - in fact, there may be a helpful sticky over there.

 

[swartzfeger]

This is probably going to get more traction in Misc - in fact, there may be a helpful sticky over there.

Apologies and thanks, Blast!

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Apologies and thanks, Blast!

I highly recommend a company called BonVu International for shipping basses between the EU and the US, either way. They specialize in small international shipments and they are very good. They take care of everything, including Customs at either end and any import fees or taxes. Right on their web site they will quote you the total cost upfront to get it to your door. And you'll be surprised that it's usually less than if you go directly to one of the major shippers.

BONVU Package Forwarding Service - From US to Europe, India & worldwide

One of the other things that I really like about them is that they file all their Customs and import paperwork electronically (and they know what they are doing), and get it pre-cleared at the other end before your bass leaves their own warehouse. When it gets off the plane here, it passes right through to BonVu's US warehouse. So, if there's some hangup in the paperwork, they know in advance and still have your bass in their possession while they figure it out. It's not stuck in the Customs warehouse.