U.S. Customs

[Mark Stephenson]

I am a newbie, so please forgive me it I'm seeking advice on something that has been thoroughly hashed out:

I learned today that my 2 kilts (my first kilts) and my wife's two kilted skirts will soon be completed. They will be shipped from Scotland. Can someone tell me what I can expect from U.S. Customs?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

You can expect a bill, based on the declared value, if the kilts arrive via a commercial carrier such as UPS or FedEx. If the kilts are sent via Royall Mail in all likelihood they will escape being assessed duty. Duty will probably be less than 10% of the value of the merchandise; the carrier, however, will tack on a customs brokerage fee and although this amount varies with each carrier, it is usually something in the region of $50.

[adsmguy]

As a concrete example...
On an shipment with a declared value of £848, which at the time converted to $1372 (now about $1314), I received a customs duty invoice from DHL for $197.08.

[RockyR]

The duty we're charged is typically 15% of the declared value and FedEx or DHL usually charge a $25 or $50 FLAT brokerage fee. That's on top of the shipping costs from Scotland (typically $40 - $60 per kilt if ordered 1 at a time).

[Eric Schutte]

Just my .02 but when I got my 2 kilts from Scotland, I was charged about 120.00 for both. It worked out to about 60.00 each.

Hope this helps,

Eric Schutte

[lethearen]

When I got my first kilt and kit last year, shipped via DHL (I think), I got a bill for like $11. The total value of the package was around $800, so I guess I got lucky.

The next kilt and kit I ordered, valued around $300, was shipped Royal Mail + USPS, and I never received any duties bill.

So I guess it depends on which courier is being used to determine IF you're going to be billed, and toss in a liberal amount of chance to determine how much you'll be billed.

[The Wizard of BC]

Please remember, that when you order from overseas, and especially from the UK, tell them to send your items via postal system (Royal Mail) and not by courier such as FedEx or UPS.

The reason for this is the courier companies are authorized to act as their own customs agents. They receive payment as a percentage of the duty they recover. So, they will always charge the maximum allowable.

Then, if possible, ask your shipper to break up your order into smaller packages. It may cost a bit more for postage but in the long run the duty for two or three small packages is usually less than that for one large one.

You should have a personal exemption for duty up to $200.00 retail value.

[wildrover]

Interesting...I read recently that bagpipes were exempted from import duty. I wonder what it would take to extend that exemption to kilts.

[Pleater]

Our Royal mail Air Mail service is pretty good - BUT - there is a 2Kg limit on the weight of a parcel.

A kilt and a few extras would be accepted, but the full Monty in one parcel and it would need to be shipped by a carrier.

That should perhaps be the McMonty - mythical Scottish version of Montague Burton the tailor.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[ctbuchanan]

Many, many years ago my wife and I went to Ireland, Scotland and England on our honeymoon. We specifically used money we had received as gifts to purchase some special items on the trip because way back then the exchange rate was soooo good.

We bought Waterford crystal in Ireland which was shipped to us. The store labeled it as a 'gift' and we paid no duty.
We bought china in England which was shipped to us. The store declared full value and we paid the duty.
We bought many yards of different tartan material in Scotland which was shipped to us. The store declared the value at about $25.00 so it was exempt from duty.

Three different countries, three different approaches. Odd though that it was only the English which were the sticklers.