· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Equipment Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Dragonwatcher Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/21/08 Loc: Kirkland, WA Telescope shipped from Europe to US question       #5305686 - 07/06/12 04:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I know this topic of international shipping can be a sore point for some, so I am not asking a GENERAL question but a very SPECIFIC one. Anyone have an idea of how much it might cost in fees over & above shipping to get a $2000 telescope shipped from Spain to the US? I am wondering about duties/custom/brokerage fees above shipping etc. I don't want any nasty surprises. Thanks. Post Extras:       EddWen scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 04/26/08 Loc: Here or There Re: Telescope shipped from Europe to US question [Re: Dragonwatcher]       #5305900 - 07/06/12 06:58 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I recently imported a scope from Germany. I had a friend in the import/export brokerage business handle all the requirements. My scope is different than yours, so my numbers are not relevant. I'd recommend you find a broker to give you a best estimate. They can handle the door-to-door shipping arrangements also, (they have options beyond UPS, Fedx, etc.) which is what I did. You might need a deposit before they will start the process, but maybe not. I'd give you the name of my broker, but they did this for me as a friend. They do not normally process these smaller items. Good luck, Post Extras:       Dragonwatcher Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/21/08 Loc: Kirkland, WA Re: Telescope shipped from Europe to US question [Re: EddWen]       #5309078 - 07/08/12 10:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Never mind. Turns out it was evidently a scam offer from Roberto of Spain. Luckily I asked too many questions and he went away after acting insulted. Post Extras:       Geo. Carpal Tunnel Reged: 10/01/08 Loc: Upstate NY Re: Telescope shipped from Europe to US question [Re: Dragonwatcher]       #5314561 - 07/12/12 03:11 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Anything for sale in Europe is usually going to have to be more costly than in the US. Between VAT adding costs all the way through the supply chain and more lax trade laws permitting price fixing there are few bargains to be had. A friend in the business here tells me his margins on scopes and mounts have to stay below 5% to be competitive with the street. Post Extras:       Starman1 Vendor (EyepiecesEtc.com) Reged: 06/24/03 Loc: Los Angeles Re: Telescope shipped from Europe to US question [Re: Geo.]       #5314998 - 07/12/12 08:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   In any importation, you will pay: --money exchange fees (your bank and his) --freight charges (the carrier) --packaging charges (crating, etc.) --importation fees and duties (US import tariffs and extra fees for paperwork handling or specific fees for harbors or airports) --fuel surcharges --local delivery charges (UPS or whomever) --devanning charges (if your product came in consolidated with other packages for the same destination, someone has to un-crate the shipment and decide where every package goes) --brokerage fees, typically $80-$150 per importation (cheap if importing 20,000 items, expensive if importing 1 telescope) Now, some of these may not apply. But, generally, it doesn't pay to order inexpensive items from any foreign country (or vice versa) because all the extra charges will exceed the price of the item. I can't tell you how many posts there have been from Canadian purchasers ordering from US sources who complain about paying $80 importation fees for a $20 item. I've also heard from some Canadain buyers that they paid zero importation fees. Perhaps it's the "luck of the draw" or the point of entry. But people ordering from overseas should be aware of all the possible charges. Some shippers ship direct to your door and give portal-to-portal charges. It may seem expensive until you realize all the things that are being paid for. It DEFINTELY doesn't pay to buy anything from Europe that is available here. The EU's importation tariffs are a LOT higher than ours, and the retailers make higher margins. Edited by Starman1 (07/12/12 08:28 PM) Post Extras:       mak7 sage Reged: 09/29/07 Loc: light polluted Phoenix AZ Re: Telescope shipped from Europe to US question [Re: Starman1]       #5317593 - 07/14/12 02:40 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Don, Thanks for shedding some light on the subject. I am trying to locate a Geoptik Canon lens to T2 adapter to do some widefields with my ccd. Here is a link. http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p2836_Geoptik-T2-Adaptor-for-CANON-EOS-Lens-with-1-4--Phototripod.html It is relatively inexpensive, but I don't want any large monetary surprizes. I have emails in to Teleskop and Altair Astro requesting firm delivered prices, but no responses yet. Does anyone know of an alternative to the Geoptik unit that is domestically produced. There is one available domestically for QHY cameras, but is poorly built. Anyone ? Anyone ? Brad Post Extras:       Mystral member Reged: 02/06/09 Re: Telescope shipped from Europe to US question [Re: mak7]       #5318442 - 07/15/12 05:20 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Ask to Geoptik directly http://www.geoptik.com/en/scheda-prodotto/30a189/214/30a189.html perhaps there's a USA Dialer. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 12 registered and 21 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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