Shipments to the USA
Hi everyone,
I’m doing my first shipment outside Europe (to the USA) with spedizioni.ebay.it.
I have a couple of doubts:
- first, once the procedure on the site is completed, after entering all the customs data, I’m still given a PDF ‘free export declaration’ to fill out. I assume it needs to be filled out, right? Because I expected it to be prefilled since I entered all the data on the site... And once it’s filled out, where do I put it? Inside the package, or do I hand it to the courier? With other services I was asked to give it to the courier, but here it says to ‘include it in the package’.
- the label generated by the site, the one that goes on the package, says:
'(22) Description of each item
Detailed description of contents
Clothing'
Now, I don’t know where it gets this information from since I indicated ‘Electronics’ as the goods during the process. I tried twice (canceling the shipment afterwards) and both times I made sure to enter the right data but here it is -> 'clothing'. Do I ignore it and proceed anyway?
Thanks!
robertogl
OP3 years agoExtra question: if I do the procedure today, it doesn’t find any available shipping method.
Obviously same sender, same recipient, same package...
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoSome days or at certain times the service disappears, try again later.
In any case, I warn you that the Crono Internazionale / EMS service relies on a customs office that checks items poorly and not up to the situation.
If you send them a "STRANGE" customs declaration for items they don't know what are, it's likely you'll end up with the parcel returned to the sender with a nice label saying PROBABLE DANGEROUS GOODS.
So the wording CLOTHING is the one that creates the fewest problems with customs control.
They blocked two parcels of mine with the wording "inverter" and "motherboard", so I'll leave you to imagine who they had working in goods inspection.......
I խորհուրդ you to write a sheet in Italian and clearly specify what it is and explain that it is not prohibited or dangerous goods and that it does not contain lithium batteries, liquids, or flammable material.
Because if they send the parcel back to you, then you lose the shipment since packlink won't refund it.
Kind regards.
robertogl
OP3 years agoThank you again, in fact now I was able to book the pickup!
I’ll do as you say and include a short description in Italian along with the other documents.
Last question, and I should be all set: in the Packlink guide it says to attach one of the following:
It’s not clear to me whether it refers to the sender’s details (I imagine so): in that case, I should attach the 'tax code'. What does that mean? Should I put a copy of the tax code card together with the other documents? It seems a bit strange to me, but I don’t know. The tax code is in any case shown on the customs invoice.
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoFrom my personal experience, I can tell you that these issues have only happened to me with the customs office corresponding to international priority / EMS
NORMALLY, a customs officer, using the HS code (Harmonized System Code or Commodity Code) + the description of the contents of the parcel, is perfectly able to determine whether the goods are exportable or not.
And in any case there are at least 2 other options before sending the parcel back so casually and easily, namely they can open the parcel to make sure of the contents, or they can contact the sender to ask for more information.
Unfortunately at this customs office they do neither of those things, but simply send the parcel back to the sender if they don’t know what to do with “unknown” goods they don’t understand.
If you are a private individual, you simply need to put the tax code + a copy of the identity document; if it is the electronic ID card, it also has the tax code and that alone is enough, if it is the paper one, you must also attach the tax code (make a photocopy).
Then you must include 3 copies of this document (pro forma invoice)
https://www.spedirecomodo.it/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Fattura-Proforma.pdf
Then you have to include the eBay order number, where the amount paid by the buyer is shown, the description of the item, and any customs taxes that were paid directly to eBay.
Kind regards.
robertogl
OP3 years agoThanks, another very useful reply.
Why is it that in the PDF generated by Ebay there are 4 labels (apparently identical)? One should be stuck on the package, do I need to print them all?
heavenwelkin
·3 years agoIn theory, the rule of 3 copies to be attached to the customs documentation in the appropriate transparent pouch + one applied to the package should apply.
I think the extra copies are kept during customs stops, each customs office keeps some of the documentation.
Kind regards.
robertogl
OP3 years agoPerfect, thanks!
I’ve prepared everything and there will be pickup tomorrow.
daxsisko
·3 years agowith Packlink it comes out by default as "clothing": some people ignore it and ship anyway (probably because it's the wording that creates the least "trouble" in case of a quick customs check without opening the package), if they open the package at customs and find discrepancies.... there could be some problems;
if you want to put the correct wording you need to go to Taric (see the link below) and find the exact match for the item you're shipping (in some cases: good luck...) and then edit the pdf (the more "tech-savvy" ones use full Acrobat or similar programs)
https://aidaonline7.adm.gov.it/nsitaricinternet/
robertogl
OP3 years agoThanks to you too for the reply!
Actually, I think I already have the code to enter because it's still required during the process (then in the end, clothing comes out anyway), so it's not a problem to edit the file and put in the correct value 🙂
daxsisko
·3 years agoyou’re welcome, no problem
marioelegio
·3 years ago"Clothing" is a bug with Poste Italiane. You should draw a line and fix it together with the corresponding code.
For instructions, follow what Packlink tells you .... https://support-ebay.packlink.com/hc/it/articles/208377789-Quali-documenti-sono-necessari-per-spedire-fuori-dall-Unione-Europea-
hi
mario