Correctly Labelling Razor Parcels

**onotoman** · 03-11-2009, 05:41 AM

Hi Guys,

Just thought I'd pass on some information regarding completing customs labels when sending vintage razors etc overseas (or presumably even between states?).

I received an invoice from our local delivery office here in the UK - it was for unpaid VAT (tax) on a lot of razors I'd bought on Ebay that were sent from the US. The Customs had intercepted the package and held it for about 10 days before doing anything!

The seller had labelled the package as 'Men's Hair Removal Instruments' - so the Customs had thought they were new items and charged 15% VAT.

In the UK - antiques and collectables are rated at 5% though, so if he'd labelled the package as 'collectable razors' or 'vintage collectable razors' etc - then a very small amount - or even zero would have been charged.

So, if you are sending vintage razors anywhere, mark the label as such and it'll save a lot of hassle for the buyer.

**Windwalker** · 03-11-2009, 10:00 AM

Thanks for the heads up, we often don't think of such things here in the good ol' US of A. But I do occasionally sent items to Canada, and will keep this in mind.

**scottydoint** · 03-11-2009, 10:18 AM

I always put, "used shavers" on any forms I have to fill out.

**AsylumGuido** · 03-11-2009, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by scottydoint

I always put, "used shavers" on any forms I have to fill out.

I do almost the same if the package weighs over a pound. But, according to the USPS any package shipped via 1st Class International mail that weighs less than a pound does not required a customs form at all. I have sent well over 100 items to around 20 different countries over the past two years and have never had a problem.

shaved_***** · 03-11-2009, 11:20 AM

do they charge even if the razor(s) are marked having a value of $20 or less?

**SepticTank** · 03-11-2009, 11:29 AM

If they have reason to suspect that it's been underdeclared on purpose they can confiscate it (and possibly subsequently destroy it) or assess a "fair value" and levy duty/VAT on that...

**ClubmanRob** · 03-11-2009, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by SepticTank

If they have reason to suspect that it's been underdeclared on purpose they can confiscate it (and possibly subsequently destroy it) or assess a "fair value" and levy duty/VAT on that...

Since you're in Scotland, let me ask you this. Have you ever had any problems receiving aftershave or cologne from the US? I just sent a bottle to Scotland, and the woman at the post office told me not to put "aftershave" on the customs form, but simply "lotion" as it was less likely to draw examination. The value I marked "3.00", which is not going rate but a price I have seen it go for on Ebay. I did this in order to keep VAT taxes down if there was a penalty, so I'm hoping the customs officials don't wonder why an American spent almost twenty dollars to ship a Scot a 3.00 bottle of aftershave...

And if UK customs held up the package, do they bother notifying the shipper or recipient? Whenever I've had something held up in US customs, I've always been notified within two or three days. I have a customs number that the USPS said could be used to track whether or not a package cleared or missed customs, but now I'm finding out that UK Customs doesn't divulge the info unless you go through this lengthy bureaucratic paper chain.

I guess these are all questions I should have asked before I shipped it, but I didn't.

**SepticTank** · 03-11-2009, 11:58 AM

More likely for an air shipment it would be frowned upon - nothing prevents the arrival of it into the mail system here - only air cargo restrictions (particularly on high alcohol items - "high" being anything over ~20%) on liquids. It could be that USPS took a little looksie inside and sent it by boat...

If it's confiscated by HMRC (Customs), the recipient gets a notice, which obviously they can attempt to appeal.

**ClubmanRob** · 03-11-2009, 12:09 PM

Thanks for the info. There's no problem that I'm aware of, as I only shipped it out the other day. Ever since I shipped it I've been hearing horror stories about UK customs, so I got a little paranoid there for a minute.

**SepticTank** · 03-11-2009, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by ClubmanRob

Thanks for the info. There's no problem that I'm aware of, as I only shipped it out the other day. Ever since I shipped it I've been hearing horror stories about UK customs, so I got a little paranoid there for a minute.

I've never had a problem with UK customs - not postally at least - only at such hotspots as LHR, when arriving back after a 6 month overland trip to Australia after a 26 hour flight.

Mr Customs wanted to search through all my bags but stopped when I said "Well if you want to go through 6 months of skidmarked undercrackers that's up to you" - he zipped it back up and I went off on my merry way.

**Bobtrumpet** · 03-11-2009, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by SepticTank

Mr Customs wanted to search through all my bags but stopped when I said "Well if you want to go through 6 months of skidmarked undercrackers that's up to you" - he zipped it back up and I went off on my merry way.

Thanks for the laugh!

**ClubmanRob** · 03-11-2009, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by SepticTank

I've never had a problem with UK customs - not postally at least - only at such hotspots as LHR, when arriving back after a 6 month overland trip to Australia after a 26 hour flight.

Mr Customs wanted to search through all my bags but stopped when I said "Well if you want to go through 6 months of skidmarked undercrackers that's up to you" - he zipped it back up and I went off on my merry way.

Hmmm, now I know what to use as packing material the next time I ship to the UK...

Imagine that customs slip: " Contents: Skidmarked undercrackers, 6 month supply".

**onotoman** · 03-11-2009, 03:23 PM

The package I was waiting for was the 38 razors I bought on Ebay, so the extra 2 weeks that it sat in customs was not good :-( - I suspect that the size of the shipment drew attention - when I've had anything up to 6 razors sent from the USA everything's been fine and they've come straight through.

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I do almost the same if the package weighs over a pound. But, according to the USPS any package shipped via 1st Class International mail that weighs less than a pound does not required a customs form at all. I have sent well over 100 items to around 20 different countries over the past two years and have never had a problem.

**Luc** · 03-11-2009, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

I do almost the same if the package weighs over a pound. But, according to the USPS any package shipped via 1st Class International mail that weighs less than a pound does not required a customs form at all. I have sent well over 100 items to around 20 different countries over the past two years and have never had a problem.

I think you got a racket on the black market going on...

**tarbush** · 03-11-2009, 07:55 PM

Would labeling a package as a 'gift' work? Surely, the govt. wouldn't charge vat if you were to send a razor to your dear cousin Nigel/Colin/Ian/Clive/Alistair/Graham/etc.

Seems like I should say Bob's your uncle right now. Maybe not.

**AsylumGuido** · 03-11-2009, 08:41 PM

Originally Posted by tarbush

Would labeling a package as a 'gift' work? Surely, the govt. wouldn't charge vat if you were to send a razor to your dear cousin Nigel/Colin/Ian/Clive/Alistair/Graham/etc.

Seems like I should say Bob's your uncle right now. Maybe not.

Once again, anything sent 1st class international via USPS requires NO cutoms form. All my local USPS personnel reinforce this. No need to lie. I know of no razor that weight more than 6 oz shipped.

**scottydoint** · 03-11-2009, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

Once again, anything sent 1st class international via USPS requires NO cutoms form. All my local USPS personnel reinforce this. No need to lie. I know of no razor that weight more than 6 oz shipped.

I used to not have to fill out the customs form unless I had a box that was a little heavy. Now they make me fill one out everytime

It is annoying.

**ClubmanRob** · 03-11-2009, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

Once again, anything sent 1st class international via USPS requires NO cutoms form. All my local USPS personnel reinforce this. No need to lie. I know of no razor that weight more than 6 oz shipped.

Correct, nothing under a pound should have to have a customs form affixed, unless it falls into the alcohol/flammable/liquid/consumable category. If your package weighs under a pound and your post office is making you fill out a customs slip for something that doesn't fall into the above category, contact the Postmaster in your area. I once had a woman order me to fill out a slip for a book (less than a pound weight-wise) I sent to Ireland. I refused, and she refused to handle my package (I know what you're thinking, dirty minds) so I contacted the Postmaster of that branch who assured me I was in the right, and promised me it would not happen again. It still happens occasionally, so always ask for the supervisor on duty.

**mmack66** · 03-11-2009, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

Once again, anything sent 1st class international via USPS requires NO cutoms form. All my local USPS personnel reinforce this. No need to lie. I know of no razor that weight more than 6 oz shipped.

I sent a razor to Australia via International First Class a couple of weeks ago and there were no issues. The shipping cost was unbelievably inexpensive too.