FCP Euro shipping estimates WTF

[gjm 3268]

On 1/25/2025 at 4:59 PM, deedub said:

I think the 1k is the purchase price. Shipping is taxed only if purchase is over 1k.

Best to give some room. But they have periods where they lock in rates which can help.

https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/import/customs-exchange-rates/

I thought it was the combined total - purchase + shipping + handling + insurance. If the taxation applied to that combined total exceeded a certain amount, you'd get pinged.

But that may have been the 'old' way... I thin  there was a change which meant everything was taxed, but that the overseas seller was going to collect that and send it to NZ Customs...? I could be getting my wires well and truly tangled.

 

[deedub 48]

37 minutes ago, gjm said:

I thought it was the combined total - purchase + shipping + handling + insurance. If the taxation applied to that combined total exceeded a certain amount, you'd get pinged.

But that may have been the 'old' way... I thin  there was a change which meant everything was taxed, but that the overseas seller was going to collect that and send it to NZ Customs...? I could be getting my wires well and truly tangled.

 

I could be missing something. But the last 3 orders I made would have been over the 1k mark if shipping was included.

For all of them I used the customs calculator. I think all of them were in the 900 range (purchase price). 

If you use the calculator on the customs site, you'll see that it calculates GST + duty on the product and GST on the freight. But it waves them all unless you go over 1k on the purchase. 1k is a hard limit though.

Like I said maybe I'm missing something or something was done on the vendors side. But all of my recent parts orders would have crossed the 1k mark if shipping was included. And I used the calculator each time to push the orders as close to 1k as possible.  

Edited yesterday at 12:50 AM by deedub

[Vass 891]

Yeah you're right @deedub. Just played around with the calculator and looks like it checks out. I've always thought the total sum needs to be under $1k to sail through but looks like it's actually just the item value. I've trimmed down quite a few orders to get them under the $1k limit, needlessly so as it turns out. That's great to know for the future.

[Olaf 3355]

On 1/25/2025 at 8:03 AM, euroriffic said:

Turns out because it was slightly over $1000 $1036, plus $199 shipping, I had to pay duty on it. Even tho I figured that was already in the shipping costs like most places are. So an extra $312 later it’s finally on its way. Which seems far too excessive . 
Says it’ll arrive on the 31st, so another week to go 

It's very clear in the order process that taxes and duties at the receiving end are your responsibility.  The NZ Customs website is very helpful if you take the time to consult it.  

FedEx and DHL are pretty good with Duty (and IEP or whatever it's called), when it's necessary - they have streamlined processes to engage with, and are frequently in touch before it's even reached NZ - giving you opportunity to pay what's necessary and avoid any delays.  UPS and NZPost - in contrast - are a complete crap-shoot.

One solution is to use a decent aggregator in US to deal with the shipping to NZ. At least you'll get free shipping from FedEx to your nominated address.  That is, forget using YouShop.  

Edited 18 hours ago by Olaf
processes

[Olaf 3355]

10 hours ago, gjm said:

I thought it was the combined total - purchase + shipping + handling + insurance. If the taxation applied to that combined total exceeded a certain amount, you'd get pinged.

But that may have been the 'old' way... I thin  there was a change which meant everything was taxed, but that the overseas seller was going to collect that and send it to NZ Customs...? I could be getting my wires well and truly tangled.

 

No. you are levied duty and gst on the goods purchased.  GST only on the freight.  There's an exemption threshold of NZD1000 on goods for personal use.

Here's a worked example:

 

However, once you're over the threshold - you'll pay the duty and GST on the goods, GST on the freight, and you'll be charged IETF, BESL: "you have the Full House".

 

And the kicker is - and it's not part NZ Customs website - now the freight company gets to charge you Brokerage - in recognition o how much running around they need to do to clear your shipment on your behalf!  It's pretty fair really.  If you're a useless tw*t and are unable to furnish the correct info responding quickly, they really do earn their fee in legwork.

And of course there's the question of whether you need a Customs Client Code aka Customs Number - if you're doing over a grand in a shipment, time to get practiced at filling in those forms.

What's a lad to do?  Read the documentation, understand the processes, the laws, the thresholds.  Buy smart.  Before any lefty claims "but your exploiting a loophole you nasty petrolhead" be clear that you are working within the bounds of the law, importing within the thresholds set.  Easy.