The following is intended to provide information on my recent experience shipping a helmet and some chin scale pieces to 2 forum members in the US. The helmet was a restoration project and the scales are going to be used to complete chin scales missing some pieces. First a brief History of mailing/shipping to the US from CN. Prior to the present changes in US tariffs, anything judged as "antique" ie. over 100 years was exempt from US duties. There was no such policy on the CN side.There was also a generous value exemption of $800/or less for goods crossing the US border. These US policies no longer exist. Some members when discussing the shipping issues have stated that there is an HF Tariff code..an HTC Number (9706.10) which could be used to exempt a pkg. from duties. They also recommended this description...."Old headgear, more than 100 years old". I used both this code and description when mailing my 2 packages (pkgs) via UPS. I also stated country of origin as Germany and made in the 1890's. I was told to do so by my UPS clerk who was accepting my pkgs. Unfortunately, this code and description is no longer of any use. Both of my customers had to pay additional fees upon delivery. In the case of the 4 scale pieces valued by me at $25 he had to pay $29.75 in fees. The helmet was over $40. My chin scale customer naturally was a bit shocked by this and asked for an explanation. Consequently, I returned to the UPS store and and asked the simple question..Why? Part of the answer as stated above is the fact that the $800 exemption and code 9706.10 are no longer valid/accepted. I was also told that everything is now subject to "fees" even documents. We all heard that a US court has declared the recent US tariffs as illegal. However, the clerk informed me that new reasons for charges have been invented in order to keep collecting cash. This includes....customs checking to see if your item has been reported as "stolen" etc.
Some may ask...why did you switch from CN Post to UPS? My reason is that to use CNP, I have to download an app. take a photo of the pkg./ and pay any fees up front at my post office. I downloaded the app but it has problems and I have no intention of paying fees up front. So Dear Collectors this is the latest shipping news at least in my experience.
Some may ask...why did you switch from CN Post to UPS? My reason is that to use CNP, I have to download an app. take a photo of the pkg./ and pay any fees up front at my post office. I downloaded the app but it has problems and I have no intention of paying fees up front. So Dear Collectors this is the latest shipping news at least in my experience.
