importing a scope from Europe

[sernv99]

I'm getting into tactical bolt action rifles and would like to buy a scope in the European Union and have it shipped to the U.S.

do I have to pay any import duty fees or tariffs? The seller is a dealer for European made scopes and he says shipping to the US is $80. The scope I want, well a US distributor just got the go ahead to import them into the US and the dealers are selling them for almost $1000 over what I can get them in Europe, including shipping. The distributor says I would have to pay import tariffs and such so costs would come out to the same as if I bought it in the U.S. I say otherwise, since I bought stuff from Europe before and never got hassled by customs with tariffs, when it was shipped to me.

anyone familiar with this situation? This European dealer has shipped scopes before to the US and other folks on another gunboard have high remarks for him. It's past closing time there so I wanted to ask here for a quick answer, if anyone has dealt with this before. The scopes are tactical military/police scopes but are not export restricted since the same exact models are being sold in the US now.

thanks.

 

[greenr18]

Have it declared as a gift, i think if you do that it wont be subject to fees and tariffs at least thats what all the companies in hong kong, china and japan did when i ordered stuff online from those countries

 

[Grassman]

What kind of scope? What would it sell for in the U.S.?

 

[GRIZ22]

Have it declared as a gift,

That would be a false declaration and you could concievably have the scope seized and pay a penalty on top of losing the scope.

Import duties on mail order (same if he ships FEDEX, etc) items are usually a flat 10% that is paid to the mailman (or private carrier). If the duty is under a certain amount they many times don't bother collecting it (costs more than they would collect in duty).

$1000 for duty and shipping? This sounds like a very expensive scope! I think this sounds like the distributor trying to convince you to buy from them.

As far as what the current duty rates are you need to call the nearest CBP office and explain you are having a rifle scope shipped from Europe, it costs you this much, and what would the duty be on it. That would give you a much better answer unless a CBP Inspector on this board answers your question.

 

[zombienerd]

Got any friends in the area of the manufacturer? If they "purchase" it first, and then mail it to you, you may miss any major fees.

I don't think that's illegal, but it sure could be a grey area. I've sent items overseas that were won in auction, and they've never mentioned having to pay any taxes on the items, and also had things sent to me from overseas that I've won in auction, and not had to pay any taxes.

YMMV

 

[Shung]

The scopes are tactical military/police scopes but are not export restricted since the same exact models are being sold in the US now.

we are in the same situation.. but that doesn't prevent the US administration to forbidt us from getting US scopes and gun stuffs because of the ITAR.. :banghead:

If you need an intermediary in europe for your scope, just let me know, i've done this in the past already.

Usually, shipping something to the USA from Switzerland cost from 30 to 40$

 

[LAK]

I've had more than a few items shipped from europe and elsewhere; at no time has U.S. Customs ever held them and asked me to pay import duties.

Not to say they can not or will not to anyone else; but I think it is the result of "more global trade" and them concentrating on catching the more dangerous contrabands coming through.

Your German scope seller is unlikely to make the foolish practice of lying on a customs form. But I would just let the chips fall where they may; if Customs does demand some import duty from you it is unlikely to be the thousand dollars the domestic supplier wants from you.

-----------------------------

http://gtr5.com
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[taliv]

try not to end up in a Latvian prison.


check out www.eurooptic.com

a friend of mine recently bought a short dot from them and told me about it. i was going to get one but changed my mind and got a nightforce nxs 1-4x24 (the hard to find one with mil/mil and locking turrets) instead. NF is not a euro optic, of course, but i still got a great deal from them! way below midway's price.
i got my scope last night actually. i'm pretty excited.

anyway, i'd get a price check there before trying to import something.

 

[c5_nc]

People are buying the Falcon Menance scopes from a UK dealer and paying no taxes or fees, but shipping is $40. They are more available and cheaper there. Its a very nice scope, I just bought one used in states, but I was going getting ready to order from UK before that.

They are ordering from here:
http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk