Bemanistyle [dot] com Forums - View Single Post - Poll: Drummania machine in North Florida.

zorahk · 07-02-2009, 02:53 AM

I'm not going to use quotes since I don't want a massive wall of text, so pardon me.

The custom's duties shouldn't be horrible. IIRC, Arbel once told me he paid 500 on the machine he bought for 9 grand, so I am assuming mine, which I bought for 2 grand, shouldn't be very much. It's mainly the paperwork which is the headache.

I haven't actually seen the government's page, actually I'd like it if you could link me to that.
But what I do know is that through the shipping company I am using, IEC Inc, you can either use your own customs broker or have them handle customs. I am having them do it because I have no idea how to do it otherwise. Their agent in LA (their hub) contacted me yesterday and I have begun filing the paperwork he emailed me. So far I have done my end of it, but I have been back and forth on the phone with Tokyo and Los Angeles. It's just like I'm working everywhere here. The machine came from their warehouse in Osaka, my Distro's office is in Tokyo, and the boat left today from Kobe! I told Mr. Wada, the seller, to send me up all the invoices and packing lists and stuff around 4 hours go, but when I called him 1 hour ago he said IEC kobe still hasn't sent him back the documents! This is driving me crazy.

So advice #1: Get a goddamn international phone plan ASAP because you will be calling A LOT.

First off, you should deal with HE and their shipper. They will know if you need to hire a separate customs agent, but if you go IEC they have in house agents that will do it. You shouldn't worry about that until you work it out with HE.

Also, although you can get away with it on smaller items, you will not be getting away with declared value fraud on this. You can't mark it as less than it's worth just to escape customs fees because YOU are not the one filling out the invoice, your seller will fill it out based on what they sold it to you for. Besides, the penalty for fucking with customs is huge in this case, and plus they could impound or destroy the machine if you anger them.

Also, tell HE that they take pictures without a deposit if they want a sale. That is a stupid business practice.

Mr. Wada at the Tokyo office of my distro speaks English, but I feel like the only reason I have gotten so far with this is that I speak to him in Japanese. My Japanese is decent, but his English level is also only decent. He understands perfectly, but articulation skills are limited somewhat. I think you could probably work it out, but it would just be slightly confusing at times. I mean they have an english website, so they do do business abroad.

I don't think this is something too hard for you though, I mean I ordered the machine two weeks ago or so and it's going to be here on the 14th of July.

07-02-2009, 02:53 AM	#16
zorahk Pop'n AC Aficionado zorahk is offline Join Date: Jan 2008 zorahk's Collection Posts: 1,418 Marketplace Rating: 2	I'm not going to use quotes since I don't want a massive wall of text, so pardon me. The custom's duties shouldn't be horrible. IIRC, Arbel once told me he paid 500 on the machine he bought for 9 grand, so I am assuming mine, which I bought for 2 grand, shouldn't be very much. It's mainly the paperwork which is the headache. I haven't actually seen the government's page, actually I'd like it if you could link me to that. But what I do know is that through the shipping company I am using, IEC Inc, you can either use your own customs broker or have them handle customs. I am having them do it because I have no idea how to do it otherwise. Their agent in LA (their hub) contacted me yesterday and I have begun filing the paperwork he emailed me. So far I have done my end of it, but I have been back and forth on the phone with Tokyo and Los Angeles. It's just like I'm working everywhere here. The machine came from their warehouse in Osaka, my Distro's office is in Tokyo, and the boat left today from Kobe! I told Mr. Wada, the seller, to send me up all the invoices and packing lists and stuff around 4 hours go, but when I called him 1 hour ago he said IEC kobe still hasn't sent him back the documents! This is driving me crazy. So advice #1: Get a goddamn international phone plan ASAP because you will be calling A LOT. First off, you should deal with HE and their shipper. They will know if you need to hire a separate customs agent, but if you go IEC they have in house agents that will do it. You shouldn't worry about that until you work it out with HE. Also, although you can get away with it on smaller items, you will not be getting away with declared value fraud on this. You can't mark it as less than it's worth just to escape customs fees because YOU are not the one filling out the invoice, your seller will fill it out based on what they sold it to you for. Besides, the penalty for fucking with customs is huge in this case, and plus they could impound or destroy the machine if you anger them. Also, tell HE that they take pictures without a deposit if they want a sale. That is a stupid business practice. Mr. Wada at the Tokyo office of my distro speaks English, but I feel like the only reason I have gotten so far with this is that I speak to him in Japanese. My Japanese is decent, but his English level is also only decent. He understands perfectly, but articulation skills are limited somewhat. I think you could probably work it out, but it would just be slightly confusing at times. I mean they have an english website, so they do do business abroad. I don't think this is something too hard for you though, I mean I ordered the machine two weeks ago or so and it's going to be here on the 14th of July.