Life sucks

[lotsofissues]

A simple dream: Get a sack of coffee into the country.
Then I recieve quote.
BTW--This is just the fee associated with getting it across customs...not including the ocean freight.


Customs Clearance: $140.00 USD
Customs Bond Premium and Services: $50..00 USD min. or USD 5.00/1000.00
Values based on total value of goods.
Customs Duty: AT COST
Customs Exams: AT COST IF REQUIRED BY U.S. CUSTOMS
Customs Harbor Maintenance fee: .125% of FOB value (no min, no max)
Customs Merchandise processing fee: .21% of FOB value (min $25 USD, max $485
USD)
Disbursement fee: 2%, this is per outlay only, if we have to advance Duty,
Bond and etc....
Other Gov Agencies: FDA, USDA, flat rate of $30 USD per agency.
SEB Fee: $50.00 USD
Messenger fee: $35.00 USD
Communication Fee: $25.00 USD
DHL if Applicable: $25.00 USD
Customs Exam Fee: If Applicable: $50.00 USD
Drayage to Exam Site: If Applicable AT COST.
Demurrage: If Applicable AT COST.

 

[darksk8er]

umm... I prefer Starbucks.

 

[NameCaster]

Originally posted by darksk8er
umm... I prefer Starbucks.

Cheaper too

:lol:

 

[lotsofissues]

This experience will turn into an unshakable neoclassical conservative...

It was just a simple dream! Do you not see how government just crushed it?....well made it more painful.

 

[drifta]

Sorry to here that Lots

I wish you luck in your cofee endevours

 

[NameCaster]

Originally posted by lotsofissues
This experience will turn into an unshakable neoclassical conservative...

It was just a simple dream! Do you not see how government just crushed it?....well made it more painful.

Just a harsher form of taxation

 

[vivnet]

We had a dream too... Only it was about tea...
We turned it into a Party one night at a Harbor in Boston....
Now we like coffee better though - Starbucks rocks! You must have a Starbucks or equivalent around the corner - cheaper than all the coffee duties you mentioned. Have a cup of Java on me!

 

[Larry]

Cmon lots...be creative.

They are dragging bags of dope across the border every day...certainly it would cost less than you listed to pay somebody a small fee to drop a bag of coffee in their trunk and scoot across the border for you

Besides...doesn't coffee mask the smell of drugs? That alone could probably get you a discount if you talk to the right folks

As a longtime coffee snob I feel your pain. (starbucks = swill)

 

[Wanda]

What are the ship "From" and ship "To" locations/countries?

Don't worry.. life's not out too only get you.. it's out too get us all... we just have to see the curve balls coming, and dodge um!

Goodluck!

 

[KingDon]

You can bring in a 50lb sample of the coffie, and claim the value to be under $125, this means you will only pay duties of like $20 I think, well that's about what I paid when I brought some clocks in from China. Just make sure you explain that this is a sample bag for a school project and it has no value.


Don

 

[Jenni Sedai]

Aww you poor thing! *hugs* I'm sorry the government has crushed your dreams. Starbucks is a nice alternative though :hehe:

 

[lotsofissues]

Thanks guys.

Wanda,
Jakarta to Oakland, Cali

Don,
This is an agricultural product. Not sure if its different. And I'm also using a customs brokerage service because I feel intimidated by USDA forms. Guess from this quote I must do this myself! BTW--Can you explain all the steps involved in clearing your items from customs to give me more guidance? Thanks.

 

[lotsofissues]

I called them!! No way to circumvent things!! I can't even do the paperwork myself because it has to be inspected!! DAMNIT!

 

[proproject]

Sorry you had to see this ugly glimpse of statism. We will all be libertarians someday.

Starbucks burns their beans on purpose - an idiotic NW tradition.

 

[lotsofissues]

Any ideas of something else to import? I really need to do something involving imported.....need to fill college application somehow.

 

[KingDon]

Fist off it's all just paperwork and you can do it yourself. If you saw the guys who were conducting themselves as custom brokers you'd laugh yourself silly. Half of them look like the spent the night drinking around a campfire. I was intimidated by the whole Customs thing until I went to the office, and that's the first thing I suggest you do, just go down there, identify yourself as a student and tell them you're wanting to bring in a 50lb bag of coffee for one of your classes. The coffee has no real value, but you want to know the procedure.

I did this years ago and don't recall the forms that I had to fill out, but it wasn't complicated, they have everything right there, and when you walk in there's a form stand with all the information you will need to get started. When you turn 21 you can take the customs broker exam, and then be a real official US Customs Broker. Sounds nice and big, but there's nothing to it. Here's a link to the customs importing FAQ, get this publication "Importing Into the U.S." they will send it to you free! Here's a good place for you to get started if you don't know already.
http://help.customs.gov/cgi-bin/cus...WRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NTMyJnBfcGFnZT0x&p_li= let me know if there's anything else I can help you with.

Don

 

[lotsofissues]

I've been told by a customs brokerage rep over the phone that since its an agricultural product they must be used, because of the FDA inspections!! DAMNIT! DAMNIT DAMNIT!!

Individuals/Small businesses simply can't import anything into the country!!!

DOWN WITH GOVERNMENT!!

 

[kohashi]

I say contact your local mafia don and seek his help

 

[RJ]

Originally posted by lotsofissues
I've been told by a customs brokerage rep over the phone that since its an agricultural product they must be used, because of the FDA inspections!! DAMNIT! DAMNIT DAMNIT!!

Individuals/Small businesses simply can't import anything into the country!!!

DOWN WITH GOVERNMENT!!

http://www.lp.org/