5106 Form

[Mike W]

I recently purchased a camera on EBay from Japan. I was shipped using FedEx, and made it as far as Honolulu, where it's been held up at customs for want of a 5106 Form. FedEx emailed me the form, which i filled out and emailed back.
I've bought stuff from Japan in the past, I don't remember needing such a form. Is this something new? Does it have to do with the whole tariff issue? Has anyone else needed to submit one? Will it lead to a long delay?
I haven't been on the forums in a while, since it was still APUG. But I've been boning up on a few things, and just as I remember, you folks are a fantastic resource.

 

[Dan Fromm]

See: https://ask.fedex.com/help/en-gb/sending-receiving/form-5106

That's what you get for using Fed-Ex instead of Japan Post's EMS service.

 

[moto-uno]

And don't ever use UPS for shipping between the US and Canada ! Absolute thieves ( is that too dramatic ? ) Peter

 

[jvo]

And don't ever use UPS for shipping between the US and Canada ! Absolute thieves ( is that too dramatic ? ) Peter

ouch!

 

[MattKing]

I expect that Peter is referring to UPS charges for "brokerage" services, which are incredibly high, unpredictable and often appear in an invoice that follows after the fact.
Probably "thieves" is more metaphorical than literal, as I don't think that UPS has any more problems with package theft than any of the other major shipping services.
"Scoundrels" might be more appropriate .
Peter can correct me if I'm wrong about what he intended.

 

[Horatio]

At least they are delivering. I have two purchases in limbo, somewhere in Tokyo, thanks to Japan Post.

 

[Dan Fromm]

At least they are delivering. I have two purchases in limbo, somewhere in Tokyo, thanks to Japan Post.

I was recently in that situation. My parcel sat in a post office for 12 days, spent another day at the airport, and arrived 4 days after that. Be patient, you'll get your items.

 

[Oldwino]

Yes, everything is crawling through the system at a snail's pace. Waiting now for three weeks for a package from NL. Unfortunately, it went through NYC, so very very slow, but at least it is still crawling!

 

[Dan Fromm]

Yes, everything is crawling through the system at a snail's pace. Waiting now for three weeks for a package from NL. Unfortunately, it went through NYC, so very very slow, but at least it is still crawling!

I can't speak to trans-Atlantic shipments, but I think they suffer the same problem as trans-Pacific. Many fewer flights than usual, hence longer waits to get on a plane. The lens I bought from Japan a couple of weeks flew through NYC. This last was a surprise.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Deliveries from Australia to the US are somewhat slower than the usual very slow.

 

[moto-uno]

"Matt "of course is correct , that $50 charge after the fact is "a real bitch slap " and there's nothing you can do . It's
particularly irritating when it says you've paid the shipping fees on purchase . Now if they only ship UPS , they don't get
my bid .(simple enough ) Peter

 

[MattKing]

that $50 charge after the fact is "a real bitch slap " and there's nothing you can do .

One thing to consider if you are forced to use UPS for cross-border shipments - some of their faster and higher priced services include brokerage in the specified fee. So it is worthwhile incurring that higher cost.
You still might get a bill for the duty and taxes that they advance on your behalf (if any).

 

[BradS]

I bought something from a seller in Japan on 8-April. It has been sitting at Osaka Kansai airport waiting for a flight for 20 days now. I've spoken with the seller, he says no flights...nothing is moving.

 

[Dan Fromm]

One thing to consider if you are forced to use UPS for cross-border shipments - some of their faster and higher priced services include brokerage in the specified fee. So it is worthwhile incurring that higher cost.
You still might get a bill for the duty and taxes that they advance on your behalf (if any).

Matt, every country has its rules and customs. Pun intended.

Goods that come to the US by mail are, I believe, inspected by US Customs but duty is rarely assessed. We don't have a national VAT or sales tax. I've been buying stuff from abroad -- sheet music, books, car parts include an overdrive for my Scimitar, photographic equipment, ... -- and having it delivered by mail for nearly fifty years. I've never been charged duty. These days importing live fish and fish eggs by mail is very difficult; for livestock, what can't be hand carried really does need a broker's services.

 

[MattKing]

Matt, every country has its rules and customs. Pun intended.

Goods that come to the US by mail are, I believe, inspected by US Customs but duty is rarely assessed. We don't have a national VAT or sales tax. I've been buying stuff from abroad -- sheet music, books, car parts include an overdrive for my Scimitar, photographic equipment, ... -- and having it delivered by mail for nearly fifty years. I've never been charged duty. These days importing live fish and fish eggs by mail is very difficult; for livestock, what can't be hand carried really does need a broker's services.

Dan,
We too buy stuff from the USA and have it delivered by mail. While it used to be more common for items to arrive with a bill for duties and taxes, it was never all that common, and it is even less common now.
The difference is that if the item is/was mailed and taxes were levied, the brokerage fee charged by Canada Post is/was reasonable. In comparison, the UPS fee is/was exorbitant.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Matt, no disagreement about UPS' brokerage charges or, for that matter, other courier services' charges. I've been, um, badly burnt several times.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Matt, every country has its rules and customs. Pun intended.

Goods that come to the US by mail are, I believe, inspected by US Customs but duty is rarely assessed. We don't have a national VAT or sales tax. I've been buying stuff from abroad -- sheet music, books, car parts include an overdrive for my Scimitar, photographic equipment, ... -- and having it delivered by mail for nearly fifty years. I've never been charged duty. These days importing live fish and fish eggs by mail is very difficult; for livestock, what can't be hand carried really does need a broker's services.

I agree. Recently I have bought a number of items from Australia and New Zealand and shipped through their postal systems. Never has a package been opened by the US Customs for inspection [maybe X-rayed] nor have I ever been charged duty.

 

[Mike W]

I received the Camera today. It was shipped April 22, stuck in Honolulu for 4 days (2 weekend days), arrived in the NYC suburbs April 30. So not too bad, considering. Shipping cost $70. '97 503CW, looks really nice, everything seems to work. I put a roll of film through it, I'll develop it tomorrow. My first MF camera.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Enjoy!

 

[Dennis-B]

I almost hate to post...

Last month, I ordered a Fujinon 75mm f/5.6 SWD from a Japanese dealer in Kofu, Japan, on April 6. In about two days, I received an email stating that because of the global pandemic, the order could be delayed until the end of April. Being that we're in quarantine, I replied that that would be perfectly acceptable Two days later, I received notice that the package had been processed to Japan Post. In four days the lens was in my mailbox.

That's generally been my experience. Once Japan Post gets it, it's just about as good as being in my hands.