Hi!



I am new to trading and I am trying to find out what the custom fee is to import mobile phones to the US (probably from Asia, either China or Indonesia). I was looking at the harmonized tariff PDFs and I could only find description for land-line telephone, not cellphones. Another newbiew question I have is: What is the maximum value of an item, which you don't declare custom for? Could anyone shed a light on this?



Thanks!

Replying to [P1X3L]: First, why are you buying phones from suppliers in Indonesia or Asia have you checked out their re-sellers license with the name brands and verified them? Have you recieved verifiable IMEI#s or verification that the units can be placed for service with U.S. service providers? The HTS number for most cellular devices is under 8527 as if the phones posess multiple features such as MP3 players and cameras. These are usually acessed a duty of 4.9% but can go as high as 7.1% If the item is a straight cell phone without the bells and whistles then it would be 2.1%. One thing to remember if you have never done this before get in touch with a customs broker as this is their living and they can better help you. Also the HTS schedule is like an unabridged dictionary it is huge in its size and unless you know exactly what you are importing could find your self with a huge tax bill.

Ranger

Thank you, Ranger for your reply. Could you clarify your question a little bit about "Why are you buying phones from Indonesia or Asia?"? I am assuming you are trying to say that there are other countries that sell them cheaper?

And what about the maximum value of an item, which you don't declare custom for? I read somewhere that it's $600, but I am not 100% sure that's accurate.

Thanks!

Replying to [P1X3L]: You can't buy name brand cell phones cheaper in China and Indonesia than you can from real distributors in the U.S. unless you are dealing with a broker and then you would be ordering 100's of pieces not just a few. Personally I know of no such brokers in China and or Indonesia that deal in large quanities of name brand cell phones. In Hong Kong there are a few reputable traders and this is where Chinese Resellers and retailers buy their products.

For personal use there is a 2000.00 limit for customs. I suggest you do some reading at http://www.cbp.gov on importing and who you can not buy goods from as well as dumping fee's.

Also, take into consideration the cost of sending an express package half way around the world. Are you saving any money? Not in my book as the distributor has already absorbed the shipping and duty in their prices, and you are personally not dealing with customs and clearing charges.

Ranger

Replying to [P1X3L]:

Ranger gave you 100% accurate advice. Please take heed.

Punch "Nokia" into the "For Buyers" search at top of this page. That search yields 66,000 sales leads for Nokia phones.

NOW SHOW ME ONE, JUST ONE, GENUINE NOKIA PHONE IN THAT 66,000

The point I make is that the scale of scam phone offers and fake phones even right here on Alibaba is almost beyond comprehension.

Even if you import a fake Nokia, or other fake brand, and are lucky enough for Customs to not destroy it, chances are the phone will not work in USA (because USA operates on different radio frequency than most other countries including particularly China).

Replying to [P1X3L]:

Ranger gave you 100% accurate advice. Please take heed.

Punch "Nokia" into the "For Buyers" search at top of this page. That search yields 66,000 sales leads for Nokia phones.

NOW SHOW ME ONE, JUST ONE, GENUINE NOKIA PHONE IN THAT 66,000

The point I make is that the scale of scam phone offers and fake phones even right here on Alibaba is almost beyond comprehension.

Even if you import a fake Nokia, or other fake brand, and are lucky enough for Customs to not destroy it, chances are the phone will not work in USA (because USA operates on different radio frequency than most other countries including particularly China).

Replying to [P1X3L]: Man I know you would resell cell phones but take it easy before starting, look my history.

I bought a nokia n95 with this company and the cell phone doesn´t work properly, many functions doesn´t exist, I receive my package without usb cable.... and the worst... the functions are (no wifi connection, no fm radio, no tv compatble and no usb ....) whatever... take it easy.


Putian Chengxiang Xingfu Trade Co., Ltd.
[China]

Street Address : Nanyuan, Chengxiang District, Putian City, Fujian Province, China

City : Putian

Province/State : Fujian

Country/Region : China

Replying to [P1X3L]:

You don't have to worry about USA custom fees. You will not get any phones, so there will be no import tax. Although, you will get cheated and your money will be gone for good.

Please do some some research on scams around cell phones. Specially note that Alibaba Gold Supplier or TrustPass does not mean anything and you will get cheated there too.

It was said before, but no harm to repeat: You can NOT buy branded items in China and Indonesia.

Replying to [P1X3L]:
Dear everyone here,
You are all right. I am saying on standing case's face.
1. Ranger, our Chinese are using the mobile phones, brand is different, eg. NEC( Japonic), Nokia(Finland) Motorola(USA) an so on. Could you say we are using the copy name brand, if do, I think the president of the real name brand will be unhapy. As he will lose the Chinese market. What do you think?
2. Hi Glaucio, I am very sad to here this. Actually, I don't first hear this case. Someone is from the developed country, someone from developing country. Why? In my view, they crossed half the globe, through the network to buy such products, they are attracted by the lowest price. They didn't think about scam and didn't indagate. Sir, Did you let them demonstrate those functions you said by video frequency?

Replying to [P1X3L}:

I'm glad I read this forum. I was right about to purchase the nokia n95 from a company called fujian tangren trade co. ltd in putian city, fujian, china

I was about to send the moneygram by western union but something sounded too fishy. When something sounds too good it usually is not true!

Replying to Ranger: great info. can i contact you for more info