Customs cost estimation for overseas ereader

sneakyspider · 05-16-2013, 03:00 PM

I was looking to buy the Trekstor Pyrus Mini, and I found several available for sale on Amazon.com, from German sellers. From what I understand, Amazon says that they already include customs in the overall price, but they also said that they can't guarantee the accuracy of their estimations. I was a bit worried about this, because I don't want to suddenly be stuck with any major unanticipated fees, so I was wondering if there were any ways to estimate the overall cost (shipping, customs, etc.) of shipping from Germany to the US.

Shopaholic · 05-16-2013, 06:12 PM

Go to the US Customs & Border Protection website & look up import taxes & duties there. Look up the item, the country of origin (which means where it's made NOT where it's shipped from) & the value. You could even look for a toll free number to give them a call to ask.

I ship to the US all the time. I bring stuff over the border to do so. Americans have a $200 import limit before taxes & duties apply. Generally. Mail is hit & miss because you have to think about the volumes of mail they get. They can't grab every single package to assess tax & duty or people would get mail months later. If the value is less than $200 though, I wouldn't worry. What I would worry about is what the seller puts as the declared value of the package on the customs form. Have them put the amount you paid for the item not any perceived declared or insured value and do NOT undervalue the item. That usually gets USCBP's attention too.

sneakyspider · 05-16-2013, 09:04 PM

Thanks for the help. I'll definitely go have a look at that website.

Shopaholic · 05-16-2013, 10:07 PM

You're very welcome.

euro traveler · 05-20-2013, 03:50 PM

Hi sneakeyspider.

I love my Pyrus Mini which Amazon.co.uk delivered to my US address.

There's no need to worry about US Customs charges when buying one from them. Just select a Pyrus Mini that shows as being shipped from Amazon themselves. It ships with a Customs form stuck on the outside and since it's below a value threshhold, there won't be any Customs duty to worry about anyway.

Here's what you do.
Sign into your normal Amazon account at amazon.com.
Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Amazon page and click on their United Kingdom store link.
Once on their UK site, sign in again if needed.
Search the site for "pyrus mini".
On the search result page which will show all three colored models, choose one that shows it ships from Amazon.
(On their UK site's results page, look for the words "Eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. No, it won't be FREE to the US, but keep reading...)
Once on the product page, click on the option to show More Buying Choices.
Make sure you choose one that shows amazon.co.uk as the Seller and add it to your basket.

Once you put it in your shopping cart, there will be an "Estimate VAT, Postage & Packaging" button to press

The price will go DOWN, as VAT (value added tax) is removed.
Today it went from 46.70GBP to 38.92.
And they show the shipping cost as 6.98GBP, or 45.90 total ($70.09).

I just did the above and it looks like only the red model is available directly from Amazon at the moment.
When I bought mine, they only showed blue.
If you don't want red, just wait a bit and the others usually come back into stock at Amazon.

sneakyspider · 05-22-2013, 07:29 AM

I don't really care about the color. I like all of them - and thanks so much for your help.

euro traveler · 05-22-2013, 10:30 AM

You're welcome.

I do hope you get one

Forgot to mention that Amazon.co.uk will issue you a DHL Global Mail tracking number that will be totally useless. You just have to wait it out. Mine took 3 weeks to arrive.

I find myself using my Pyrus Mini more than my Kobo Mini these days.
Because of better use of screen real estate, the Pyrus requires less page turning than the Kobo, even though the Pyrus has a smaller screen.

05-16-2013, 03:00 PM	#1
sneakyspider Ereader Addicts Anonymous Posts: 329 Karma: 1071692 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA, FL. Device: (2)KO2, PW7thGen., KT2, iPadMini1	Customs cost estimation for overseas ereader I was looking to buy the Trekstor Pyrus Mini, and I found several available for sale on Amazon.com, from German sellers. From what I understand, Amazon says that they already include customs in the overall price, but they also said that they can't guarantee the accuracy of their estimations. I was a bit worried about this, because I don't want to suddenly be stuck with any major unanticipated fees, so I was wondering if there were any ways to estimate the overall cost (shipping, customs, etc.) of shipping from Germany to the US.

05-20-2013, 03:50 PM	#5
euro traveler Connoisseur Posts: 57 Karma: 513314 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: mostly USA, sometimes Denmark Device: Sony PRS-350, Nook STR, Kobo Mini, TrekStor Pyrus Mini, Nook HD & HD+	Amazon.co.uk will estimate shipping charges for you Hi sneakeyspider. I love my Pyrus Mini which Amazon.co.uk delivered to my US address. There's no need to worry about US Customs charges when buying one from them. Just select a Pyrus Mini that shows as being shipped from Amazon themselves. It ships with a Customs form stuck on the outside and since it's below a value threshhold, there won't be any Customs duty to worry about anyway. Here's what you do. Sign into your normal Amazon account at amazon.com. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the Amazon page and click on their United Kingdom store link. Once on their UK site, sign in again if needed. Search the site for "pyrus mini". On the search result page which will show all three colored models, choose one that shows it ships from Amazon. (On their UK site's results page, look for the words "Eligible for FREE Super Saver Delivery. No, it won't be FREE to the US, but keep reading...) Once on the product page, click on the option to show More Buying Choices. Make sure you choose one that shows amazon.co.uk as the Seller and add it to your basket. Once you put it in your shopping cart, there will be an "Estimate VAT, Postage & Packaging" button to press The price will go DOWN, as VAT (value added tax) is removed. Today it went from 46.70GBP to 38.92. And they show the shipping cost as 6.98GBP, or 45.90 total ($70.09). I just did the above and it looks like only the red model is available directly from Amazon at the moment. When I bought mine, they only showed blue. If you don't want red, just wait a bit and the others usually come back into stock at Amazon. Last edited by euro traveler; 05-20-2013 at 03:51 PM. Reason: forgot to finish a sentence

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05-16-2013, 06:12 PM	#2
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1841741 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	Go to the US Customs & Border Protection website & look up import taxes & duties there. Look up the item, the country of origin (which means where it's made NOT where it's shipped from) & the value. You could even look for a toll free number to give them a call to ask. I ship to the US all the time. I bring stuff over the border to do so. Americans have a $200 import limit before taxes & duties apply. Generally. Mail is hit & miss because you have to think about the volumes of mail they get. They can't grab every single package to assess tax & duty or people would get mail months later. If the value is less than $200 though, I wouldn't worry. What I would worry about is what the seller puts as the declared value of the package on the customs form. Have them put the amount you paid for the item not any perceived declared or insured value and do NOT undervalue the item. That usually gets USCBP's attention too.

05-16-2013, 09:04 PM	#3
sneakyspider Ereader Addicts Anonymous Posts: 329 Karma: 1071692 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA, FL. Device: (2)KO2, PW7thGen., KT2, iPadMini1	Thanks for the help. I'll definitely go have a look at that website.

05-16-2013, 10:07 PM	#4
Shopaholic Cockatoo Mom! Posts: 1,509 Karma: 1841741 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Device: PW4, Kobo: A1, Clara, Libra 2, iPad Pro 11, iPad Mini	You're very welcome.

05-22-2013, 07:29 AM	#6
sneakyspider Ereader Addicts Anonymous Posts: 329 Karma: 1071692 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA, FL. Device: (2)KO2, PW7thGen., KT2, iPadMini1	I don't really care about the color. I like all of them - and thanks so much for your help.

05-22-2013, 10:30 AM	#7
euro traveler Connoisseur Posts: 57 Karma: 513314 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: mostly USA, sometimes Denmark Device: Sony PRS-350, Nook STR, Kobo Mini, TrekStor Pyrus Mini, Nook HD & HD+	You're welcome. I do hope you get one Forgot to mention that Amazon.co.uk will issue you a DHL Global Mail tracking number that will be totally useless. You just have to wait it out. Mine took 3 weeks to arrive. I find myself using my Pyrus Mini more than my Kobo Mini these days. Because of better use of screen real estate, the Pyrus requires less page turning than the Kobo, even though the Pyrus has a smaller screen.

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