With considerable trepidation, I've just handed my gear, in an unlocked Samsonite suitcase, to the FedEx courier. Hoping to see it again when I arrive in Anchorage next Monday
Just a small word of warning. The problem with using a carrier and sending your equipment ahead of you, is that you are not escorting it, and the customs people at the country of destination could consider your equipment to be an import and charge you accordingly.
This means that you might have to pay import taxes in order to collect your equipment from your carrier/customs warehouse. It all depends on how the customs view your shipment.
The way they would look at it is, that the contents might be for sale within their country, if so then duty is payable. If it is personal and not for resale, then you can claim back the duty paid on your return home. So to play safe, and for them to cover their rear's, they charge the import tax(s), thinking that if it is personal property, you will have no trouble in claiming back the monies concerned, upon your return home. That is assuming that you can prove that everything was bought in your country of origin i.e. receipts etc.
Obviously what can happen on the outward leg, can also happen on the return one.
Some years ago it wasn't unknown for some people to get a cheap flight to New York, go to B & H, buy what they wanted then send the relevant packaging, warranty etc. back by surface mail and carry the new “equipment” back in their hand luggage, thus avoiding import tax etc. Customs have now wised up, and keep an eye on everything.
I assume you have insured the equipment you have sent. This figure will be used by customs if they decide to tax your shipment. If you haven’t declared the true value, then they can get a reasonably accurate figure, by referring to their database.
From experience. The worst I have come across is the Indian customs. I sent a couple of books out to a friend, the year books for photographer of the year via UPS. Indian customs opened up the parcel and wouldn’t release it until 50% of its value had been paid in import duty, even tho’ the parcel had been labeled as a gift. I regularly get caught for 24% import duty & VAT, when purchasing from the states, by HM’s customs.
Lets take a hypothetical example, and I want to go to India for a month, I send out by a shipping agent £20,000 of camera gear to India for my own use. I would have to, in the worst case, budget £14,800 for customs. £10,000 for Indian customs, and £4800 for our customs on the return trip. Now how much hassle will that be ??? firstly in getting my equipment out of customs, as it is odds on that I won’t be located in the same city as the customs facility, and secondly in raising the required money for the import taxes. Also what are my chances of getting all my money back, upon my return to the UK,I think it is bordering somewhere between zero and none.
I have also looked at the problem of air travel, and like you I would tend to opt for a Samsonite case, there are a lot of them around, so they don’t stand out too much amongst other luggage. The other alternative is a Pelican case, this in my opinion would standout too much, and would therefore attract too many thieves. Also the pelican range of cases weigh too much, on its own.
I think on balance I will be checking my camera gear in as excess luggage, I know it will cost me more this way, but I’m running the same risks re damage/theft, but when I leave the airport, my gear will be with me and I won’t be paying any possible import duty.
You mentioned that your case was shipped unlocked. Whenever I am flying, I obviously know what is going into the hold. This is usually a large canvas 90L bag with a double zip. Through the zips I attach a key ring, backed up with a “Tyrap” plastic fastening, you can get security versions. This wont stop the determined thief, but it will deter. In the case you describe, I think I would have applied a security “Tyrap” to the bag, after FedEx had inspected it.
If traveling within the EU, then using a shipping agent might well be the way to go, as there is no import/export taxes to pay between member states.
If I can help in any way, for example with security tags or “Tyraps” contact me as soon as possible and I will send you some.
I really do hope you have a very pleasant and rewarding trip, and everything flows smoothly for you, I’m very envious wish I was coming.
Sorry if I have gone on a bit.
Posted by Andrew Forsyth on September 5, 2006 at 11:33 AM
I'm just back from a quick trip to South Africa, flying out of Heathrow with SAA.
Heathrow to Jburg wasn't too bad - the 500mm and main camera (all in bubble wrap) went into a small rucksack and went on as hand luggage without any trouble, other than a slight discussion over the rather tight fit into the hand luggage dimension checker, which varies according to which one you try it in.... The rest of my gear, smaller lenses and spare camera body plus lots of bits and pieces went in bubble wrap and foam padded LowePro trekker rucksack, marked as fragile, in the hold. All survived remarkably well.
Return trip was fine, with a much more relaxed approach to hand luggae dimensions so no trouble at all.
I know it's a risk putting gear into the hold, but on all my recent trips I've managed to keep the critical bits of kit in hand luggage and not had a problem with (well padded) gear in the hold.
I think the situation is being blown up (sorry, unfortunate phrase) out of proportion. I can't say that I found security significantly tighter than before with just the restriction on liquids being the main focus. I appreciate that getting a 600mm through may be more difficult.
Trip was a goodie (up and down thru Kruger) so will be posting some new pix as soon as I've waded thru them all.
Discussion
6 repliesAll the best
the best of luck to you. I hope you Post your experience when you come back home.
John
Aberdeen.
Just a small word of warning. The problem with using a carrier and sending your equipment ahead of you, is that you are not escorting it, and the customs people at the country of destination could consider your equipment to be an import and charge you accordingly.
This means that you might have to pay import taxes in order to collect your equipment from your carrier/customs warehouse. It all depends on how the customs view your shipment.
The way they would look at it is, that the contents might be for sale within their country, if so then duty is payable. If it is personal and not for resale, then you can claim back the duty paid on your return home. So to play safe, and for them to cover their rear's, they charge the import tax(s), thinking that if it is personal property, you will have no trouble in claiming back the monies concerned, upon your return home. That is assuming that you can prove that everything was bought in your country of origin i.e. receipts etc.
Obviously what can happen on the outward leg, can also happen on the return one.
Some years ago it wasn't unknown for some people to get a cheap flight to New York, go to B & H, buy what they wanted then send the relevant packaging, warranty etc. back by surface mail and carry the new “equipment” back in their hand luggage, thus avoiding import tax etc. Customs have now wised up, and keep an eye on everything.
I assume you have insured the equipment you have sent. This figure will be used by customs if they decide to tax your shipment. If you haven’t declared the true value, then they can get a reasonably accurate figure, by referring to their database.
From experience. The worst I have come across is the Indian customs. I sent a couple of books out to a friend, the year books for photographer of the year via UPS. Indian customs opened up the parcel and wouldn’t release it until 50% of its value had been paid in import duty, even tho’ the parcel had been labeled as a gift. I regularly get caught for 24% import duty & VAT, when purchasing from the states, by HM’s customs.
Lets take a hypothetical example, and I want to go to India for a month, I send out by a shipping agent £20,000 of camera gear to India for my own use. I would have to, in the worst case, budget £14,800 for customs. £10,000 for Indian customs, and £4800 for our customs on the return trip. Now how much hassle will that be ??? firstly in getting my equipment out of customs, as it is odds on that I won’t be located in the same city as the customs facility, and secondly in raising the required money for the import taxes. Also what are my chances of getting all my money back, upon my return to the UK,I think it is bordering somewhere between zero and none.
I have also looked at the problem of air travel, and like you I would tend to opt for a Samsonite case, there are a lot of them around, so they don’t stand out too much amongst other luggage. The other alternative is a Pelican case, this in my opinion would standout too much, and would therefore attract too many thieves. Also the pelican range of cases weigh too much, on its own.
I think on balance I will be checking my camera gear in as excess luggage, I know it will cost me more this way, but I’m running the same risks re damage/theft, but when I leave the airport, my gear will be with me and I won’t be paying any possible import duty.
You mentioned that your case was shipped unlocked. Whenever I am flying, I obviously know what is going into the hold. This is usually a large canvas 90L bag with a double zip. Through the zips I attach a key ring, backed up with a “Tyrap” plastic fastening, you can get security versions. This wont stop the determined thief, but it will deter. In the case you describe, I think I would have applied a security “Tyrap” to the bag, after FedEx had inspected it.
If traveling within the EU, then using a shipping agent might well be the way to go, as there is no import/export taxes to pay between member states.
If I can help in any way, for example with security tags or “Tyraps” contact me as soon as possible and I will send you some.
I really do hope you have a very pleasant and rewarding trip, and everything flows smoothly for you, I’m very envious wish I was coming.
Sorry if I have gone on a bit.
Heathrow to Jburg wasn't too bad - the 500mm and main camera (all in bubble wrap) went into a small rucksack and went on as hand luggage without any trouble, other than a slight discussion over the rather tight fit into the hand luggage dimension checker, which varies according to which one you try it in.... The rest of my gear, smaller lenses and spare camera body plus lots of bits and pieces went in bubble wrap and foam padded LowePro trekker rucksack, marked as fragile, in the hold. All survived remarkably well.
Return trip was fine, with a much more relaxed approach to hand luggae dimensions so no trouble at all.
I know it's a risk putting gear into the hold, but on all my recent trips I've managed to keep the critical bits of kit in hand luggage and not had a problem with (well padded) gear in the hold.
I think the situation is being blown up (sorry, unfortunate phrase) out of proportion. I can't say that I found security significantly tighter than before with just the restriction on liquids being the main focus. I appreciate that getting a 600mm through may be more difficult.
Trip was a goodie (up and down thru Kruger) so will be posting some new pix as soon as I've waded thru them all.
A