Imported stuff and customs

[slofox]

Query for those who have dealt with customs re imported goods...

I recently bought an espresso machine form Australia. Cost was $AU399. Which is over the $NZ400 threshold for GST etc. It may be that customs will need the brib...err...payment before I get my hooks into the goodies. So:

I presume customs will be in touch if they require money.

1) Are they likely to fart around for a couple of weeks before they do anything or can I be assured that they will exercise some degree of alacrity?

2) Do I wait for them to contact me or should I chase them up?

Answers appreciated. Tx.

[Phantom Limb]

You may get lucky.
I imported close to $4000 in parts for a race engine from the UK this year. The package was clearely labled with an invoice in the packing slip sleeve. It arrived at my door 5 days after ordering and I was asked to pay no duties at all.

[slofox]

You may get lucky.
I imported close to $4000 in parts for a race engine from the UK this year. The package was clearely labled with an invoice in the packing slip sleeve. It arrived at my door 5 days after ordering and I was asked to pay no duties at all.

Which is why I am a little reluctant to chase them up. Might draw attention to the import...

[GSF]

Which is why I am a little reluctant to chase them up. Might draw attention to the import...

I worked in a shop where from time to time we would import stuff with a value over the GST threshold, what usually happened was it sat there for ages in holding until a letter arrived from Customs with all the details required to get said item released.

But yes, it would usually take a week or so (from when the item first arrived in country).

And as Phantom Limb said, sometimes we paid no GST on really spendy stuff, and sometimes we got clipped for small things. It always seemed quite random to me.

[imdying]

I presume customs will be in touch if they require money.

They will. It's under the threshold for needing an importer number so it'll be painless.

1) Are they likely to fart around for a couple of weeks before they do anything or can I be assured that they will exercise some degree of alacrity?

They haven't got the space to store your shit forever, they'll want rid of it as soon as they can.

2) Do I wait for them to contact me or should I chase them up?

Just wait, they may not even stop it as it's borderline and they can't stop everything. Christmas is busy for them.

[Gremlin]

1) Are they likely to fart around for a couple of weeks before they do anything or can I be assured that they will exercise some degree of alacrity?

2) Do I wait for them to contact me or should I chase them up?

It varies.

Sometimes they ring you up and you can provide a credit card over the phone and it's done and dusted and on it's way again. Other times, they hold it, expect you to know via osmosis, and maybe send you a letter a little while later.

Depends how long it has been. Take the regular shipping length, add no more than a week and then you should probably be chasing. Also depends how quickly you need it I guess.

[Bassmatt]

I worked in a shop where from time to time we would import stuff with a value over the GST threshold, what usually happened was it sat there for ages in holding until a letter arrived from Customs with all the details required to get said item released.

But yes, it would usually take a week or so (from when the item first arrived in country).

And as Phantom Limb said, sometimes we paid no GST on really spendy stuff, and sometimes we got clipped for small things. It always seemed quite random to me.

IME they don't take too long to get in touch. Expect a letter with the details on how much to pay and how. It will have a NZPost number to call, be warned they will charge a fee over and above the customs fees and gst.
I dealt directly with customs who were surprisingly helpful and efficient and didn't charge anything extra.

[imdying]

Yeah, make sure to include a cell number in your delivery address, otherwise the hold up become NZ Post.

[PeeJay]

Query for those who have dealt with customs re imported goods...

I recently bought an espresso machine form Australia. Cost was $AU399. Which is over the $NZ400 threshold for GST etc. It may be that customs will need the brib...err...payment before I get my hooks into the goodies. So:

I presume customs will be in touch if they require money.

1) Are they likely to fart around for a couple of weeks before they do anything or can I be assured that they will exercise some degree of alacrity?

2) Do I wait for them to contact me or should I chase them up?

Answers appreciated. Tx.

If you have tracking no's etc get onto the freight/courier companies website or ring them and find out where it is.
If its in customs the freight company should be able to tell you whether or not it is being held, ie gst
If its not being held, great, its on its way to you.
If it is being held, ask them if they have the notice Number, if they have they can tell you how much the bill is.
No worries if they dont have it, rather than wait for the letter (2-3 days )give customs a ring.
They will ask for the notice number but if you ask the nice person nicely they will get it for you.
As an irregular importer they will probably do the paperwork for you, (for free) save you organising and paying brokerage
Credit card over the phone and you are away.
Easy Peasy

[Road kill]

IME they don't take too long to get in touch. Expect a letter with the details on how much to pay and how. It will have a NZPost number to call, be warned they will charge a fee over and above the customs fees and gst.
I dealt directly with customs who were surprisingly helpful and efficient and didn't charge anything extra.

That's pretty much how I've found them.

Contact within a week of arrival and then payment by credit card.

In the early days it would be 50/50 if I had to pay duty but once I became a regular I got to pay everytime.

[Digitdion]

As to getting charged for gst etc etc, I have found it to be random. But becoming more likely to get stung. My experience is with bits for the bike. No Duty just the gst factor. If I have been stung for gst I have had a letter arrive rather promptly advising me of this. Then it's a case of calling an 0800 number and paying by Credit card. Then they release the item.

One time I purchased online a down puffer jacket. Got it for $95 US dollars. My mate in the states sent it over but being a paranoid Yank put the declared value at $450 US dollars from memory. I got a letter wanting something like over $200 NZ dollars for duty and Gst. I got on to them and sent them a copy of the invoice showing the correct purchase price and they released it straight away.

So for me, I have found they are always conduct business in a timely manor.

[F5 Dave]

weren't you pleading poverty a little while ago about buying disc rotors? Now a nigh on $500 coffee machine? Sheesh, get your priorities right man.

[slofox]

weren't you pleading poverty a little while ago about buying disc rotors? Now a nigh on $500 coffee machine? Sheesh, get your priorities right man.

I decided that an intractable visa bill was better than a life without espresso...

An' anyway, I didn't get the $900 machine did I?

EDIT: Besides, I use the espresso machine more often than the brakes...

[SILVER SUZI]

So on a serious note.................... are you any good at making coffee or are you thinking that this gadget will do it all for you ?
You"ll have lots of us Jaffa's coming to see you now, you know there's nothing we like more than a nice Latté!!

[slofox]

So on a serious note.................... are you any good at making coffee or are you thinking that this gadget will do it all for you ?
You"ll have lots of us Jaffa's coming to see you now, you know there's nothing we like more than a nice Latté!!

The machine will not do the job for me. I'll have to see how my skills (or lack thereof) stack up...

It's a Gaggia Classic if anyone is interested. Very basic, no fancy shit. But capable of making excellent espresso if you do it right.
Oh and I never do anything with milk.