thinkgeek.com

[fishonthecarpet]

Thinking of ordering some chrissy presents from here but afraid of stories where you get slapped with a $50 customs charge after recieving the item.

Anyone ordered from there before and recieved the charge?

[Ad-Rock]

I have a friend who has ordered from them and they didn't receive a charge.

I order things regularly from Wales and there is always a customs sticker on the side of the parcel naming the contents and grossly undervaluing the items. I have been told that undervaluing and calling things gifts on the custom declaration slips is used to avoid extra costs and is common practice in many mail order companies.

You need someone in the Importing/Exporting business or who works for Australia Post or someone in Customs.

[Lex]

I've ordered from them a few times, and the only time I got a customs fee was when there was foodstuffs and a toy gun in there, not sure which set it off though. Actually, that reminds me, I never payed that charge... That was quote a while ago now. Shit.

[fishonthecarpet]

I have a friend who has ordered from them and they didn't receive a charge.

I order things regularly from Wales and there is always a customs sticker on the side of the parcel naming the contents and grossly undervaluing the items. I have been told that undervaluing and calling things gifts on the custom declaration slips is used to avoid extra costs and is common practice in many mail order companies.

You need someone in the Importing/Exporting business or who works for Australia Post or someone in Customs.

Thanks Ad-Rock. Apparently the problem is that thinkgeek.com use a specific shipping, DHL, and won't call things gifts.

I've ordered from them a few times, and the only time I got a customs fee was when there was foodstuffs and a toy gun in there, not sure which set it off though. Actually, that reminds me, I never payed that charge... That was quote a while ago now. Shit.

Cheers Lex - I read up on another few forums and some people said they just left it for a few months, and still hadn't heard anything. You might be in the clear. Either that or it'll come back and bite you on your arse later...

[TrinityJayOne]

Never assume you're in the clear. I deal with a client at work who refers us debts that are from 2004. This is a government body! The ATO can take years as well, they did with me.

[fishfishmonkeyhat]

Just ordered some stuff from them myself.

Pretty sure there's an option for "This is a gift", but I could be wrong.

[VanAce]

Usually if you import something under $1000 there is usually no custom charges. But certain items may trigger them automatically. Also if you import multiple things separably but in a small time frame they all add up. Thats my gist of it when I was reading about about 3 months ago.

[fishonthecarpet]

Would just like to report I recieved my stuff very quickly and haven't had any customs follow up so far!