USAOPEN Destinations – New Zealand

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Shipping Sneakers to New Zealand is like running fast…

 

New Zealand

 

New Zealand, Country in Oceania

New Zealand is a country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean consisting of 2 main islands, both marked by volcanoes and glaciation. On the North Island, capital Wellington’s dramatic setting, including Mt. Victoria, the Fiordland and Southern Lakes, stood in for mythical Middle Earth in Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The expansive national museum, Te Papa, is dedicated to all things New Zealand.

Capital: Wellington

Dialing code: +64

Continent: Oceania

Population: 4.471 million (2013) World Bank

Official languages: English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language

 

Shipping Tip*:

Import Duties

In order to determine whether import duty is applicable to imported goods, Customs considers the following:

Tariff classification – The New Zealand Customs Service Working Tariff document is a commodity coding   system used to identify and describe goods.

The structure of the tariff is based on the World Customs Organization International Convention on the  Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding system (commonly referred to as the Harmonized System).

Concession applicability – Concessions provide flexibility to the tariff which groups items together.

Preference – Under New Zealand’s external trade agreements, New Zealand extends preferential tariff access to goods which are the ‘produce’ or ‘manufacture’ of specified countries and country groups.

Where duty is expressed as a percentage rate, it is calculated on the Customs value of the goods.

Antidumping

Anti-Dumping or Countervailing measures, which result in the imposition of additional rates of duty, may apply.

Excise Duties

Excise duties are applied to items such as beer, alcohol, wine, spirits, cigarettes and cigars.

Additional Duties

Dumping duty and Counter prevailing is applied to several items, example; running shoes.

Import Taxes

Comprised on items that are metal based and levied on alcohol and spirits.

Customs Fees

Goods and Service Tax (GST) of $22 NZD is charged by customs for each formal customs entry.

*Source: FedEx

USAOPEN Destinations – Slovenia

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Shipping food to Slovenia is just so tasty…

slovenia

 

Slovenia, Country in Europe

Slovenia, a country in Central Europe, is known for its mountains, outdoor recreation and ski resorts. Set on a glacial lake fed by thermal springs, the town of Bled contains a church-topped islet and a cliffside medieval castle. Nearby Triglav National Park in the Julian Alps offers skiing and hiking, plus rafting along the Soča River, renowned for aquamarine water.
Capital: Ljubljana
Dialing code: +386
Currency: Euro
Official language: Slovenian
Neighboring countries: Croatia, Austria, Italy, Hungary

 

Shipping Tip*:

General Import Restrictions

The following items are not acceptable for carriage to any international destinations unless otherwise indicated. (Additional restrictions may apply depending on destination. Various regulatory clearances in addition to customs clearance may be required for certain commodities, thereby extending the transit time.)

APO/FPO addresses.

C.O.D. shipments.

Human corpses, human organs or body parts, human and animal embryos, or cremated or disinterred human remains.

Explosives (Class 1.4 explosives are acceptable for carriage to Canada, Germany, France, Japan, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom. Note: United Arab Emirates only allows Class 1.4 explosives to be shipped hold-for-pickup to the FedEx Express facility in Dubai).

Firearms, weaponry and their parts (acceptable between the U.S. and Puerto Rico).

Perishable foodstuffs and foods and beverages requiring refrigeration or other environmental control.

Live animals including insects, except as provided in the Live Animals section in the FedEx Service Guide. (Call the FedEx Live Animal Desk at 1.800.405.9052).

Plants and plant material, including cut flowers (cut flowers are acceptable from the U.S. to selected points in Canada and from Colombia, Ecuador and the Netherlands to the U.S.).

Lottery tickets and gambling devices where prohibited by law.

Money (coins, cash, currency, paper money and negotiable instruments equivalent to cash such as endorsed stocks, bonds and cash letters).

Pornographic and/or obscene material.

Shipments being processed under:

Duty drawbacks claims unless advance arrangements are made.

Temporary Import Bonds – acceptable under the FedEx International Broker Select option, for initial import only.

U.S. State Department licenses

Carnets

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration export permit.

Letters of Credit. Shipments subject to Letters of Credit are generally prohibited, with the exception of shipments subject to Letters of Credit calling for a “courier receipt”, as defined by Article 25 of UCP 600, shipped using the FedEx Expanded Service International Air Waybill.

Certificate of Registration shipments (CF4455).

You may be able to ship these items via FedEx International Controlled Export, FedEx International Premium, FedEx International Express Freight (IXF) or FedEx International Airpot-to-Airport (ATA). For information on FedEx International Controlled Export, call International Customer Service at 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 (say “international services’). For information on the other services listed call FedEx Express Freight Customer Service at 1.800.332.0807.

Hazardous waste, including, but not limited to, used hypodermic needles or syringes or other medial waste.

Shipments that may cause damage to, or delay of, equipment, personnel or other shipments.

Shipments that require us to obtain any special licenses or permit for transportation, importation or exportation.

Shipments or commodities whose carriage, importation or exportation is prohibited by any law, statute or regulation.

Shipments with a declared value for customs in excess of that permitted for a specific destination. (See the Declared Value for Carriage and Limits of Liability section in the FedEx Service Guide).

Dangerous goods except as permitted under the Dangerous Goods section of these terms and conditions.

Processed or unprocessed dead animals, including insects and pets. Taxidermy-finished hunting trophies or completely processed (dried) specimens of whole animals or parts of animals are acceptable for shipment into the U.S.

Packages that are wet, leaking or emit an odor of any kind.

Wildlife products that require U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service export clearance by FedEx prior to exportation from the U.S.

In-bond shipments destined to or being withdrawn from a Foreign Trade Zone or bonded warehouse, unless the FedEx International Broker Select option is selected for U.S. import shipments, or the FedEx International Controlled Export service option is selected for U.S. export shipments.

Not withstanding any other provision of the FedEx Service Guide, we are not liable for delay of, loss of damage to a shipment of any prohibited item. The shipper agrees to indemnity FedEx for any and all costs, fees and expenses FedEx incurs as a result of the shipper’s violation of any local, state or federal laws or regulations or from tendering any prohibited item for shipment.

Slovenia Restrictions

N/A

*Source: FedEx

USAOPEN Company Spotlight – Brad’s Deals

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Brad’s Deals Has the Secret to Spending Less and Getting MoreBrads Deals

We all have that one friend who has an uncanny way of finding the best deals on anything and everything. That person who figured how to go on a week long vacation for $100; or tracked down a 50% off coupon for designer sunglasses.

Brad is like that friend for millions of people. He’s so great at finding deals that he launched Brad’s Deals, a company solely dedicated to connecting consumers with great deals. Since its start in 2005, Brad’s Deals has won the hearts of smart shoppers everywhere by offering the best deals across the Internet for that day.

While some websites showcase deals on products they’re selling or items from a specific industry, Brad’s Deals offers coupons and sales across all industries and categories. Plus, because Brad’s Deals doesn’t actually sell anything, their experts can focus solely on scouring the Internet for the best deals that you didn’t know about.

While the deals offered are different everyday, they all seem to be too good to pass up. For example, they feature a sale for a Michael Kors watch at 30% off. Or a Mother’s Birthstone necklace for just $19.99 (originally $79.99). What’s more, Brad’s Deals also features printable coupons—like a 10% off coupon on a TurboTax tax return.

Only like to shop at one or two stores? They also make it easy for those who only shop at their favorite stores. With a search function by major retailer, you are able to see all the promotions and sales for that specific store.

The team at Brad’s Deals also shares regular tips and ideas to save money in their blog. As experts on the best deals, the blog is a great way to re-think smart shopping. For example, their recent post 5 DIY Project That Don’t Save You Money, is an eye-opener for the person who thinks do-it-yourself always means less money.

From handpicked deals to coupons to expert tips, Brad’s Deals is a great resource for anyone looking to save money. Across all industries, it is one of the most unique ways to smart shop and get the most for your hard-earned money.

For more information about Brad’s Deals, visit: www.bradsdeals.com.

 

USAOPEN Destinations – Canada

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Shipping Electronics to Canada is electric…

 

Canada

 

Canada, Country in North America

Canada, stretching from the U.S. in the south to the Arctic Circle in the north, is filled with vibrant cities including massive, multicultural Toronto; predominantly French-speaking Montréal and Québec City; Vancouver and Halifax on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, respectively; and Ottawa, the capital. It’s also crossed by the Rocky Mountains and home to vast swaths of protected wilderness

Capital: Ottawa
Dialing code: +1
Population: 35.16 million (2013) World Bank
Queen: Elizabeth II
Prime minister: Stephen Harper
Governor-general: David Johnston
Provinces: Québec, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia,More

 

Shipping Tip*:

Customs Valuation
All goods shipped to Canada must have a value and description for the goods shipped. The value is usually based on the transaction value between the shipper and the importer, in other-words the sale value of the goods. However, if no actual transaction has taken place, for example, a sample or a no charge shipment, there still must be a value assessed; this basically would be the fair market value, or replacement value. Non-tangible items such as a cheque, business documents, accounting documents, plane tickets, etc. must also be assessed a value, but this should be based on the value of the paper rather than the actual value plane ticket or cheque. While duties and taxes would not be assessed on these non-tangible items they still must be reported to Canada Customs. For more information, please visit the following Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website for detailed information: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d13/d13-1-3-eng.pdf

Import Duties
All merchandise coming into Canada must clear Customs and are subject to customs duty assessment unless the goods are duty or tax exempt by law. Generally, customs duties are subject to an ad valorem rate (percentage) that is applied to the transaction value (in Canadian dollars) of the imported goods. Some articles, however, are dutiable at a specific rate of duty (so much per piece, liter, kilo, etc.) and others at a compound rate of duty (combination of both ad valorem and specific rates). The dutiable value of merchandise is determined by the Canada Border Services Agency.  Several appraisal methods are used to arrive at this value. Generally, the transaction value of the merchandise serves as the basis of appraisal. Transaction value is the price the buyer actually pays the seller for the goods being imported. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of Canada (1999 Edition), issued by the International Trade Commission, prescribes the rates of duty and classification of merchandise by the type of product; e.g., animal and vegetable products, textile fibers and textile products. The tariff schedule provides several rates of duty for each item: the “general” rates under Most-Favored Nation’s (MFN) and “preferential” rates for specific trade programs (NAFTA/CIFTA/CCFTA/LDCT/GPT).

Antidumping
Under strict enforcement of unfair trade laws, Customs will assess antidumping duties.  Antidumping duties are assessed on imported merchandise sold in Canada at less than the normal price of the good in the manufacturer’s home market (also called fair market value).

Excise Duties
Spirits, beer and tobacco products are subject to excise taxes.

Additional Duties
Countervailing duties are assessed to counter the effects of subsidies provided by the foreign government for merchandise exported to Canada resulting in artificially low prices that are detrimental to Canadian industries.

Import Taxes
Effective July 1, 2010, the existing provincial sales taxes in British Columbia (BC) and Ontario (ON) will be replaced by a single Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), and the existing HST in Nova Scotia (NS) will increase. The HST will consist of the existing federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the provincial component (Provincial Sales Tax (PST). Highlights to note:

    • The provincial component of the HST is applicable to casual, personal importation only
    • Commercial imports will continue to be assessed the federal portion of the HST (5%)

Based on an agreement between the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and the federal government, GST and PST taxes were combined into a flat rate of 13% for the three participating provinces which is known as the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).

A listing of the different classes of goods exempt from GST can be located at the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency website at http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tpcs/gst-tps/menu-eng.html

Customs Fees

Examination Costs
Special service charges can be assessed on some commodities to cover the expense of performing the examinations and or testing required as a condition of the goods entry into the commerce of Canada.  Examinations are not performed on all shipments prior to their release; however, Canadian Customs has the authority to randomly select shipments for examination.

*Source: FedEx

The Future Is Here: The Best Smart Watches in the U.S.

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Gone are the days when a watch was just a watch. Today, watches are more James Bond-esque—tracking fitness levels, monitoring health and sleep patterns, communicating with our computers, oh and they tell time.  As we enter a new age of fitness watches, it’s never been easier to understand your body and reach fitness goals—that is, unless you live outside of the United States.

As many people living outside of the U.S. know, access to the latest fitness trackers and smart watches can be extremely Buy Smart Watchlimited. Take Withings new Active Pop activity tracker, which offers the face of a traditional watch, with the technology of a high-level fitness tracker. Or Withings Pulse O2, which is worn like a wristband and reads your vital signs and tracks your health. Or even the ever-popular Fitbit Flex fitness tracker which tracks your fitness and sleep levels. They’re some of the most exciting new smart watches and fitness trackers out today, but they’re not available in locations outside of the U.S. or Europe.

If you are lucky enough to find smart watches outside of the United States, they’ll typically come with a hefty price tag. For example, the new Apple Watch Sport Edition runs at about $350 the United States but cost about $100 in the U.K. for the exact same watch!

With so few international options, many people are turning to services like myaddressus.com, which helps shoppers create a secure Smart WatchesU.S. address where American products and goods can be shipped. From there, mail is conveniently forwarded to international destinations, saving shoppers huge amounts of time and money on expensive shipping fees.

As we enter this new era of smart watches, it’s never been more fun to stay in time with the latest technology trends. From tracking your fitness goals, to learning about your health to checking the time in style—smart watches are the future. Now with convenient services like myaddressus.com where shoppers around the world can access the largest variety of products at the best price, the future has never looked brighter!