Custom/duty fees from Play-Asia?

Z

zword

CAG Veteran
Hey folks, I'm thinking of getting a girly PSP Slim from PlayAsia, but afraid that I'll have to pay a bundle for customs/duty :whistle2:k

It's a pretty hefty order at 200 odd dollars, so you guys think it'll be stopped at customs? Can I tell them to mark down the package to avoid the import fees? I remember ording Nodame DS from them about a month ago, and it came without any problem, but the game only costed 20 bucks.

Anybody have stories to share about their experiences from PA :)
 
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Pretty much anything you have shipped in from across the border will get custom fees tacked on to it. The exception being if you can get the seller to mark the package as "gift" in which case no fees are charged.

I doubt play-asia would comply with this though (can always try). You may have better luck with an ebay seller and contacting them b4 hand to see if their willing.
 
the official formula even if it is marked as a gift is declared value - $60 + sales tax for your province + $5 processing fee. If it is not marked as a gift it will be declared value + sales tax + $5

If it's marked as commercial item I can pretty much gurantee you will pay sales tax on the declared value. I also being a business I doubt they will mark down the declared value.

also items sent via an Express type service ie USPS Priority Mail can usually dodge customs even on larger orders. I got $150 order via priority and paid nothing.
 
It would be considered fraud (probably not the right word) for Play-Asia to mark down their items or label it as a gift, so I doubt they would consider it.
 
Well thanks guys...

So I only have to pay local taxes and a small fee, but not customs? Also PA have UPS but not USPS, will everything still work out OK :cry:?

I've read on an Europe-based site that PA indeed does mark down parcels, for the European folks anyways. (and also points out that PA ships from Hong Kong, not from the US if that was what EggViper meant from "shipped in from across the border")
http://www.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_posts.php?thread_id=45811

Can't hurt to ask whenever I get around to it :D
 
I ordered from them for the first time not too long ago and am not impressed at all. Took more than a month for the PS3 game I ordered to finally show up and when it did there was a $10 charge. In the meantime when I order from DDDhouse.com who are also located in Hong Kong I have never waited more than two weeks and usually get my orders in one week plus have never had any extra charges. Shame they don't sell games :cry:
 
Don't ship it UPS. It will probably be going UPS ground which has a variable surcharge based on the value of the item. You will probably look at about $25-$35 for the "brokerage fee" then you will also pay the sales tax for your province. The above formula I gave was the formula for stuff that is delivered by canada post when it gets to Canada UPS will just have UPS here pick it up and deliver. I do not reccomend UPS for importing stuff.
 
I've ordered from PA loads of times. They will mark down value if you email straight after you place the order (once I waited a few hours and the order had already been packed!). $200 may be pushing it a bit though, but you could certainly reduce your potential customs fee.
 
Magiic is right about UPS, they are very bad to use when importing, unless an AIRmail service is used. I remember buying a game with a $40 value, and was charged a total of $38!
 
Never go UPS or any of the couriers... they're charge the fee for bringing it over. Where as with regular mail, you'll only get dinged with the 5 dollar fee.
 
I've spoken to 3 customs officers and 2 postal workers, all of them have told me that its completely random if your package gets custom taxed or not, from my own experience i've only been taxed about 4 times out of 50+ packages, many of which were in the 50-100 range, you generally will not get taxed unless you get a customs officer who is having a bad day (no joke, they usually don't care unless they think its a threat to the country)
 
I've sent an inquiry, they'll probably get back to me on Monday.
But wow, UPS sounds aweful :p I'll be sure to avoid that like the plague.
Thanks for the heads-up, folks. Hope I won't getting dinged.
 
I always buy games / dvds from US and etc and never get any duties.

Like everyone said, NEVER use UPS. I purchased a used PS2 once on ebay for $90 + $15 for shipping. I had to pay $60 duties...
 
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