Thread: Shipping from the US through a mate.

So, Im looking to upgrade my optics, and would like to bring a scope in from the states for obvious reasons ( I don't much like paying double).

I have a mate who is more than happy to forward stuff on to me. What is the deal at our end with this?
Remove the invoice and repackage obviously, does it need to be declared as a present to get past customs ect?

Cheers.

Well if you think customs have never thought of this clever idea before I suspect you're in for a surprise.

Agree with Kscott's comments. You had best cruise into the Customs website and study the bit about gifts and personal effects and the duties they can attract if they meet the criteria. It is all well covered in their document. All items need to be assigned a value and Customs are well onto artificially low values/bogus warranty repairs labels and so forth.
I now await all the postings about how mates/brothers/cousins have sent stuff from the States successfully to the mates/relatives in NZ without Customs catching on. You may occasionally fluke it but that is probably luck only same as not getting caught for gst sometimes. And the recommendations on forums that you have a mate break the law in USA on your behalf are laughable.

brought 2 leupolds in few months ago from Discount Rifle Scopes | Hunting Binoculars | Gun Accessories | The Optic Zone ended up saving around $600 after tax (which was about $300 total).

Originally Posted by zimmer

Agree with Kscott's comments. You had best cruise into the Customs website and study the bit about gifts and personal effects and the duties they can attract if they meet the criteria. It is all well covered in their document. All items need to be assigned a value and Customs are well onto artificially low values/bogus warranty repairs labels and so forth.
I now await all the postings about how mates/brothers/cousins have sent stuff from the States successfully to the mates/relatives in NZ without Customs catching on. You may occasionally fluke it but that is probably luck only same as not getting caught for gst sometimes. And the recommendations on forums that you have a mate break the law in USA on your behalf are laughable.

Completely legal to send optics from the US. not asking him to send ar mags or anything. The reason I ask is I often see people send talk about sedning stuff through a mate to get around the customs limit. I wont be sending a 2k scope but it will be over the appreciable limit. I had a good read through the customs website which is about as clear as mud regarding what you will have to pay and which levvies are applicable

I got mine sent to oz and then sent here. Aus has 1000 duty threshold ours is 400. Gift declared at less than 400nz will get in

Yeah had another read, and theoretically even a gift with a value over $110 is subject to some fees. Exactly what fees and how many $ is a complete mystery. Looks like I will just either wait till october when I am over there, or hope the US economy takes a dive bomb some time soon

I have shipped lots of stuff from US including scopes etc and as long as your honest it is fine, you normally still have significant savings even if you do pay GST and if your not its not worth it and just buy it here, just be aware that the US has some new regulations on what can be shipped out of the country around firearms scopes etc without the proper paperwork so it might not even make it out of the US. Check that the items you want are not covered by ITAR or you will lose it on way out.

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Yeah had another read, and theoretically even a gift with a value over $110 is subject to some fees. Exactly what fees and how many $ is a complete mystery. Looks like I will just either wait till october when I am over there, or hope the US economy takes a dive bomb some time soon

If there is less than $60 worth of GST and duty to pay the fee is waived. So for items with no duty, it's up to $400 (value of item + shipping) before you have to pay fees. The fee is GST on the item and shipping plus a $46.89 Import entry transaction fee.
For gifts you pay fees on the value of the item over that's $110. e.g. For a $600 scope you'd pay only pay GST on $490, so falsely declaring an item as a gift is only going to save you $16.50.

Ahh wicked. Cheers man. Might scrape through under the limit afterall.
So no duty on optics, just GST plus the import entry fee. Makes sense, and isn't to steep on what I want to get in, not worth the hassle of going through a mate then.
Still going to be about 300 cheaper than here.

No such thing as a free lunch as they say.

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Ahh wicked. Cheers man. Might scrape through under the limit afterall.
So no duty on optics, just GST plus the import entry fee. Makes sense, and isn't to steep on what I want to get in, not worth the hassle of going through a mate then.
Still going to be about 300 cheaper than here.

No such thing as a free lunch as they say.

Just run your numbers thru the Custom's calculator Duty Estimator
I just use Golf Clubs for the goods if looking at a scope.
Generally you will not pay duty if the item has no manufacturers in NZ (ie scopes) so then there is only gst to contend with if value exceeds $400 incl. shipping.
Biggest enemy right now is the xchange rate.

Also remember if you have an issue with it, the local guys selling it most likely will tell you the story about the big black dog if you want to make a warranty claim through them

There is also the chance your US mate will get unlucky, a Stateside guy was sending me some brass as a goodwill gesture. Well the US customs intercepted and seized it and sent him a very nasty letter. It didn't come to anything apart from the fact that the brass was lost but it left a very nasty taste in both our mouths . . . .

Originally Posted by Tentman

There is also the chance your US mate will get unlucky, a Stateside guy was sending me some brass as a goodwill gesture. Well the US customs intercepted and seized it and sent him a very nasty letter. It didn't come to anything apart from the fact that the brass was lost but it left a very nasty taste in both our mouths . . . .

Yeah, brass is a restricted item, most scopes however are not, so not illegal for him to send.

^ yup, brass is a no no.

Originally Posted by Nick-D

Completely legal to send optics from the US. not asking him to send ar mags or anything. The reason I ask is I often see people send talk about sedning stuff through a mate to get around the customs limit. I wont be sending a 2k scope but it will be over the appreciable limit. I had a good read through the customs website which is about as clear as mud regarding what you will have to pay and which levvies are applicable

Unfortunately though you've now publicly stated your intent to defraud Customs, and therefore the Govt in earnings. Lol.

If you want to buy something for less than what you pay in a shop in NZ, buy it, ship it over, and pay appropriate duty. If you want something nice and new but aren't prepared to pay for it try shoplifting it instead, you'll save even more money