Quarantine inspection fee

[PhilipA]

I imported a camshaft kit , head gaskets, and exhaust gaskets from Autopost UK last week at a cost of $350 .
This was a very good deal as the local price for the camshaft kit alone appears to be $440 plus freight with head gaskets extra.( from the Ballarat mob website)

However , DHL have sent me an invoice for $47.30 for a Quarantine inspection fee and I noted that the package had been opened and resealed with DHL tape. So I guess the fee is valid.

From my experience I guess this was for a random check of imports and I have looked at the AQIS site and there is a fee of $40 payable.

This looks like another reason to insist on Parcel post where possible , however this package was too big. This is the only time in about 10 years of buying overseas that I have been hit.

I wonder if it is a sneaky way for the Federal Government to reduce people buying overseas, given the recent publicity campaign by Gerry Harvey and others as it reduces but does not eliminate the price difference. It's much more than 10% GST also!!!!!
Anyone else been hit?
Regards Philip A

[Bigbjorn]

What was too big about it? Weight? Dimensions? US Post Office will send up to 75 lbs. weight. I did have to get a new Muncie gearbox broken down into two packages as complete it weighed 94 lbs. I have had a Gerstner tool chest weighing 46 lbs sent by US Post Office. Is the pom post office fussy about size?

[Mick_Marsh]

Yes, size is an issue.
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1?catId=19100182&mediaId=95100764

[dullbird]

I'm a bit lost here...why do YOU have to pay because they decided to inspect your parcel?
I could understand if they inspected it and decided it was too dusty and dirty and needed to be treated but for just an inspection?????

[PhilipA]

I'm a bit lost here...why do YOU have to pay because they decided to inspect your parcel

Well you may ask

This is all part of their "cost recovery" which started about 7-8 years ago by charging for export inspections and progressed from there by the looks of it.
Regards Philip A

[ScottW]

If the package is marked as 'new parts' and is in a clean box, ie actually looks like a box of new partrs, then generally they won't check it. I have never had anything checked, out of well over a dozen overseas purchases.

I guess you are just lucky :)

[Bigbjorn]

Yes, size is an issue.
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/po/content1?catId=19100182&mediaId=95100764

Just had a look at that. They accept up to 30 kilos, length up to 1.5 metres and combined length + girth up to 3 metres. Must be one hell of a camshaft kit if it exceeds those dimensions.

I wonder if the UK supplier finds it just too much trouble to go down the post office and just deals with a contract courier who picks up daily. I have had USA suppliers who tried this on with me. One has to be firm with them and tell them use the post office or no order.

[Ace]

I'm a bit lost here...why do YOU have to pay because they decided to inspect your parcel?
I could understand if they inspected it and decided it was too dusty and dirty and needed to be treated but for just an inspection?????

Was going to ask the same thing, if they are doing random inspections it seems a bit rude to then charge the person for it.

Surely unless you got a side of Herion with your cam shaft they could see that there wasnt anything untoward in the package by viewing with an xray machine.

[Mudnut]

I imported a fuel tank and water tank for my Defender from Frontrunner in South Africa. When I got a call that it had arrived at the Cairns Airport, I went to pick it up. Was told by Customs that I needed to have a "Liscenced Customs Broker" handle the paperwork. :eek::eek: $190 dollars to tell me that Customs had to open it (additional charge that I can't remember) and inspect it. Then to make matters worse Quarantine had it X rayed for an additional charge. These were NEW tanks direct from the factory!! I was livid that I had to pay to have these things done. I can see if they were used, but they were stamped NEW all over the packaging. In the end, it was still cheaper than buying here, but all up, cost me around $400 dollars more to get through Customs.:mad:

Ken

[Ace]

I imported a fuel tank and water tank for my Defender from Frontrunner in South Africa. When I got a call that it had arrived at the Cairns Airport, I went to pick it up. Was told by Customs that I needed to have a "Liscenced Customs Broker" handle the paperwork. :eek::eek: $190 dollars to tell me that Customs had to open it (additional charge that I can't remember) and inspect it. Then to make matters worse Quarantine had it X rayed for an additional charge. These were NEW tanks direct from the factory!! I was livid that I had to pay to have these things done. I can see if they were used, but they were stamped NEW all over the packaging. In the end, it was still cheaper than buying here, but all up, cost me around $400 dollars more to get through Customs.:mad:

Ken

Its a bit rude. They just seem to be able to make up what ever they want because the know if you want the item you'll be forced to pay for it.

[stallie]

That's why in some cases its better to use a courier - ie Fedex / UPS etc. They handle all that for you.

I think that if comes by post and its over $1000 AUD landed then you need a broker.

[KarlB]

I imported a fuel tank and water tank for my Defender from Frontrunner in South Africa. When I got a call that it had arrived at the Cairns Airport, I went to pick it up. Was told by Customs that I needed to have a "Liscenced Customs Broker" handle the paperwork. :eek::eek: $190 dollars to tell me that Customs had to open it (additional charge that I can't remember) and inspect it. Then to make matters worse Quarantine had it X rayed for an additional charge. These were NEW tanks direct from the factory!! I was livid that I had to pay to have these things done. I can see if they were used, but they were stamped NEW all over the packaging. In the end, it was still cheaper than buying here, but all up, cost me around $400 dollars more to get through Customs.:mad:

Ken
Not to comment on the charges or the need for a customs broker, but I think it is a very good thing that the import was thoroughly inspected. A lot of the illicit white powder and pills that comes into the country would be labeled "new" and come "direct from the factory". They also need to check for organic material like invasive insect pests and weed seeds. If they didn't do it, then Australian Customs was not doing their job properly.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[d2dave]

Not to comment on the charges or the need for a customs broker, but I think it is a very good thing that the import was thoroughly inspected. A lot of the illicit white powder and pills that comes into the country would be labeled "new" and come "direct from the factory". They also need to check for organic material like invasive insect pests and weed seeds. If they didn't do it, then Australian Customs was not doing their job properly.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

This is a valid point BUT are they just doing a random check or doing them all.

If it is just random there should be no fee for this. If it is done to every package then fine, if there is a charge make it be known so we can factor it in to the total cost.

Dave.

[loanrangie]

A certain percentage of imports always go for a random AQIS inspection, lucky it wasnt a container or it would cost a lot more. We always request a declaration from the supplier stating that goods are new and unused and that generally prevents and inspection.

[d2dave]

A certain percentage of imports always go for a random AQIS inspection, lucky it wasnt a container or it would cost a lot more. We always request a declaration from the supplier stating that goods are new and unused and that generally prevents and inspection.

This is great but the customer should not have to pay. This is why we pay taxes.

Dave.

[KarlB]

This is a valid point BUT are they just doing a random check or doing them all.

If it is just random there should be no fee for this. If it is done to every package then fine, if there is a charge make it be known so we can factor it in to the total cost.

Dave.
There would be random checks, checks on items that are suspicious because of intelligence (tip-offs if you prefer) and there would be checks focusing on items in which it would be easy to conceal things. I would have thought that fuel and water tanks fell into the later category. I have had things checked by Customs and have not been charged. Maybe it depends on what is involved. But I agree with you, if it is just a random check then the importer should not pay for the checking. But ultimately, someone has to pay and, as you say, that is you and I and the other taxpayers.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[Landy Smurf]

i have had parcels opened and inspected but did not have to pay for it but it was very small parcel.

[KarlB]

I should have added that entry of illegal substances and of foreign organisms are ultimately the responsibility of the AFP and AQIS, respectively, but Customs is on the front line and call in the other agencies as required.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[loanrangie]

This is great but the customer should not have to pay. This is why we pay taxes.

Dave.

Its usually because of incorrect or missing documents but all electronically lodged customs/ quarantine entries atract a lodgement fee even parcels but its included in the cost, xray must have shown something for them to want to open it.

[Mudnut]

Its usually because of incorrect or missing documents but all electronically lodged customs/ quarantine entries atract a lodgement fee even parcels but its included in the cost, xray must have shown something for them to want to open it.

It is a bit strange that Customs opened it first, and then Quarantine X - rayed it the following day.

[juddy]

If these parts are new, then customs really need to have a valid reason to open and check, sure they do random checks, thats just part of there job, but since when does the customer have to pay for these checks, if nothing is out of order, Whats next, random search at the airport before you can get on your flight you have to pay for the random search......

I would pay up, then take it further, after looking at the finer print of the customs protocols...