And your chances of getting a "home-done" Form 6 approved are?.........
If done properly, 100%.
I've worked in the transportation industry for a while, prior to my current job, I worked for a regional trucking company, (prior to that I worked for an importer and before that I worked for an overnight delivery service. They used to be Silver, but are now Red and Yellow). I was the Assistant Operations Manager as we were also a US Customs bonded warehouse and an Air and Ocean Freight breakbulk facility for a Customs Broker/Freight Forwarder (NVOCC). They had a couple of customers who just used the Freight Forwarding portion of this business and did their own customs entries. It can be done, the learning curve can be somewhat steep, as several of their initial shipments went General Order and they had to pay various storage charges and fines ("What do you mean this is Quota merchandise and the Quota is filled ?") They quickly learned that it was much easier to pay the guys who were familiar with the Customs Regs ("A Binding Ruling ?!?!?!?, that means that it's binding on YOU, not US Customs.) and the HTS to get your freight cleared and released. As we used to advise, there's a reason why people hire Surgeons..... Sure you can do it yourself, but the process may be painful and the results may not be to your satisfaction.
I've listened to to similiar customer gripes that I'm hearing here.
"Why do you charge $35 for Haz-Mat, it's only a extra form or two that you have to fill out." Yeah, until your package has a leak or spill and then I'm looking at least $5,000 for Safety-Kleen to come and haul away the salvage drum with your goo in it. If it's really bad, then I'm looking at an Emergency response situation with a the fun State and Federal fines tacked on. Oh, and I'm probably unemployed now, but at least I'll get three squares a day while I'm in prison.
"What do you mean that my NIB Jennings that I've put only 1,000 rounds through is worth $25." As buddy of mine who used to sell real estate would always say: "I would much rather tell someone that their spouse is cheating on them and their kids are gay/joining a cult/crack-addict prostitutues then to tell them that their house is worth less then what they think it is."
"I could rent a U-haul and ship it myself for cheaper the what you want to charge me." Try Ryder they're probably cheaper. If you don't like my rates go shop another carrier, because chances are this is not a lane that I'm interested in which why I gave a high-ball price or you think I'm too expensive because you figured out that Diesel is 3 bucks a gallon, you're shipping your freight 1,000 miles, and trucks get 5 miles to the gallon, therefore it should only cost you $600. You don't think I should pay the driver, dispatcher, CSR and dockmen for their time or that I should make my truck and trailer payments this month, much less actually be able to show my accountant and the bank that I actually made a profit (so that Uncle Sam can tax it to zero.)
I really can't wait for you "experts" to go and open up a gun shop. I'll be a steady customer, as I want to pay $10 a bag for lead shot, 209 primers for $10 per thousand, kegs of powder for $5 per pound and wads for $2.50 per bag of a thousand.......right up until you go out of business. (oh, and I won't hang out at your shop, sucking down free coffee and regaling your other customer with tales of my daring-do as a *HANO* qualified-Space Shuttle Door Gunner during the Spanish-American War.
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I will grant you that not all of your suggestions are wrong or way off-base. Yes, basic politeness, common sense and customer service are keys to the success of any business. But expecting any business to give you new price for a used item is asinine. It's a business, they're not there to do you favors. Their thing to to provide goods and services and make the most profit at the highest price that the market will bear.
*HANO* - High Altitude, No Opening