US Customs questions

[Mychael Sporrano]

With the intention of being thorough in this report, I made an inquiry to U.K. Customs to see if I could find out the exact procedure for returning or exchanging goods that were sent to the US. The woman who returned my email told me that the label I had made and placed on the package indicating that the shoes were U.K. goods being returned for exchange was fine. For more detailed info, I was directed to a "Notice 236", available at www.hmce.gov.uk under 'Forms and Publications''Catalogue of Publications' then to the numbered grid at the end.

On other fronts, I called my local branch of U.S. Customs to inquire about the duty for which DHL billed me, but for which no U.S. Customs paperwork was included proving that the duty had indeed been paid by DHL on my behalf. Without paperwork from U.S. Customs, I cannot even file a protest.

The fellow from U.S. Customs (very pleasant fellow, I will add) told me that no paperwork exists, adding that DHL brings packages into the country in bulk and apparently has authorization to check them out personally without the watchful eye of any U.S. Customs agents keeping track of things. Apparently, there is ample room for mischief since it was mentioned that occasionally these shipments will be raided and a lot of contraband in the form of drugs will be found. Interesting. I was told that DHL is acting on my behalf, and therefore my business is with them. However, it bugs me that I cannot protest the amount of duty or that I can see no proof that it was actually paid. It simply doesn't sit well with me. The fellow from U.S. Customs agreed that this is a problem where private handlers are concerned.

Based on what I was told, here are words of advice should anone decide to have anything imported:

If you should specify air freight, your package will arrive at a local airport and most likely be held until you arrive to pick it up and pay any applicable duty. Not always, though. Do not expect the US Custom's inspector to be particularly knowledgeable about the classifications because they are not trained to that degree. Knowing the correct HTS codes and rates of taxation can help enormously in this situation if you do not want to overpay.

If you do not specify method of shipment, your package could come by any means. In this case, it could arrive directly at your door. If the post office delivers, the package will have gone through US Customs and you will have paperwork to show for it. You will be able to file a protest if needed. At any rate, it would be best to inform the person sending you the merchandise to mark the form "For personal use, not for resale" if the value is high or if you are expecting multiples of the same item. It is also wise to have the sender list contents with the applicable HTS codes after each item. Otherwise, you will have to rely once again on a potentially less than adequately inspector to arrive at the correct designations, and therefore rates of duty.

If DHL delivers, you of course will have no U.S. Customs paperwork and will have to wait and see if they send a bill. The fellow from U.S. Customs with whom I spoke did note that DHL has inspectors whom are generally better trained than their U.S. Custom's counterparts. I have to admit that their flat 12% charge was more accurate than the flat 17.5% I was charged ny U.S. Customs. But, it wasn't correct regardless. Some folks never receive a bill.

I will give the HTS designations here that I presently have. Within U.S Customs there exist separate departments for textiles, jewelry, leather, etc., and confirming or refining the information I found in the U.S. Customs tarrif database required a separate call to each department to speak with its respective expert. At the time of this writing, not all of my calls have been returned, and I suspect that unless I am diligent and persist, the remainder will go unanswered. Thus, I will give what I presently have in the hope that it will someday prove useful top a mamber of this list:

*Men's wool kilt: 6211310051 (12%)

*Men's wool jacket/waistcoat: 6211310045 (12%)

*Wool /nylon socks (60/40): 6115910000 (11.3%)
(note: where a material is in the majority, it becomes the classification, i.e., 51% wool is the same as 100% wool)

*Men's cow leather belt w/ buckle: 42033000 (2.7%) (unconfirmed HTS number, but should work)

*Men's cow leather welted shoes (gillie
brogues): 64034030 (5%)(unconfirmed HTS number, but should work)

*Leather purse w/ leather and chain waist strap (sporran): 42022190 (9%)(unconfirmed HTS number, but should work.)When sporrans get fancy and furry, I am not sure how that works in regard to classification. Also, as I have mentioned previously, one of mine was marked as being made from sealskin. Sealskin being contraband within the US, that item would most likely have been seized had the package received a formal inspection.

*Knife (sgian dubh): 82149090 (3.2%))(unconfirmed HTS number, but should work). This one is odd because it could be considered as decorative or jewelry depending on its composition and on the whim of the inspector.

Of course, it is probably easiest to ask the sender to go with the single designation of "Kilt Outfit", have the HTS marked as 62113100 (wool) and be prepared to pay a straight 12%.

Mychael

[Mychael Sporrano]

Nearly one month has passed since my last post on this topic. In that time, US Customs contacted me requesting I send either a copy of the bill of sale, or a copy of my credit card statement showing the sale ammount. Since their own paperwork showed this information, I am not sure why they needed redundant proof. Nevertheless I complied, the result of which was that I received today via mail notification today that the overpayment would be refunded me within 90 days.

For the sake of accuracy, the correct description and HTC designation for sgians dubh is: Sheath type knife 8211.92.9045 [6.1%].

So ends this saga- until the next virtual shopping trip to the UK.

Mychael

[GMan]

The bueraucratic custom of the US Customs Department and the Department of Redundancy are at it again, glad that things are moving swiftly along

Things like this make it a shame for the really dedicated people just trying to be of service, of which we have plenty, just a shame we have all the political types trying to "improve" the situation.

Glad that you have the proper attitude Mychael.

[Casey]

Just as a point of interest, here isn Canada, everything goes through a Customs Broker and we get dinged for every little import.

This is why I am really loath to orde form outside Canada. Any price break is quickly eaten up.

I have tried ordering something from Scotland for the first time. It will be interesting to see if there is any diffence in duty.

Casey

[Mychael Sporrano]

Just as a point of interest, here isn Canada, everything goes through a Customs Broker and we get dinged for every little import.

This is why I am really loath to orde form outside Canada. Any price break is quickly eaten up.

I have tried ordering something from Scotland for the first time. It will be interesting to see if there is any diffence in duty.

Casey

I have always heard that Canada is very tough in this regard. I sell hand made electronic parts, and my customers in Canada invariably mention this.

I admit that the info I have posted is only really of use to US citizens, but hopefully it will help someone. Now is a good time for some folks to order kilts from our sponsor kiltstore.net . I am anxious to hear about their experiences as well as the quality of their goods.

Mychael

[KiltedHuntsman]

Just to chime in, I got my shipment from Kinloch Anderson a couple weeks ago. About 700 Pounds worth of stuff (Montrose jacket, Fly Plaid, Gillie Buckle Brogues, Diced Hose, Jabot and cuffs, etc.) and the DHL guy just wanted a signature. No money.

BTW, spent last week in Ireland, conveying Mom from castle to castle. Stayed at Carageen Castle B&B in Cahir a couple nights. Her maiden name is Butler, so she was happy to check out the Butler family stomping grounds. The weather was a bit weird the first couple days. All bright and sunny all day.

[bubba]

Her maiden name is Butler, so she was happy to check out the Butler family stomping grounds.

Interesting coincidence. My family has Butlers on my mothers side. I believe from Kilkenny. I'd have to contact my Uncle to find out the details but my Aunt was a member of the Butler Society.

[Mychael Sporrano]

Just to chime in, I got my shipment from Kinloch Anderson a couple weeks ago. About 700 Pounds worth of stuff (Montrose jacket, Fly Plaid, Gillie Buckle Brogues, Diced Hose, Jabot and cuffs, etc.) and the DHL guy just wanted a signature. No money.

BTW, spent last week in Ireland, conveying Mom from castle to castle. Stayed at Carageen Castle B&B in Cahir a couple nights. Her maiden name is Butler, so she was happy to check out the Butler family stomping grounds. The weather was a bit weird the first couple days. All bright and sunny all day.

Congratulations!! Buckle brogues, diced hose and jaobot thingamabobs? I can well imagine you dressed in all your frilly finery! Since I rarely have any formal or evening engagements, I stayed more with their business day look.

Were you as impressed with the quality of the merchandise as was I? The only trouble that I had was one garter flash that pulled apart nearly immediately. I was told yesterday that a new pair is in the making.

How long was your wait?

Where DHL is concerned, you will probably receive a bill in the near future. I hope that you do not; either way, please post back to this thread letting us know.

Mychael

[KiltedHuntsman]

I'll let y'all know if I do get a bill.

It took them about 7 weeks to make the coat and Fly Plaid (County Donegal Tartan) after measuring me in Edinboro in July. The stuff seems OK in quality. It all fits good, and the whole rig is rather impressive looking.

I foxhunt, and thus I go to Hunt Balls. Very traditional formal wear at these balls, including Scarlet tailed coats. Formal Kilts are also traditional, so Kilt outfits are welcomed at these affairs, as they just add to the pagentry. So the super-duper formal stuff described above will fit in nicely (plus kilts drive foxhuntin' horsewomen crazy).

Of course, if anybody wants to organize a Robert Burns outing in the Philadelphia area in January, I can get even more use out of the rig.

Some points:

The lace cuffs ("soup dippers" the KA staff calls them) are velcro'ed around your wrists. They hang halfway down your fingers. I found that mine were slipping beyond that, so I cut little buttonholes in the top part of the cuffs and button them to the second button on the shirt sleeve (the little one above your wrist). That keeps them from sliding down too far).

The Montrose jacket fits tightly around your waist at belly button height. It goes over the top edge of the kilt. The jacket has beltloops, and that's where you wear your belt, to keep the bottom of the jacket down, and not riding up. However, the kilt then slides down, and your shirt starts popping out between the jacket and kilt. To solve the problem, I used clip on suspenders (braces) to hold the kilt up, then buttoned up and belted up the jacket. I walked around, sat down, stood up, etc., and it seemed to work well.

BTW, does anybody know if the Fly Plaid is supposed to go through or over the epaulet on the jacket? It seems to me it should through. (the Plaid does have a little elastic loop that attaches to the epaulet button).

[Mychael Sporrano]

(plus kilts drive foxhuntin' horsewomen crazy).

Although the term "horsewomen" does convey an odd image, I'll keep the above in mind!

Your outfit sounds dashing- and also quite warm once the flyplaid is added! Speaking of which, you asked about the flyplaid: it does travel through the epaulet itself and is secured with a big ol' brooch in the front.

If you need a decent brooch, Bear has an interesting torc style piece in both brass and silver:
http://www.bearkilts.com/tarabroochpg.html

Mychael