Kilts and Customs Fees

[DownEaster]

Anyone know if we get hit with any customs fees here in the US if I order a kilt from Scotland? I received an amplifier from Germany a couple of years ago and was surprised with a $40.00 Customs fee before the USPS would give it to me. Thanks.

Alan

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Alan,

Based on my personal experience, you might, and you might not. And you might be charged a little, and you might be charged a lot.

The company we order a lot of our kilts and accessories from for the museum gift shop now has a US office that they distribute the stuff through, so we avoid that. But prior to that, I remember getting in shipments that might contain 3 kilts, 4 jackets, and a pair of ghillie broughes and not be charged a dime in customs. Then the next week we'd get in a box that only contained one kilt and get charged $80.

I recently had to pay $152 on a shipment of neck ties that we got in from Scotland, and I have never had to pay that amount before.

From all that the nice people at my post office tell me, whether or not any package gets charged, and how much is charged, is a very subjective thing based on how the individual worker at the customs office interprets the contents of the package, and how the fees should apply.

So, it's a hit and miss! But why not order your kilt from a US company who uses Scottish suppliers? Chances are your kilt won't cost any more (maybe less) and could even be made by the same people!
Matt

[DownEaster]

From all that the nice people at my post office tell me, whether or not any package gets charged, and how much is charged, is a very subjective thing based on how the individual worker at the customs office interprets the contents of the package, and how the fees should apply.

Now thats reassuring!;) Typical U.S. Government. I'll just wait to pick up my kilt when I go over next year. In the mean time, looks like another U.S. kilt purchase for me. Thanks Matt!

[Mychael Sporrano]

Hi, Alan-

It is nice meeting you.

I have had extensive experience dealing with duty on goods of UK origin. First off, my experience is such that DHL ALWAYS charges a duty, even if a duty is not owed. I have a theory that they do this because in collecting a duty for US Customs they get to pass along a $5 fee to the customer, but this is only a theory. I have in the past given in and simply paid DHL, but presently I am being charged duty a second time on a pair of kilts that were returned for alteration to Kinloch Anderson when the kilts were made incorrectly. THis one I have been fighting. My advice here is to make sure that your supplier does not use DHL.

Where the US Postal Service is concerned, I have noticed that parcels under $100-$150 US pass through unnoticed.

Something to consider is Geoffrey/TFCK. If you order a kilt or jacket, etc. through them and take advantage of their once monthly bulk ship to North America [United Parcel Service], there is no shipping charge whatsoever. Just as good, there is also no duty to be passed along. I just looked at last year's price list- a poly viscose kilt [7 yard] is $280. A heavy weight traditional is $530 using their stock range of fabric. Those are fair prices, and the quality is great. I have so far purchased a pair of heavy weight wool casual kilts, one kilt in Dark Island tartan, and a GT Doublet. All were perfect, plus they are a fun company to deal with.

I haven't always taken advantage of their once monthly shipping. The standard route [USPS] has worked as well, really didn't cost much more as I recall, and still had no duty attached at its end. The latter was luck, though. I prefer the once monthly method.

Mychael

[Geoduck]

I had that experience w/ DHL, a random extra $40 or so. I was a bit perterbed, but I'm not sure what recourse I had, I paid it and a month later I recieved the same bill again, which I didn't pay. Anyhow, I wasn't informed of this by Hector Russel, but the salesman may not have known.

[Mychael Sporrano]

I dug up this old thread detailing my exploits with US Customs, a sort of start-to-finish story. It is a lengthy, albeit fairly thorough account that could answer questions.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...0&page=1&pp=10

Mychael

[Rick]

I recently received a kilt and other items from Kinloch-Anderson shipped via. FedEx. I also received a bill for the duty. It appears that the duty was properly calculated per the respective tariffs. There was an additional charge of $20.00 which I was not clear about. FedEx explained that this is a user fee charged by Customs. Apparently, this fee was introduced by the original George Bush (reed my lips: no new taxes Bush). It is apparently intended to cover the cost of customs in determining how much to charge for duty. Apparently this fee has a minimum amount of $20.00 and is based on a fraction of a percent of the dutiable value. FedEx charged a $5.00 fee for processing the customs transaction. Given the amount of paperwork, this seems like a fair amount. The George Bush fee, on the other hand I am not impressed with.

[Alan H]

Cyndi from Thistle Stop is a wealth of information on all this, you might PM her.