Selling Keyboards Internationally

[merlin64]

Mods, if this doesn't belong here, please feel free to move this.

Hey all, need some help here. Trying to sell USED keyboards, switches, accessories through our classifieds section and getting a few international inquiries. I ship USPS first class international as it is the cheapest.

What is this HS code I need to fill out? Anyone who has done this before know what to put in for

Keycaps, Switches and what not? Thanks for any help.

[SpAmRaY]

I always ship things as gifts. I have never needed an HS code.

In believe that code is only for commercial shippers.

[merlin64]

Interesting.....do i still need to declare a value then if I declare it as gift?

[Tactile]

I think it has to do with the type of goods being shipped.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonized_System

[FrostyToast]

Interesting.....do i still need to declare a value then if I declare it as gift?

Yes.

[SpAmRaY]

Interesting.....do i still need to declare a value then if I declare it as gift?

Yes I typically keep it around $15-20, however if it's a very expensive item and they want insurance then this all goes out the window.

Also as a side note shipping through PayPal is almost always cheaper.

[merlin64]

Ahh i see. I guess that makes international shipping a much easier process than I made it out to be

Disclosure: Need this info for classified sales and for my soon to begin GB for Octagon V2 Metal Weight Insert =)

[davkol]

If it's supposed to be a gift (or "gift"), you often need to write a declaration, that it's a indeed a gift, and send it to the "buyer", so that they can show it to customs.

[QuincyJones]

if uk customs thinks it isn't a gift, they will charge the recipient vat+duty.

[kawasaki161]

if uk customs thinks it isn't a gift, they will charge the recipient vat+duty.

How would they ever find out? The only situation that comes to my mind would be if a copy of the payment/invoice is included with the package.

I've recieved quite a lot of international shipments, 90% of the time they just were underdeclared and nothing happened. Just don't make it too obvious and inform yourself which values are free of tax in the country you ship to. If you mark it as a gift you don't need to send the buyer a declaration or anything, at least not in germany. If you ship anything that is underdeclared NEVER include the original packaging, they will always think it is a NIB item (except when severe wear is visible or something like that). The chances that a package gets opened up and checked are pretty slim, but if it happens they will just google the product and charge the recipient what they think is appropriate(sometimes also a fine for tax evasion).

I ordered something RC-Car related back in 2010, which ended in my worst experience that I had with customs ever. The item did cost around 330€ in germany, and there were basically no shops offering it. The thing is, back then the item did only cost $250 shipped in the US, the exchange rate was also very good so I think it was around 170-180€, a huge difference in price. Well, it was declared for the amount I paid,  but it was opened in a "routine check" and they googled it to fing out how much it costs. At that difference they thought the copy of the invoice was faked and in the end the whole thing did cost me an extra 100€ at the customs office -.-

[chyros]

if uk customs thinks it isn't a gift, they will charge the recipient vat+duty.

How would they ever find out? The only situation that comes to my mind would be if a copy of the payment/invoice is included with the package.

They tend to just assume it is commercial and default to charging you. UK customs are particularly nasty and vile human beings.

[davkol]

Czech Post definitely requires a declaration for gifts of certain value; I've had to deal with this recently. It's especially relevant in case of giveaways. I know for a fact, that similar rules apply in some other countries as well.

[kawasaki161]

Czech Post definitely requires a declaration for gifts of certain value; I've had to deal with this recently. It's especially relevant in case of giveaways. I know for a fact, that similar rules apply in some other countries as well.

Oh, I think I get it now. The ruling in germany is that if you recieve a gift the declaration on the package is enough, but if it is worth more than 45€ you have to pay for customs even though it's a gift (no other way around that other than underdeclaring).

The thing is that the customs offices at the airports that do the paperwork before the parcel is sent to your city are pretty different in their strictness. I've recieved a package from Japan once that was declared as a gift and worth $20, the thing was that the shop tapes a copy of the invoice to the outside of the package to keep track of the orders and usually removes this invoice copy before shipping. They forgot to do so in my case, but luckily the customs office in Frankfurt "didn't notice that".
The one in Leipzig seems to be more strict though, my KC60 from aliexpress arrived there yesterday morning and is still not cleared for further delivery, even though DHL usually has things sped up a little.

[davkol]

Yeah, something like that.

Although electronics are (mostly?) custom-free here, thus only VAT is affected. The €45 threshold checks out.