import fees or taxes

[jw78z28]

does anybody know what the fees are for items imported from Japan to ohio. I what to kit a few kits from a supplier in Japan, but I wanted to get an ideal on how much the import fees would be before i placed my order. total value would be around 60.00 for 2 kits or 120.00 for 4 kits. tryed to look up on usps web site but no luck.

Thanks.

[Big Daddy]

it's hard to tell whenever i buy from the states it's hit or miss i,ve had some where i've had to pay duties and some i didn't, it all depends on what the seller will put on the invoice i guess, not sure if that applies to oversea shipments

[jw78z28]

It's from a store so I'm sure they will not mark it as gift.

[Erik Smith]

I have never paid duty fees on kits from Japan.

Unless your a secret agent, then I have never bought kits from Japan.

[jw78z28]

Thanks Erik.

I've never ordered anything from Japan so I wanted to check around about this before placing order.

[moparmagiclives]

I think that is a customs deal, not UPS. I've seen sellers from Japan and China list stuff on ebay and point out the buyer needs to get in touch with customs to pay the tax.

[fumi]

There should be no tariff for plastic model kits imported to the US.

[Erik Smith]

Thanks Erik.

I've never ordered anything from Japan so I wanted to check around about this before placing order.

No problem. I have ordered from all the main spots in Japan (we have lost two in the last year though) and from shops and personal sellers in HK, never a duty fee.

[george 53]

I would imagine if you bought a kit from a Japanese Dealer, they would pay the importfee and just add it to the price. Why not just order from HobbyLinkJapan and pay their price. It would still be cheaper than importing it yourself.

[fumi]

There is no import duty for plastic model to the US, unless it is from Cuba or North Korea.

http://www.usitc.gov...ter/1200C95.pdf

The first entry is for scale model. Rate of Duty column 2 only applies for North Korea and Cuba.

Edited February 11, 2012 by fumi

[lordairgtar]

They have model cars in North Korea?

[niteowl7710]

As a frequent importer via HobbyLink Japan I can confirm what the others have said in regards to there being NO import customs or duty fees on plastic model kits.

There also isn't much of a wholesale (as we in the States would expect it) market either. Depending on exactly what kits you're trying to get $30 a piece might be more than you would pay via HLJ or Hobby Search.

I am all rah rah for HLJ because they offer FedEx shipping, and for the few extra bucks I get a live tracking number, and my order arrives damage-free in 3 days like clockwork (when things are in stock).

If this is your first time buying direct from Japan, I'd stick to established retail vendors for an order or two to get your feet wet, and get an idea for how long EMS & SAL take to get to your door. I'm relatively sure SAL is actually done on camel-back along the ancient Orient Spice trade routes.

Edited February 11, 2012 by niteowl7710

[martinfan5]

With the cost of the shipping method that will get the kit to your door, its sometimes just as much as kit it self, so its almost better to buy more then on kit. Thats what stops me a lot from buying kits from HLJ/ hobby search.

Then down side to using the EMS/SAL, is one it could take up to a month, and there is a chance that it wont make it to you. But it is cheaper

I have three things coming from china and have not had to pay any fees, but these are also ebay sellers as well that I buy from

Edited February 11, 2012 by martinfan5

[fumi]

EMS is akin to Priority Mail, it is fast, and it will make it to the recipient. But it is not cheap.

SAL is cheaper but takes longer. You can also have registered SAL if the seller offers it, it will have tracking.