Quote:
Originally Posted by leon
Maybe I should have worded my thread on this subject a bit better.
It was not that i was trying to slip stuff into the country, under the counter, so to speak, what I really meant is it a case of chance if they (Customs) check your package or do they check every package.
I was quite happy to pay duties on the goods, but thought that there maybe times that a package of high value just goes through and is never checked.
Leon
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Hi Leon,
No, they don't physically check every package as it would be impossible, given the number of shipments that go through the system. The only time, as far as I am aware, that Customs opens a package is because of something suspicious, i.e, the usual contraband. Otherwise, they go by the paperwork, unless, as David suggested, that a company is on a watch list. I don't know about such watch lists, but I am sure Customs are aware of such companies.
If you are dealing with a well known and legitimate company you shouldn't have any problems. I have bought a lot of expensive stuff in from overseas and have only ever had one package opened, which contained a laser (which was listed on the paperwork), but fortunately I had the appropriate authorisation anyway and it wasn't an issue.
Other than that one time, I have never had an issue. I just pay the clearance costs and GST to the shipping company (usually FedEX) and happily go on my way.
The only thing that does sometimes surprises me is the time some things take to get here. I once ordered some stuff from Bintel (Sydney and OPT (California), on the same day, and the OPT shipment arrived before the Bintel. Most times, it appears to be just as quick to get stuff from overseas than from over east, but then WA does stand for "Wait Awhile"
The only shipments that take time to get here are stuff that is stuff sent via surface shipping, The longest lead time I have had via surface is about three months.
Cheers Pete