The Energon Pub

Anyone here had a toy inspection by customs? How did they handle it, did they open any (sealed) transformers boxes? Specifically, UK/NL customs. Do they attach a note to let you know the toy was inspected?

okeee wrote:Anyone here had a toy inspection by customs? How did they handle it, did they open any (sealed) transformers boxes? Specifically, UK/NL customs. Do they attach a note to let you know the toy was inspected?

UK/NL? You must be Dutch

If you're importing toys into the NL, it shouldn't pose a problem. Once, in the US, I had my carry-on luggage inspected at the airport. They saw my toys (an E-Sharkticon), shrugged and let me pass.

The only time you should be worried is if you're importing toys that transform into guns of any kind, like classics Megatron, or even G1 Megatron. Importing realistic looking gun replicas is illegal, and they will let you know big time. There are warnings around Schiphol about those toy guns available in countries like Romania, and how they're illegal to import.

I always wanted to see the looks on some of the customs workers faces where the see the customs tag read:

"Contents: toy
Value: $300"

Lol

They may open the shipping box, but they wont open the toys packaging unless there an unusual amount of suspicion.

Jesterhead wrote:I always wanted to see the looks on some of the customs workers faces where the see the customs tag read:

"Contents: toy
Value: $300"

O yeah, one more thing. If you're importing via post, or ordering abroad, be sure to have the sender label it as a "gift" to avoid paying import taxes.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Jesterhead wrote:I always wanted to see the looks on some of the customs workers faces where the see the customs tag read:

"Contents: toy
Value: $300"

O yeah, one more thing. If you're importing via post, or ordering abroad, be sure to have the sender label it as a "gift" to avoid paying import taxes.

Just to add as well. A lot of shippers will mark down a value much lower than what you actually paid, this should help you ovoid paying the true amount in taxes if they decide to charge you. On the other hand a lot of shipper will refuse to mark the package as a gift, and will always record the correct value to cover their asses.

Jesterhead wrote:Just to add as well. A lot of shippers will mark down a value much lower than what you actually paid, this should help you ovoid paying the true amount in taxes if they decide to charge you. On the other hand a lot of shipper will refuse to mark the package as a gift, and will always record the correct value to cover their asses.

Yes- I used to make and sell gemstone jewelry, and I never lied on customs forms. If they did open the package and search it (or if the package got mangled and stuff fell out) *I* would be the one slapped with hefty fines. And I wouldn't be able to get my money back if it was lost of damaged, because the insurance goes by the value on the customs slip. Honesty is always the best policy.

kookaburra wrote:Honesty is always the best policy.

for gemstones maybe, but for bots, it is essential to lie on the customs forms if you don't want to get ripped off.

Canadian customs are total ripoff artists, canadian taxes on items not purchased in canada makes absolutely no sense.

I will NOT purchase from a dealer unless they mark the items down, this is why I rarely use BBTS anymore. Robot Kingdom and TFsource play ball, and mark it down, why would you want to pay more than an item is worth simply because it crosses an arbitrary line.

I am always mystified when an ebay seller actually takes a moral stand against lying to the customs officials when declaring an item. There is no honor in being ripped off, just stupidity.

Why a dealer would want to help his customers get shafted is beyond me, the likeliness of toys being inspected is very minimal, I have imported over 1000 bots with no issue. That includes the famed masterpiece megatron, I imported two from tfsource without any issue.

Well I always declare it as a gift. Smaller packaging can help too. I won't send large items out of the country. I had a Genensic GaoGaigar that cost about $120, and $70 to ship to me because the box is so huge. I could sell it, but most of the customers will be overseas, and the shipping would be astronomical.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Jesterhead wrote:I always wanted to see the looks on some of the customs workers faces where the see the customs tag read:

"Contents: toy
Value: $300"

O yeah, one more thing. If you're importing via post, or ordering abroad, be sure to have the sender label it as a "gift" to avoid paying import taxes.

I've asked people to do that and they failed to do so and had to pay import.