Shipping and Charges to expect

[kennethrmc]

Hello

I'm trying to decide whether to go for my clan tartan kilt from a Scottish mfg. that has good deals or order similar product (at somewhat higher basic cost) from a US kilt maker.

Can someone tell me what to expect on average for shipping plus customs/ any other charges, for a $450.00 order (kilt & accessories) from UK to USA?

Thanks!

[macneighill]

The import duty/fee on a kilt is 12%. That would be 12% of the value. Basically, what you pay for it.

Try this website. It lists all of the tariff information, regarding shipping to the USA.
http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm

[Galician]

Depending on which carrier the kiltmaker uses, there might also be "handling" fees charged for collecting the duty.

And let's not forget state and local taxes!

Oh, and

[Monkey@Arms]

Use the forum search feature, and search for "fedex" or "federal express" to find unhappy tales of added costs. Buying from the UK seems to be somewhat of a crap shoot. From what I've read on this forum some people get away relatively unscathed, and others wished they had purchased from a kilt maker in the US.

Best regards,

Jake

[macneighill]

** Post Deleted **

Sorry . . I didn't see that Gaician had said it already .

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Check with US Customs-- last time I looked "ethnic costumes" entered the USA free of duty, whereas a "wool skirt" attracted 12% duty. In my experience you are less likely to be caught for duty using FedX or UPS than the Post Office. Check it out and good luck!

[Big Mikey]

Based on previous posts, if things go well when dealing with an overseas vendor, they go very well but when they go bad, it's horrible. If at all possible, IMHO, deal locally.

[Barb T]

Check with US Customs-- last time I looked "ethnic costumes" entered the USA free of duty, whereas a "wool skirt" attracted 12% duty. In my experience you are less likely to be caught for duty using FedX or UPS than the Post Office. Check it out and good luck!

If at all possible, avoid using Fedex or UPS. Not only will you pay duty if the item is dutiable, but you will also pay a significant handling fee to Fedex or UPS for the privilege of having them shepherd your package through Customs. If the vendor ships Royal Mail, small packet, you definitely won't pay a handling fee. And you might or might not have to pay duty. It's more than irksome to pay a fee (the handling fee) that you really don't need to pay in the first place. In the long run, if you have to pay duty on something that comes Royal Mail, you're at least paying something that you know you ought to be paying. If you don't get charged duty, you can consider it a lucky break.

You should also know that, although duty is technically refundable if you have to send something back to an overseas vendor, in practice it is a nightmare to get what you paid in duty refunded. If you have to have a size exchanged, you could wind up paying duty twice and going through a whole lot of paperwork to try to get the first duty refunded. Another good reason to by Stateside.

[DWFII]

I can't answer for anyone else but my recent experience with the Kiltstore was very good. I paid something in the neighborhood of $40.00 for express shipping (FedEx, as I recall) and that was it. I got a call from FedEx customs department wanting me to fill out a form. I did that. FedEx explained that Kiltstore was taking care of the rest.

So even if the customs and brokerage fees were included in the shipping charges, it was all up front and I knew waht to expect--No surprises, no additional charges or fees.

I am happy with the Kiltstore's policy as I have imported both leather and tools previously from England and Germany respectively and had to get custom brokers involved and so forth.

This was easy. If I was going to order another kilt, I'd deal with the same outfit.

[Jdot84]

I've seen horror stories on other forums about extremly high duties and and handling fees on orders of kilts from the UK. Personaly i'd buy from a reputable shop or maker here in the US.

My opinion only.

J.