Customs Duty and procedure to Import from E-commerce websites

[benz]

Hello FMs,

I am planning to buy add on products for Raspberry Pi, like hifiberry or some other i2s dacs, amp+ etc .

The ecommerce site does not collect customs, and just charges for the product and shipping to India.

I am referring to sites like dhgate, hifiberry, iqaudio etc, which ships to India.

How much would the customs duty be and what is the procedure to pay the same?

Also is there any basic exemption limit for customs? Like 100$ or something?

Thanks

 

[sound_cycle]

How much would the customs duty be and what is the procedure to pay the same?

Also is there any basic exemption limit for customs? Like 100$ or something?

I've opted for the chicken's way out ie. shipping with tracking and customs paid, all in advance. some 28 - 35%.

Not aware of any exemption limit

ciao
gr

 

[regeHA]

30-35% roughly is what you will pay if its a reputed seller. Most like Amazon.com will even take that cut during billing and will take care of delivery to home.

Chinese usually don't bother so if your package gets stuck with customs it's your headache to deal with them... even visit them or else pay whatever they quote upon delivery.

The only way to save on shipping and customs is to carry it (or have a friend/relative carry it) and simply walk with nothing to declare at the airport.

 

[Aanuj]

I regularly import stuff from Aliexpress,Merimobiles, Hmv Japan and CD Japan. Everytime they passed and I never had to pay any duty from tablets to wifi antennae to SACD but this time on 4th of June my shipment of 7 SACD were caught and sent for customs verification and now it's retained for verification with no specific reason remark scenario on ems tracking website. All I can do is not bother but wait. I'm looking at a customs of around 28%.....rest is all up to the almighty. And they have to settle all cases within 45days , mandatory.

 

[frend2001]

try www.borderlinx.com/?

 

[Fantastic]

I find that in Chennai duty is anybody's guess. It can be 100% or usually at least 50% irrespective of actual rates. If it's too high you can send it back for reassessment with paper work showing it's price and the import category code and duty that is officially charged and a "request" to reduce it ! It will still come back with high charges but it might be 50% !
With Amazon you pay duty in advance and always within the actual duty rates and delivered to the door without any hassles. This is the best way. Some eBay companies claim they handle duty also but I don't know how. Maybe like Amazon they charge you in advance. It's mentioned on their web site.

Cost generally doesn't seem to be a hassle. I bought a DAC for US$600 from Amazon. With shipping and duty it was worth every buck. If I carried that back as baggage it would have been a problem weight and volume wise AND would limit what ever else I was carrying back.

 

[navinsinha]

try www.borderlinx.com/?

Hi Bro,
How is your experience with Borderlinx? The customer reviews are not very encouraging.

 

[frend2001]

Navin Sir I'm yet to order them.

Somebody recommended them so shared the information.

Sent from my Xperia SP using Tapatalk

 

[navinsinha]

I was using ShipoutfromUSA. Their service was excellent, but last time in spite of my sending 3 mails in advance they did not consolidate the consignments. So I stopped.

 

[spandan414]

Hello FMs,

I am planning to buy add on products for Raspberry Pi, like hifiberry or some other i2s dacs, amp+ etc .

The ecommerce site does not collect customs, and just charges for the product and shipping to India.

I am referring to sites like dhgate, hifiberry, iqaudio etc, which ships to India.

How much would the customs duty be and what is the procedure to pay the same?

Also is there any basic exemption limit for customs? Like 100$ or something?

Thanks

I have ordered Hifiberry Digi+ from hifiberry couple of days back. I will let you know how it goes.

I bought a DAC from Aliexpress. Customs charged 50% of the product cost.

Thanks,
Sam.

 

[Silentstorm]

Try to find a website that does everything in advance for you, so you pay once at the website(they will calculate everything for you) and you just wait to get your stuff delivered. I order things from Amazon US and the process is as simple as buying anything.

 

[benz]

I regularly import stuff from Aliexpress,Merimobiles, Hmv Japan and CD Japan. Everytime they passed and I never had to pay any duty from tablets to wifi antennae to SACD but this time on 4th of June my shipment of 7 SACD were caught and sent for customs verification and now it's retained for verification with no specific reason remark scenario on ems tracking website. All I can do is not bother but wait. I'm looking at a customs of around 28%.....rest is all up to the almighty. And they have to settle all cases within 45days , mandatory.

That is very unfortunate, hope it is settled soon.

Also reading other FM's post it looks like the customs dept do not charge as per the norms and just charges as per their wish, like someone also had to pay 50%

 

[benz]

I have ordered Hifiberry Digi+ from hifiberry couple of days back. I will let you know how it goes.

I bought a DAC from Aliexpress. Customs charged 50% of the product cost.

Thanks,
Sam.

I am also planning to order DAC from Hifiberry, but as I will be travelling for next couple of days, have not yet ordered as I don't want to miss it when the parcel arrives home.

Eager to hear your experience.

 

[benz]

I was using ShipoutfromUSA. Their service was excellent, but last time in spite of my sending 3 mails in advance they did not consolidate the consignments. So I stopped.

ShipfromUSA - can I use it to order products from Hifiberry?

 

[spandan414]

ShipfromUSA - can I use it to order from Hifiberry?

You most probably will not be able to ship hifiberry from US, as hifiberry is based in Switzerland. There are very few hifiberry resellers in US.

 

[navinsinha]

ShipfromUSA - can I use it to order products from Hifiberry?

Only if they are based in USA or UK.

 

[spandan414]

I am also planning to order DAC from Hifiberry, but as I will be travelling for next couple of days, have not yet ordered as I don't want to miss it when the parcel arrives home.

Eager to hear your experience.

I got my Hifiberry Digi+ delivered today. It has been sent through Swiss registered post. Good news is that the customs have not charged anything. I got it with in 2 weeks from the order date. Will post my review about the Digi when I get some time.

Thanks,
Sam.

 

[Aanuj]

My SACDs from Japan have arrived and the bad news is I have been charged Rs 3237 as customs for a Shipment worth Rs 10k aprx along with shipping. They charge duty on shipping charges too. Painful.

 

[benz]

I got my Hifiberry Digi+ delivered today. It has been sent through Swiss registered post. Good news is that the customs have not charged anything. I got it with in 2 weeks from the order date. Will post my review about the Digi when I get some time.

Thanks,
Sam.

Congrats on your purchase and thanks for updating

Eager to read your review

 

[benz]

My SACDs from Japan have arrived and the bad news is I have been charged Rs 3237 as customs for a Shipment worth Rs 10k aprx along with shipping. They charge duty on shipping charges too. Painful.

This is really very sad, customs on shipping makes no sense at all