US Customs questions

[Mychael Sporrano]

Never before having had anything shipped to me that required a jog through US Customs, I am curious how it works...

When Customs receives a package, does one receive a call or letter of notification? How long does it take for notification to occur?

Does anyone have any tips or hints for dealing with the pick up of UK goods of a woolen nature from Customs?

How long does shipping of bulky parcels between the US and the UK typically take?

Is there a Santa Clause? If so, does he have to clear Customs?


Mychael

[highlandtide]

Is there a Santa Clause? If so, does he have to clear Customs?

Nice!

I have never had to deal with it so I will defer my response to those who have...

[Rufus]

I had a package shipped to me from Glasgow about a month ago. It wasn't a kilt, but had kilt hose, sporran, etc.

In total, it took about 10 days for the package to get to me from the postal stamp on the envelope, sent through the UK's Royal Mail, and then through USPS here in the States. There was a sticker on the package where the company had marked that it was a "gift" being sent, so I think that saved time/money for both of us.

I wasn't notified by customs at all. There was just a sticker saying "Approved by US Customs Dept." on the package.

I don't know if kilts will be another story. That's what I learned from my experience.

[Graham]

I've had no trouble from the US to Australia, except once with a handheld computer, had to pay import duties.

I can confirm that Santa does not exist, beyond that i have no comment here.

[bubba]

I got a kilt from Glasgow and had no problem. From order to reciept was 4 weeks from scottishkilts.net. It just had a customs sticker on it along with the postal stamps. Didn't get a call from customs or any demands for extra money for duty.

[bikercelt1]

I ordered a belt from Tartan Web. It came by priority mail in about ten days with out any delay by customs. I have a friend who imports things and he told me that U.S. Customs doesn't usually bother with small cost items because it costs more to collect than what they get for duty. An expensive kilt might be enough to get their attention though.

I checked with Santa, he is of the opinion that Graham is a work of fiction in spite of my insistance to the contrary. He refused to discuss his arrangements with Customs.

Jamie

[richardljohnson]

I'm not connected with Law Enforcement anymore but it will probably just go through a x-ray (if there are not any warnings not to) and a 'sniffer'. After that it should be passed right along. If it is 'tagged' for any reason they will open and examine. If everything is OK they should reseal it and put it back on it's way. They use to place a 'notice of inspection' in the package but I don't know if they are still doing that or not.

It should be seamless from start to finish.

RLJ-

[Chris@southerncelt.com]

If customs does decide to stop your kilt, which is possible as I assume it is worth more than $100.00, the postman will deliver a slip to your mailbox with the customs total (which can be up to a whopping 55% of the value of the item). You will then take it to whatever post office services your area, and pay the customs fee to recieve your package. Cross your fingers and hope they don't stop it.

[Robert Lamb]

I can confirm that Santa does not exist, beyond that i have no comment here.[/quote]

Graham
I beg to differ with you.
The resident of the USA has given $BILLIONS$ of us poorer class people's money to the very very rich, so they may live even better lives than they already do!! So if that is not Santa then I don't know what is..

Robert"the kilted" Lamb
PS It sounds like you went to a great deal of trouble to go slide down a snow bank in a kilt.

[Xcop]

I regularly receive stuff from Canada, and other than an extraordinarily long wait it has yet to cost me anything. I bought a kilt from a company outside the US and it was marked " Personal property returned with alterations" All associated paperwork was sent in separate cover.

David