Quarantine inspection fee

**PhilipA** · 13th February 2011, 10:21 AM

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** · 13th February 2011, 10:43 AM

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** · 13th February 2011, 11:06 AM

Yes, size is an issue.
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/p...diaId=95100764

**dullbird** · 13th February 2011, 11:07 AM

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** · 13th February 2011, 12:04 PM

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** · 13th February 2011, 12:10 PM

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** · 13th February 2011, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Yes, size is an issue.
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/portal/p...diaId=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** · 13th February 2011, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by 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?????

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** · 13th February 2011, 03:57 PM

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.

$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.

Ken

**Ace** · 13th February 2011, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

$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.

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.

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