i want to buy something, but the seller is in hong kong.

how do you handle the duties/taxes when you purchase from someone in another country. the item is worth $20. do i get a bill for that from the shipping company, how do i claim the item.

 

i've bought stuff from over seas and never had to shell out any money besides what i paid for in the auction. Usually the seller has to take care of all that stuff

 

For a $20 item you won't have a problem. This is taken from the US Customs document linked here:

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbo...ationalmail.doc


"Articles acquired abroad and mailed home
Articles purchased during a trip abroad and mailed back to the United States will pass duty free if they are worth less than $200. (There are some exceptions; please see 19 CFR 10.153.)
Mail order goods from overseas

 

 

for the type of item, I always specify "gift" when I am shipping internationally. that way, even if the item is valued at over $200 (and I don't hide that fact), there will be no duty's charged.

 

i went ahead and just bought it.

 

Pirated DVD's?