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Here's the straight customs story about bringing in the shock absorbers
from Reiger Racing in The Netherlands... I just got off the phone with the
local agent and managed to gather some very interesting facts.

First of all, these will need to be shipped to each person individually so
they don't become a commercial (for resale) shipment, and to keep the
per-shipment-value below US$2,000.  The customs agent recommended against
using either FedEx or UPS as they are a rip from overseas... (his opinion,
he said FedEX and UPS have their own overseas brokers who manage to hike
the shipping prices considerably, but you may feel differently.)  He
suggested using a regular commercial carrier (for example,  to bring the
parts into Fort Myers he recommended Northwest, get the freight rate, it
should be much cheaper.)  Naturally you will want to find a carrier who
services your area from Europe, the story is the same.

The customs people have 3 columns of countries for the determination of
tariff rates... The Netherlands are a part of the 'good guys' column and
shipments from there get charged the tariff as one of the NTR countries.

The interesting part is that you need to have the right classification for
the components so they can tell which tariff schedule applies.  Believe it
or not, if you bring these things in as shock absorbers (as in an auto
part) the tariff is 2.5%.  If you bring them in as a spring (again, as an
auto part), the tariff is 3.2%.  If, OTOH, you tell the truth and bring
them in as an aircraft part they are DUTY FREE!!  According to the HTS
(Harmonized Tariff Schedule), the TUSA (??... don't ask me, that's what he
called it) number is 8803.20.00, and the category is "Aircraft Part, civil
aircraft, undercarriage & parts thereof".  Not a bad deal, I'd have thought
it would have been the other way around, and that they'd knick you big time
for airplane parts and show car parts as a freebie, but that's just not so.
 Shows you what the heck I know.

As for the VAT in Holland, as Harry mentioned, Reiger Racing technically
shouldn't charge one since the components are for export, but if they do
there are forms that can be filled out and sent to customs which they will
process and ultimately arrange for a refund of the VAT.  These also come
from the customs office and can be filled out when you take delivery.

So there you have it.  I'll be interested in hearing what the 'group
discount' rate from Reiger turns out being... I may jump in myself if the
price is right.

Keep those posts coming!!!!

   <Marv>