Follow up on Declaring value for customs

Steve Adams · Dec 31, 2016

Hi everyone. I managed to get my coin back from Australia after the buyer refused to pay the customs fee. Although I am under no obligation according to Paypal, I will refund his money minus expenses. Attached are photos of what fuss was over.

Brian Marshall · Dec 31, 2016

THAT is an amazing piece of artwork. And an incredible demonstration of skill.

Whoever the buyer was - someday, he will regret letting this slip through his fingers!

Brian

Jan Hendrik · Dec 31, 2016

Sorry to say but that customer was not the sharpest pencil in the packet. He missed out on excellent quality work due to his own ignorance regarding import duties.

Sam · Dec 31, 2016

As they say, you can't fix stupid. Great work of art, Steve :bow: :clapping: :beerchug:

mitch · Dec 31, 2016

i don't know what the $ involved was (if the customs fee was really outrageous or what), but it certainly seems like the client should have been aware of it ahead of time and figured that in to his investment.

as was suggested in the previous thread, maybe time for you to sell it to one of his 'friends' here in the States, so they can bestow to him as a 'gift' and you have a clean paper trail?

Steve L S · Dec 31, 2016

I have a friend from Texas who was diagnosed with breast cancer and was told her op would cost $250K. She married an Aussie and we fixed her up for $200.00 out of pocket expenses – so she will not hear a bad word said against Australia, but the rest of us are boiling mad with our govts. We have had five prime Ministers in five years….every direction you turn there are impenetrable layers of beauracracy and massive crippling fines for non compliance.

Steve’s client should have known the import duties? OK go to Aust border protection website and have a go at working it out. Then when you can’t, then try to find a phone number to ring them up.
Moral of story- if you send anything to the land of OZ make sure your customer knows exactly the fees and costs the “wizard” demands.

Oh and if you drive without a seatbelt in Sydney you will be fined $325.00 and in Perth $500.00, and another thing its illegal to carve Australian currency coins- fine $5000.00 or 2 yrs jail or both.

Steve S

Steve L S · Dec 31, 2016

Double post

Brian Marshall · Dec 31, 2016

So for the smallest denomination Australian coin that you can get caught carving, the government will pay 30 or 40 thousand dollars to keep you in jail for 2 years?

Sounds logical to me?

At least if you happen to need low cost room & board... After you pay the 5 grand, it's still cheap and I'm sure you're entitled to cable TV and free medical and dental whist a resident of the govt. hotel?

We do that here for all kinds of minor/victimless infractions as well. That's why we are so famous all around the world - for the highest percentage of citizens incarcerated!

When was the last time your government actually enforced that law?

Better yet, why are those who wrote it, and passed it, still loose on streets? (rather than in an asylum?)

Brian

Crossbolt · Dec 31, 2016

So he should have expected not to pay anything or have the sender pay?? Perhaps the lesson is that contracts exist to clarify and "protect " both parties. Terms should be made clear up front. When I bring a firearm across international boundaries I am quite aware I am responsible for all sorts of fees and forms. If I bugger something up due to misunderstanding that's on me not the person who sold it to me. Begging complexity is just an excuse for not taking responsibility in my opinion.
Jeremy

Sam · Dec 31, 2016

Steve L S said:
Moral of story- if you send anything to the land of OZ make sure your customer knows exactly the fees and costs the “wizard” demands.

Steve S

Sorry but I disagree. It's not any seller's responsibility to calculate Customs duties in other countries, and possibly make errors in the calculations. It's not even the seller's duty to TELL THEM they're responsible for duties as common sense should dictate that, but it's normally done as a courtesy reminder.

Personally, I would have said you'll get your money back minus expenses after I find another buyer for it.

RDP · Dec 31, 2016

Steve L S said:
I have a friend from Texas who was diagnosed with breast cancer and was told her op would cost $250K. She married an Aussie and we fixed her up for $200.00 out of pocket expenses – so she will not hear a bad word said against Australia, but the rest of us are boiling mad with our govts. We have had five prime Ministers in five years….every direction you turn there are impenetrable layers of beauracracy and massive crippling fines for non compliance.

Steve’s client should have known the import duties? OK go to Aust border protection website and have a go at working it out. Then when you can’t, then try to find a phone number to ring them up.
Moral of story- if you send anything to the land of OZ make sure your customer knows exactly the fees and costs the “wizard” demands.

Oh and if you drive without a seatbelt in Sydney you will be fined $325.00 and in Perth $500.00, and another thing its illegal to carve Australian currency coins- fine $5000.00 or 2 yrs jail or both.

Steve S

As far as I know, anything over AUD$1000.00 only incurs an import duty, they were talking about changing that last year and charge duty on everything!!, but haven't hear that happening yet, on a purchase last year from the US, it cost me about 17% of the total value of the item, that is the total with shipping included.
when I buy anything from overseas worth more than a grand, it is logical to do my homework before hand,

I don't think they are going to fine or jail you for carving a coin, this days.

Richard.

Rstripnieks · Dec 31, 2016

well Ithink Engraver should never be responsible to calculate customs etc. but Personally I let my customers know that there will be import charges and additional costs

Roger B · Dec 31, 2016

As mentioned in another thread the only coins in Australia that have had their "legal tender" status removed are the Holey Dollar and Dump from circa 1813. As far as I am aware it is illegal to deliberately alter any other Australian coin unless you have specific permission from authorities (which has been granted for making coin watches etc).

In my experience I will agree that only imports over $1000- have had 10% tax imposed (we call it GST but others may know it as VAT), but it looks as though - as of July 2017 - the tax will be imposed on purchases of any value to try and take advantage of those who are buying from overseas via the internet.

Roger

PS - Steve LS - please don't get me started on some of the pollies we have here - I don't want to be banned from the forum so will abstain from making comments on some of these ***** we have here - both state and fed. BTW if you want to talk about fees and costs compared to services received you have to feel sorry for the poor blighters who are still without power 5 days after the mid-week storm in a state which has often been told that we pay the highest price of electricity, not only in Oz but possibly in the 1st world.

That's it - no more rant and apologies for going off topic

mitch · Jan 1, 2017

Steve L S said:
Steveâ€™s client should have known the import duties? OK go to Aust border protection website and have a go at working it out. Then when you canâ€™t, then try to find a phone number to ring them up.
Moral of story- if you send anything to the land of OZ make sure your customer knows exactly the fees and costs the â€œwizardâ€ demands.

Steve S

ugh. so the client's complaint may well be with customs, not Steve...

AliAtiyabi · Jan 1, 2017

Stunning work , and nice performance.

Follow up on Declaring value for customs

Steve Adams

Elite Cafe Member

Attachments

Brian Marshall

~ Elite 1000 Member ~

Jan Hendrik

Elite Cafe Member

Sam

Chief Administrator & Benevolent Dictator

mitch

~ Elite 1000 Member ~

Steve L S

Member

Steve L S

Member

Brian Marshall

~ Elite 1000 Member ~

Crossbolt

Elite Cafe Member

Sam

Chief Administrator & Benevolent Dictator

RDP

Elite Cafe Member

Rstripnieks

Member

Roger B

Elite Cafe Member

mitch

~ Elite 1000 Member ~

AliAtiyabi

Elite Cafe Member

Latest posts

Sponsors