My Newest Omega

ulackfocus · Mar 6, 2012

nsmike
Note: USLAXA is the US Customs Facility at the Los Angeles International Airport

For minute I thought it was headquarters for constipation research. 😗

nsmike · Mar 6, 2012

U ulackfocus
For minute I thought it was headquarters for constipation research. 😗

Maybe that's why, Customs clearence takes so long.😉

nsmike · Mar 7, 2012

Just an update, I recived a watch today, that that hit NY Customs on 1 Mar 12. LA Customs might be different, but if the timing the same, you'll get the watch anytime.

kyle L · Mar 7, 2012

I'm on the other side from California though...😜

nsmike · Mar 7, 2012

kyle L
I'm on the other side from California though...😜

As I understand it, the package is going from Australia, to New Jersey, and is currently in Los Angeles.The difference in transit time from LA to NJ compared to NY to MN is negligible. The package will go by air, so at worst add a day, it actually matters more, where you are in relarion to the final sort center.

kyle L · Mar 7, 2012

Actually it came today...found it stuffed in the mailbox! I'll get some pictures up soon, don't think I'm letting this one go! 😀

kyle L · Mar 7, 2012

Some quick pics:

ulackfocus · Mar 7, 2012

That's a looker Kyle! 👍 Gotta love the extra thickness of the dial furniture - gives a better 3D effect.

MSNWatch · Mar 7, 2012

Nice one Kyle. One of the first things Bill Sohne told me in one of our first meetings a few years ago now is that the early geneve models are among the most underrated among vintage omegas. I think that one is a keeper for your collection.

rbird7282 · Mar 7, 2012

Sharp watch. Very nice!

gatorcpa · Mar 7, 2012

Nice Geneve, Kyle!

nsmike
Note: USLAXA is the US Customs Facility at the Los Angeles International Airport

That is correct. I have a friend who works for USPS at the Customs area in Miami. He tells me there are five such offices in the USA -- LA, NYC, Miami, Chicago and San Francisco. I think SF is supposed to be closed soon. Generally, the incoming flights are cleared at the location closest to the sender. So a package from Australia going to LAX makes perfect sense.

The way it works is that the packages arrive on commercial flights in pre-sorted bags by destination. They are immediately taken to a secure area to clear customs. Each bag (which may contain letters, packages or both) is inspected by a Customs officer, who may or may not spot check the contents for dutiable items (like watches). Sometimes they just wave them through. This explains why many times the customs duty one expects to pay is never collected. My friend will accept them on behalf of the USPS and direct the bag to the proper area for further sorting.

With the private express companies (DHL, FedEx, UPS, etc.), the company self-assesses duties on all packages, so Customs charges are very rarely missed.

Take care,
gatorcpa

nsmike · Mar 7, 2012

gatorcpa, One little thing is that, private transactions by mail, can have Cutoms Duties waived, as a personal exemtption, there is no such exemption, for shipping services. Shippers such as UPS, FedEX, and DHL, have a legal obligation to collect the duty. The fact that they can collect a fat fee doesn't hurt either.
Mike

gatorcpa · Mar 8, 2012

nsmike
gatorcpa, One little thing is that, private transactions by mail, can have Cutoms Duties waived, as a personal exemtption

There is a Customs mail waiver policy, but it is very small, only $100 to $200.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/126/related/1/~/mail---duty-waiver-policy

It's just that there are so many items sent internationally via the mail, the Customs Service can't keep up. While the USPS is considered a customs broker, they usually won't be bothered with it either. Their legal obligation to collect is no different than DHL's. But USPS doesn't have the incentive of the "fat fee" for brokerage like the private couriers:

I'm curious as to how much Customs duty goes uncollected each year. Many billions, I suspect.
gatorcpa

nsmike · Mar 8, 2012

I've read the actual law, there is no mandatory amount above which, the Customs service will impose duties, it's entirely discretionary. I believe that up a certain point, they can charge a flat rate of 8% with any additional duty above that are charged by category. At $100 is it worth their time to collect $8.

nsmike · Mar 8, 2012

Here's the link for "Internet Purchases" http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/basic_trade/internet_purchases.xml they do use the $200 figure, but note that those items are usally cleared without additional paperwork , it's discretionary. The key is in the informal entry procedures, there there is a hard dollar figure of under $2000, above which duty if applicable is required. That is the point at which a shipping service is woth the additional cost.

kyle L · Mar 8, 2012

Don't know if this helps, but the watch was valued at $200 on my customs sheet.

gatorcpa · Mar 8, 2012

Not to beat a dead horse, but here is a quote from your web link:

International Postal Service: Merchandise shipped through the international postal service is forwarded upon its arrival in the United States to one of U.S. Customs and Border Protection International Mail Branches for clearance. If the item is less than $2,000 in value and is not subject to a quota or is not a restricted or prohibited item, a CBP official will usually prepare the paperwork for importing it, assess the proper duty, and release it for delivery. This procedure is generally referred to as a mail entry.

The Customs is supposed to charge duty on item declared over $200. It's not supposed to be discretionary, but as you say, it certainly is. The $2,000 figure would seem to be the maximum value at which Customs will do the documentation for you for free. Anything over that, and you are supposed to use a licensed customs broker to handle the entry and duty payments.

kyle L
Don't know if this helps, but the watch was valued at $200 on my customs sheet.

And that's exactly what you paid for it. 😉

gatorcpa

nsmike · Mar 8, 2012

To continue beating a dead horse:
Personal vs. Commercial Use: Many import regulations only apply to goods imported for commercial - business or resale - purposes. For instance, most goods imported for personal use are not subject to quota. The one exception to this is made-to-measure suits from Hong Kong, which are subject to quota restrictions regardless of the use they are imported for. On the other hand, import restrictions that are based on health, safety and protecting endangered species apply across the board.
Note: U.S. Customs and Border Protection is authorized to make judgment calls about what qualifies as personal use. Several suits that are identical or a number of very similar handbags will have a hard time passing the credibility test as items for personal use.

It's Discretionary! If the entry is informal, they make all the decisions, from category to usage.

Later under informal entry procedures
The duty rate for many items typically bought in an on-line auction is zero, however, CBP may charge a small processing fee for mail imports that do require the payment of duty

gatorcpa · Mar 8, 2012

I think you are confusing the quota system and the actual duty. Customs first has to figure out whether a declared item is subject to an import quota or restriction. If an item is subject to these laws, it may have a higher duty rate than normal (like for the Hong Kong suits), or not be allowed in at all.

You are correct in that items for personal use are generally not subject to quotas or restrictions and are let in automatically. My understanding is that a watch that is declared through the mail for personal use is subject to the same duty as one declared for personal use in person when coming home from overseas.

Once Customs has determined that the item is for personal use, then import duties apply in excess of the $100/$200 limitations as discussed above. But Customs almost never applies them to mailed items. Why? Because it's just too hard.

The duty schedule just for watches and clocks is over 30 pages long!
gatorcpa

nsmike · Mar 8, 2012

gatorcpa we're talking semantics. I'm saying that, under the informal entry system, Custom's chooses to not charge Duty, because law the gives them the descretion. By catagorizing items for personal use, and then choosing a convient catagory, they can legally avoid having to charge duty. Your saying that duties should be due but aren't being collected. I'm saying that because everthing is discretionary there's no hard and fast rule.