Semi-related: I make orders from Amazon Japan a couple times a year - shipping to the US isn't cheap but it's nice that Amazon has always handled import taxes/customs/everything else involved in international shipping. Other than taking longer, it's basically the same experience as ordering from Amazon domestically.

It's a shame that the ending of the De Minimis Exemption and other tariff-related stuff from the current administration is going to basically kill off Amazon Japan deliveries to the US.

From my understanding, once De Minimis ends, the delivery guy may ask you to pay import duties when he drops the goods off at your house. This is impractical for so many different reasons - what if I'm not home? How do I verify the import taxes? If I miss the carrier and don't pay, what happens to my order?

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timr 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

I don't know what Amazon specifically will do (didn't know they allowed international shipments to begin with!), but the customs process via any normal carrier is that you get a bill when your items arrive at the port of entry.

You pay the bill, the item is released, and you get it a few days later. FedEx, for example, does the whole thing online.

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ArchOversight 2 days ago | parent [-]

FedEx in my case paid the bill to customs, shipped me my item, and then secondary sent me a bill to pay for the customs fees after I had already received the item.

They don't want shipments stuck in port because storage there is expensive.

	▲	timr 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Yeah, they'll do that up to a certain amount. Obviously, they're taking a risk that way.

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SequoiaHope 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Didn’t it already end for China? They just add the tax on top of the shipment price and pre-pay it.

	▲	Symbiote a day ago \| parent [-]
		The European post services are complaining that there's not yet an electronic system set up for them to pay these tariffs on the recipient's behalf.

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crazygringo 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

If it's through Amazon they would probably just add the import taxes to your order.

Otherwise, you'll get a notice from USPS/UPS/FedEx in advance to pay the import tax online (or at post office), and then they'll deliver it.

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metalman 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

here in Canada, ordering from the states was already a royal pain, as the dutys were applied more or less arbitrarily at the border, but getting some camera part or other little doohicky from china, is cheap and reliable, if wierd and of completely unknown delivery date. I cant imagine ordering from the states now, selling to maybe, but it would be a pay up front no returns, buy some insurance and pray kinda offer.