Importing Costs From Japan?

[hifibass]

I'm considering importing a bass from Japan and was wondering if someone could bring me up to speed on the Import Duties? I've got the shipping worked out but was looking for a "ballpark" on the duties. Thanks in advance! Ken

 

[alembicguy]

Don't have duty costs in front of me as I'm at work but I can tell you the last 3 times I purchased from that region the instruments sat in customs for two weeks on one bass and a month on another.
I'm currently waiting on a Spector Ian Hill from the UK. It's been in customs now for 3 weeks.

 

[ModuMan]

I've gotten a few instruments from Japan, from Ishibashi as well as an auction buyer. I've never paid anything on top of shipping.

 

[KohanMike]

As far as I know, with the free trade agreement, there is no extra duty. I've bought items from Japan and other parts of Asia for a few years, there's never been an any extra charges, but like Alembicguy, they have been delayed in customs from time to time. I've paid up to $70 shipping from Vietnam for ukuleles, and often no shipping from China for smaller items.

 

[Ghastly]

Sometimes a "broker" gets involved and you end up paying a broker fee. Highway robbery, if you ask me.

 

[Jonithen]

My jazz bass from Ishibashi would have been somewhere in the $160 range for shipping - high but the bass itself wasn't too much and I got what I wanted. Once it actually got under way it made it here in days. Longest hold up was getting it out the door in the first place, and then our side of customs needed a few days to work through their end.

 

[Stifffingers]

I've only imported one bass from Japan after buying it through a Japanese auction site, and definitely had to pay customs duties in addition to auction site and shipping fees. I don't recall the exact amount of the duties, but think it may have been around 6-8% of the purchase price. I also note that many Japanese listings on US eBay include disclaimers that the buyer is responsible for all customs fees. Not sure how some people have managed to not pay customs duties, unless it is a purely arbitrary system based on the whims of the customs agency.

 

[gadgetgirl]

I've only paid insurance/shipping fees to the 3 different Japanese sellers I've used over the past few years. BTW Johan from Ishibashi international sales is great to work with.

 

[BassHappy]

I have purchased 5 or maybe it's 6 Fender Japan basses from various Japanese dealers since 1999 - all of them happened to be via ebay. I never found the medium scalers I craved in the Japanese dealer ads. My experience was replicated pretty much exactly the same way every time:

Shipping ranged from $110 - $140 US.
Amazingly, never took more than 3 days door to door, even when shipped on friday, was at my door on monday
Never a change for duty or customs

Maybe I just go lucky?????