vegetaleb
Hello!
I want to know if customs in Lebanon are putting price related to the weight or the price paid on the item?
Gonna buy a thing with a weight about 200g and price is 30$ included DHL, how much should I expect to pay more for customs?
Nabs
Hi Vegetaleb. I buy online all the time, and I have to say, it's really quite confusing. The law states that once you hit 80$ and above on the item's price (shipping fee is always excluded), the item is subject to 10% customs fee in general, 15% for some selected items, and 5% for others. So, 90% of the cases, it's 10% of your bill's value. But that's not always what happens. Sometimes, they value your item with a price higher than the bill, and you're forced to pay the 10% based on their estimation. I've been ordering online for years, and I have to say, it's luck-related something, as there's no such thing abiding by clear strict laws here.
vegetaleb
I bought twice Cowon mp3 players from NYC and paid 22% customs on 200$, though I never knew how they calculate by price or weight.
If the item I am buying is 15$ + 15$ DHL so logically I shouldn't pay more than 5$ for customs,right?
vegetaleb
Ok I think they busted me about 20$ back on Christmas with UPS (UCS):
Official customs paper:
-17500 CUS
-3000 OVT
-37050 VAT
-2000 STM
Total: 59550 LL
On the UCS receipt:
-Duties/taxes: 15.05$
-VAT paid @ airport: 24.7$
-Disbursement Fee: 19.24$
-VAT on Fees: 1.93$
Total: 61$
Ok so why did they take 15$ instead of 11.5$ on duties?
What the hell is the disbursement fee?
I paid 55$ for UPS to have it full covered from NYC to Beirut,are they taking another 20$ for the Lebanese road?
Nabs
I'm telling you, not much logic. You won't be able to figure it out, even if you went to customs in person and demanded an explanation. A disbursement fee is customs 5% usually. It's different than taxes and duties. Still can't explain it though.
vegetaleb
So it's UCS who stole from me!
Because why they counted it 19.24$ while it must be 5% of 233$ meaning 11.5$?
I don't want to end paying an extra 20$ for UCS when I will buy a 15$ item lol
Nabs
Why are you shipping with UCS? Some while ago, I ordered some stuff and requested them to be sent using regular mail. They took a lot of time to get here, but they did, Liban Post received them and gave me a call to come pick them up. When things go directly to Liban Post and there's like one or two small items, customs sometimes just look the other way.
vegetaleb
I never chosed UCS, back in December I bought a Cowon from B&H.the only solution was to use UPS for shipping,I didn't know that they have a deal with UCS :(
Nest time I use UPS I will pick it up from their office in Achrafieh
Metalloy
I'm planning to ship an amplifier from the site
www.zzounds.com
it is a 32lb (14.5kg)
it costs 399.99$ + 64.6$ (shipment) = 464.59$
now do you have what the minimum and the maximum that the customs would charge me?
and I don't have any credit card, is their any alternative payment method?
neonsun
@metalloy --> havent used the system in a while but if i remember correctly bank audi got a "internet mastercard"with a high ceiling . You could use that.
What i do is , i have an old bank audi debit card from uni days, i refill that and use it online , havent had a problem in 3 years. Yes a debit card...
I pay with it locally and internationally , its accepted in most major stores in europe when i travel (online and offline)
Metalloy
thanks neonsun, apparently my neighbor is willing to lend me her credit card and I par cash so I won't do an internet card for now.
vegetaleb
Another question about our coconut customs:
If I buy a sextoy in a discreet outside box(shipment box) but the box of the sextoy has some explicit pics,will they let it pass or it's forbidden?
Do they open every single box?
Rubz
vegetaleb wroteAnother question about our coconut customs:
If I buy a sextoy in a discreet outside box(shipment box) but the box of the sextoy has some explicit pics,will they let it pass or it's forbidden?
Do they open every single box?
Yes they open the box, they will give you a hard time.
vegetaleb
Damn!
I will have to buy them myself on next travel, buying over internet here s**ks
nuclearcat
vegetaleb wroteAnother question about our coconut customs:
If I buy a sextoy in a discreet outside box(shipment box) but the box of the sextoy has some explicit pics,will they let it pass or it's forbidden?
Do they open every single box?
I so how they give hard time to two woman in customs place at airport. Bad idea to ship it here.
yasamoka
These items are forbidden, according to Aramex:
http://www.aramex.com/content/uploads/100/55/38815/Prohibited%20Items%20-%20International%20Express.pdf
They're bound to be the same for other carriers, I guess.
vegetaleb
I found a way to bring a japanese adult toy!
It looks nothing like a hmmm toy,just like a mug with no mention of what it does,some Japanese writting on it that's all :)
From the website: Each parcel is carefully packed and labeled by hand. For your privacy, the labels are discrete and use names such as “hobby kit” and “toy” to describe the contents.
rtwo2008
I have heard from friends that if you just ship it through international shipping from the seller directly, and you collect it from Liban Post when it arrives, you pay no tax or customs or anything if the item is of moderate size and weight, because it is considered for personal use.
vegetaleb
Received an email from the shop online, he said even if the ''toy'' doesn't look as what it meant to do, customs can always check the name on the international database and see that it's an adult thingy :(
I have to travel now to buy a couple of them :s
chosen2k
@vegetaleb it sounds like you're buying mug shaped fleshlights heheh
