EMS from the USA? Help please!

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

Hi there,

Ive ordered a large item from the US, and had it sent using EMS. The seller said it might not arrive until next friday at the earliest, but it was sent 2 days ago.

Anyone had any experience with EMS from America? How long should I expect to wait?

Its marked at $499 so i'll be hit by customs for sure (if not, BONUS), how long does it take for them to decide what to charge you?

[jimtendo]

Usually it 'should' take 3 days whether it be from USA or Japan.

Although...

I've had something sent to me from Hong Kong via EMS on Monday Feb 16th. It should've been delivered yesterday, but checking on the tracking it still has not left the 'international depot' and does not look likely to ship today.

At this rate i'll get WE7: International (sent to me by snail mail on Tues) faster than those chumps at ParcelFarce can deliver the parcel.

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

Yeah usually its 3 days for me from Japan.

However, anyone actually been hit by customs by EMS coming from US?

Just want to know when roughly to expect this glorious item!

[Geezer]

You will get hit for customs if its marked at $499, unless you are extremely lucky.
I'd say it'll be 3-5 working days anyhow

[Man in a suitcase]

They have a new habbit of holding on to your package and sending you a letter saying 'you owe us seventy twelve million pounds, please pay up or we'll send the package back to the sender'.

With it being EMS you can expect a letter soon because it will fall into parcelforce to deliver it, and a whopping great duty bill.

If it's a big box and the value isn't marked I would think they'll open it anyway, they seem to be slightly more switched on these days.

[dave heats]

how much would the customs charge be on a $500 parcel? Ive got some snowboard gear coming from the States, and its around that price too.

EDIT: just discovered the blatently obvious thread devoted to customs charges. Therefore, Im now expecting at least a ?60 customs charge on my board and gear. ****ing C***s.

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

Thats not TOO bad really though on such a high value item.

My item is a guitar, and Im saving a HELL of a lot!

[dreamylittledream]

$500 parcel?

Customs charges will be more like ?100...certainly were on my $450 Panasonic Q!

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

EMS or UPS?

If you got charged ?100 on a Q via EMS, you were well and truly robbed!

[dave heats]

My stuffs coming by UPS. Does that make a difference?

[PH]

My number one rule. Never, ever, use UPS. They will well and truly rape you.

$500 parcel. That include the cost of shipping? If it does then your looking at ?70-90. If not then its going to be slightly more.

[dave heats]

Yeah, that includes shipping. Thankfully, even if UPS completely ream me with customs etc, Im still saving around ?200+ compared to the UK RRP of the gear.
Sometimes, this country and its 'rip everyone off whenever possible' attitude really make me mad.

[phillai]

ThoseOfTheUnlight, if you ask your seller nicely I'm sure he'll provide you with the EMS tracking number which you can use to track where your parcel is exactly.

[ThoseOfTheUnlight]

ThoseOfTheUnlight, if you ask your seller nicely I'm sure he'll provide you with the EMS tracking number which you can use to track where your parcel is exactly.

Got it today

Its in the UK now, arrived at international hub.

Rang them up, they said it would probably be delivered on Monday!

[ukplumber]

i was hoping for a thread like this.
I'm contemplating getting a friend to send me a G4 17" Imac from the states but i feared the customs etc wouldn't make it worth it. With the current exchange rate it works out at ?948 in the USA compared to ?1449 over here. Has anyone shipped any serious hardware from the states?