I once managed to convince a Customs Officer that I paid the refurb price on a projector that was a fraction of the full price that he insisted it cost. I guess it depends on your bargaining skills ;-).
Airport custom duty on importing speaker
- Thread starter ISO
- Start date
I once managed to convince a Customs Officer that I paid the refurb price on a projector that was a fraction of the full price that he insisted it cost. I guess it depends on your bargaining skills ;-).
I recently wrote clearance sale $99 only all over the box with permanent marker in seemingly legit looking way, for a heavy Heco centre speaker that costed 500$.
Customs officer passed it as not amenable to customs because its less priced. But still asked me why did you buy such a cheap speakers from abroad - my answer, it was a part of 5.1 whose centre speaker is damaged, I'm buying only this to replace the damaged one at home.
Nothing charged.
Depends upon bargaining skills mostly and usually they're concerned and knowledgeable only about TVs, iPhone and Gold but Not hifi stuff.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Customs officer passed it as not amenable to customs because its less priced. But still asked me why did you buy such a cheap speakers from abroad - my answer, it was a part of 5.1 whose centre speaker is damaged, I'm buying only this to replace the damaged one at home.
Nothing charged.
Depends upon bargaining skills mostly and usually they're concerned and knowledgeable only about TVs, iPhone and Gold but Not hifi stuff.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
Guys convincing customs officers is when you personally bring stuff with you as cabin baggage or carry on. I have done that many times and have never paid even 1 rupee duty, even for equipment like conrad johnson, Audio Research preamps etc. that cost thousands of $ by convincing the customs people that it was only for personal use and not for resale, which it was. I am referring to when you import stuff like heavy speakers/amplifiers that will not be accepted by airlines and have to be shipped by a shipping company as unaccompanied baggage so you have to go to the airport to claim them or equipment that is bought direct from dealers who will ship overseas that arrive at your local airport/sea port for clearance. This is an entire different circumstance and dealing with customs is a major pain. If you use a C&F agent the process is relatively less painful but will still cost you.
Cheers,
Sid
Cheers,
Sid
miroflex
Active Member
Soundstage
Active Member
It may be worth your while to check beforehand with the airlines if they will allow you to carry the speakers as checked baggage by paying an oversize baggage fee. If reasonable, you can carry them with you as you will then be able to avail of the duty exemption allowance of Rs 50000. If you send the speakers as cargo, even by the same airline, you will be liable to pay the full 35% duty when you take delivery at the airport.
Sending your other stuff, like clothes and foodstuff etc by courier, or cargo, will be a better proposition as there is hardly any duty charged towards that.
Hope this helps!
Vinod.R
Well-Known Member
By the way, which speakers are you planning to import?
I am also planning to bring a BIC AMERICA F-12 from US. As my sister stays there and coming for a visit by May. She can purchase one at a cost of 200 Dollars or so. If she add that in her normal baggages, what situation she might face at the Airport ?
ISO
Active Member
This is very sound advice. Thanks.
Decadent_Spectre
Well-Known Member
It applies to everything IIRC. You need an IEC code.
Just to be clear, I do not hand carry items with me, everything has been imported through couriers/freight companies like Fedex,DHL,DB Schenker and Damco.
As mentioned importing is a hassle, it is a good idea to have help.
I have never paid 35-36% (net duty) on any Audio product. YMMV.
As noted customs can indeed sometimes insist on higher pricing than the actual based on the internet or try to place it in different categories. Try to label/describe the product clearly, emphasize the bill on which payment was sent and if necessary contact the seller for support.
Of note is that customs is willing to lump a 50$ bare plastic horn into the same category as a much higher priced finished horn speaker, because they are both called horns. I have experienced something similar recently, it took some convincing and work to make them understand.
Plan for "unplanned" expenses, they may occur sometimes.
ISO
Active Member
RP 260F
Friends Gulf air has normal size of check in baggage:
95cm(38ins) x 75cm(30ins) x 45cm(18ins)
All dimensions fit in the above criterial except height which is 109 cm. That is my main worry.
Gulfair also has special checked in baggage size:
190 cm (79in) x 75 cm (29.5in) x 65 cm (25.5in)
Well in this category my speaker box fits comfortably. But there are few categories like
- Zamzam Water
- Bicycles
- Golf Clubs
- Ski Equipment
- Surfboards and Windsurf boards and sails; kayaks and hand gliders
- SCUBA Diving Equipment
- Paragliding and Parachuting
- Kite-surfing
- Ten pin bowling
- Hockey/Lacrosse
- Tennis
- Archery
- Fishing
- Musical Instruments
Speaker Box fits in none of the above category is my main worry.
I recall my pass experience. I took sony TV by Gulfair.
Box length was 109 cm.
Allowed is 95 cm but they accepted my TV in Checked in Baggage. I hope they give same treatment to my speaker boxes.
singhsk1962
New Member
From UK to India Second hand speakers what is the duty levy by custom
krishnamurthy
Active Member
I would not buy used speakers to be shipped to India unless ofcourse you are carrying it with you on the flight. Flat 30% customs duty. Have all the invoices ready with price clearly shown. If anywhere in the documentation it says used, they may disallow the package or they look up the price of such speakers that are brand new and charge you 30% on it.
The Wall
Active Member
Hi all,
I intend to hand carry a tube amp from Singapore weighing around 30kgs, is there a possibility to get it safely through customs. Please advise
I intend to hand carry a tube amp from Singapore weighing around 30kgs, is there a possibility to get it safely through customs. Please advise
The Wall
Active Member
Now suppose I show this as an amp got from a low invoice value or gift, and self carried, would it still attract customs.
The Wall
Active Member
I believe beyond all these calculations , items worth 50 k can be brought in duty free.
keith_correa
Well-Known Member
I think most people here are confusing "imports" with personal baggage thus confusing matters further.
midhun280681
Member
My sincere advise is to compare the price of the used gears online(domestic) and then approach the local dealer for discounts, clearance, price drop and stuffs like that and then take a call coz most of the used gears where u find abroad are sold in our country(new) at heavy discounts as they were about to discontinued or already.
midhun280681
Member
It may not happen ever time but there is nothing wrong in checking.
blackscorpio
Active Member
99% of the times hand carried goods slip through without any charges, unless very obvious and well known friut
products.The Wall
Active Member
correct, I would believe that if brought as your check in luggage, the issue of paying customs can be avoided to a large extent.
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