US Customs problem

bert35csi

bert35csi

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My WallothNesch shipment (which includes the much anticipated SS exhaust) is being held up at the DHL facility in Cincinnati due to some US Customs issue. Of all things, the shipment will not clear Customs due to "bearings", well, the bearings are the front and rear wheel bearing kits that I'd ordered. Apparently, US Customs agency has very strict policies on the importation of bearings from foreign countries.

Just hope W&N can clear up this situation, otherwise, the package will be ship back to Germany, thus, creating a new set of headaches. I know US Customs is just doing their job, but who or what governmental agency is responsible for this bull? :evil:

Here is the "bearing summary sheet" that the Customs office wants me to fill out. WTF...there is no way that I can answer any of those questions.
Customssheet.jpg
 
Centrifuge

I guess they are worried you are going to build your own centrifuge for purifying plutonium - our glorious government hard at work protecting our national security
 
Something is going on with the US CBP. I have been ordering and receiving packages from European car parts suppliers for years but in the last month or two, something like this has happened to me in 2 out of 5 shipments. In one USPS shipment it was held at post office for duties. CBP tried to charge me 10% duty instead of the correct 2.5% by classifying the parts as motorcycle/bicycle parts. In another shipment via FedEx CBP was requiring me to fill out a form to acquire an "importer ID" so I could receive my package. The Fedex clerk to whom I was supposed to return the form cleared it up.

You need to try and reach a human being at DHL in the US (likely the person that you are supposed to return the form to) and have them understand this should be treated as an "informal entry" since it is less than $2,000 (is it?) or because it is for your own personal use. Yes, you may be subject to duties of 2.5%, which is the rate for 99% of car parts, but not to this level of scrutiny, as if it is a "formal entry".

Some type of stepped up enforcement is going on, perhaps to collect increased tax revenue via duties. I have never, in years, ever paid duty on overseas mail order items. I'm OK with paying the duty, but not all the stoopidity that is coming along with it...
 
Thanks for the good info Luis. Well, the total purchase is about $2250, does this mean the "informal entry" rerquest is not applicable? I did speak to a US DHL rep and I was instructed to fill out the form and return it back to him. How the heck am I suppose to come up with all the bearing info, as I know nothing about them-other than they are wheel bearings for the E9 coupes. Hopefully, W&N has all the product specs with them and know how to deal with this problem.

So does US CBP opens up all incoming international auto parts shipments and physically check for any and all bearing products and the necessary paperwork for them?

So a word of caution guys... don't order any bearing products from abroad.
 
Take your best guess with filling out the form. I doubt anyone at customs will be walking around with a caliper checking dimensions.

Fortunately I am done ordering from W&N for a while. Until the next project....
 
stupid and sad, sorry for you

do you know that right now tons of fake bearings illegally imported from china, packed in nice usa-brand wrappings are entering the states by any of those well known harbors at plein daylight ?

sad, and stupid !

best luck and hope that you solve it soon !
 
+1 - I bring in wine and have to fill out similar stooopid paper work but at least DHL will be doing the submitting - just fill out the form as best possible, DHL will have it on file and likely move your package along.

Sven said:
Take your best guess with filling out the form. I doubt anyone at customs will be walking around with a caliper checking dimensions.

Fortunately I am done ordering from W&N for a while. Until the next project....
Click to expand...
 
Hey Bert,

HEre's what I think is going on in this case. As I look at the HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule), I see that ball bearings have a myriad of duty levels depending on their type, size, country of origin, etc. I think they are just trying to categorize the bearings to assess the duty and the CBP agent is dumping that on you.

Call the guy and try this. Tell him that this is an informal entry since these are just parts for your own use, that you are not an importer: "This is ridiculous! These are just car parts!!" ...and that you should pay duty under the HTS heading 8708.99.81 "Other: Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705”, since these are principally car parts and used as car parts. Car parts get assessed at 2.5%.

If they insist they are bearings and not car parts, then I would just fill it out to my advantage and classify them as "Double flanged wheel hub units
incorporating ball bearings" which is HTS heading 8708.99.0600 and are duty free. So following the order of your form, 1. Ball, 2. w/flange wheel hub, 3 4 and 5, don't check anything, 6. Yes, flange 7. don't check anything, 8. I would leave unchecked, it's N/A...

Keep us posted.
 
Interesting. What rate did/are you paying on the exhaust system? The "dumb iron" part. Did that come thru at 2.5%? Was it one complete shipment such that the exhaust is held up because of the bearings?

We had that happen in North Africa for a big job, some vendor included a pressure transmitter in a shipment of pipe and flanges. The whole container was held up because of one small item that had wires on it which put the shipment into a different import catagory. :roll:

I'm getting some wheel well inserts from Germany, wonder what's going to happen with them?
 
Can't answer any of the duty questions. I suppose all the parts is being shipped in one big parcel (exhaust and about 25 other parts), W&N has not stated otherwise.
 
In all my years of managing logistics both personally and professionally, every single time Ive used DHL there has been an issue. Every time.
 
Bert,
I'm glad I used usps for sending you and others the finished wood sets.So far no problems !
 
Got the merchandise! Finally after 7 days of tomfoolery at the DHL/Customs offices at Cincinnati OH, the shipment finally arrived late yesterday. Much thanks to the assistance from the good people at W&N for clearing up this mess.

Was pleasantly surprised at the fact the 2 parcels were not even opened for inspection and best of all, no duty fees had to be paid. Kind of like a kid at Christmas at the moment, pardon me for now, but got to open up and check the presents that I bought for myself. :-D Will let you guys know about the details of the 2 big ticket items...the Larini SS exhaust and the "new" toolbox.
 
Just got a bill from DHL Express for $90.88, thought I got lucky and had escaped the duty fees. :-(

Import/Export Duties @ 2.50% $59.38
Payment deferment $ 6.50
Merchandise processing $25.00
 
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