Shipping Imac 5K to Netherlands

[BluAffiliate]

Hey guys,

I am going out for work, not sure for how long but I am looking to bring my 5K Imac with me. Is it safe to ship/insure it at a regular carrier like FedEx or USPS or is there a safer option? Don't mind paying extra.

 

[maflynn]

Is it safe to ship/insure it at a regular carrier like FedEx or USPS or is there a safer option?

I would opt for FedEx or UPS and not the US Postal Service. I'd pick one that has a presence in the Netherlands, so you get point to point coverage with the same shipping company.

I've shipped things to Europe before and customs was a bit slow, so keep that in mind

 

[loekf]

I would opt for FedEx or UPS and not the US Postal Service. I'd pick one that has a presence in the Netherlands, so you get point to point coverage with the same shipping company.

I've shipped things to Europe before and customs was a bit slow, so keep that in mind

We have UPS, FedEx, DHL here. If you ship with US Postal your package ends up with PostNL (formely the national post service, state-owned, now private).

DHL has the disadvantage there's DHL Parcel and Express. Parcel has local pick-up points. Express is usually used by companies, for international shipments and very inflexible (delivery only during working hours, not during weekends). FedEx same story, more suited for companies. UPS has FirstChoice here, so when you're not at home, you can re-direct to e.g. a supermarket.

My usual strategy for FedEx or DHL Express is to call them and pick up the package at their regional distribution center in person.

If you're the owner of the iMac you've to make sure customs won't charge you.

I would take indeed opt for FedEx or UPS.

Last time I bought an Amazon Echo Dot via eBay the package was stuck for a week in customs.

 

[BluAffiliate]

We have UPS, FedEx, DHL here. If you ship with US Postal your package ends up with PostNL (formely the national post service, state-owned, now private).

DHL has the disadvantage there's DHL Parcel and Express. Parcel has local pick-up points. Express is usually used by companies, for international shipments and very inflexible (delivery only during working hours, not during weekends). FedEx same story, more suited for companies. UPS has FirstChoice here, so when you're not at home, you can re-direct to e.g. a supermarket.

My usual strategy for FedEx or DHL Express is to call them and pick up the package at their regional distribution center in person.

If you're the owner of the iMac you've to make sure customs won't charge you.

I would take indeed opt for FedEx or UPS.

Last time I bought an Amazon Echo Dot via eBay the package was stuck for a week in customs.

If I ship this a week before I leave for it to arrive at the company I'm working at, will they be able to sign for it?

 

[loekf]

Could be tight. What worries me is customs though. How do you proof that the iMac is yours and that you don't have to pay a hefty import tax (VAT + duties). Usually you have no choice once the package has been through customs. You pay or you refuse (=> package is destroyed).

 

[Novus John]

You should be able to submit a customs declaration that the package is yours for personal use, i.e., you have the bill and it was bought by you some time in the past. I think that the declaration process depends on the country. Check the customs office in the Netherlands or ask UPS, FedEx, etc. about it, they might know about the it.

There is also a special provision for people who are moving from one country to another, in that case there shouldn't be any vat/customs/taxes/etc.

 

[hwojtek]

You should be able to submit a customs declaration that the package is yours for personal use

If it works throughout EU as it should, there is a tax/customs waiver available if the traveller declares the ware as an item for personal use and that the item will be brought back to the original country. I am not quite sure, however, if it does not involve only short-term (180 days or less) stays.

 

[Pclaesen]

You can get around the hefty VAT by declaring it's indeed for personal use, and for a limited amount of time. We sometimes need to ship thermal camera's from Belgium to the USA for repairs. We need to declare this is 'temporary export for repair', we only need to pay VAT on the customs clearance (something around €15 clearance and €3,XX VAT) + the shipping fee of course.

If you don't do this, you will get charged 21% VAT in The Netherlands on the price of the iMac.

You'll also need to make sure to tell this to Fedex/UPS/DHL. When shipping the iMac back to your home country, they need to make sure the temporary export is reversed.