Personal Goods Customs Clearance (via sea freight)

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Alanslegal

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Jun 22, 2007
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Hi there,

I am looking to import one electronic massage chair for private, residential use from Singapore via shipping, and the Singapore trader advised that they will send it to Port Botany ......

But I am not too sure, on how I would handle the transaction once the goods arrive or what I need to do..... does anybody know how to proceed with this? I can't exactly turn up at the ports and pick up my chair ;)

The cost savings are around 40% at this stage.

I'm looking to get one of these:-

OSIM Australia WebShop - OSIM uDivine Massage Chair | Human-3D massage chair | OSIM
 
Has the seller done this before sending goods to Oz ?

As a guess you may need customs agent to arrange clearance, etc. Look in yellow pages
There is a swag of port / governmental / 10% GST fees that may need to be paid
Even the packaging important: for example timber needs certification if used. But in your case would assume its cardboard - foam packing

If you can get is CIF "cost insurance freight" and/or FIS "Free into store" it can be delivered to your door by the seller including freight, insurance & customs clearance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incoterms

Customs have auctions every few months of stuff they have confiscated on importation. Often cars are auctioned. Other stuff is sent to landfill or burnt / crushed
 
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Why can't you turn up and pick it up? (Assuming documentation is in order etc...)

I've had firearms picked up from the Detained Goods section at Port Botany in person by my "authorised rep" (NOT someone from a freight company).. and I clearly could have dropped in there myself...

Is it different for other types of goods?
 
Some people have too much money;)
 
Normally if something like that there will be a freighter forwarder involved who will help with the paperwork and be a customs broker for you. The company you are buying it from in Singapore will likely have a freight forwarder in Singapore they will have a branch or agent in Sydney who will deal with at your end. I haven't done being stuff into Australia but for other countries. The general process is that the freight forwarder will do the paperwork for it, you complete the paperwork and take it to customs. Maybe need to pay GST or duty. And then they tell the freight forwarder the item can be released, then you go pick it up.
 
Thanks all, I will ask Osim Singapore on what needs to be done. Sounds like a broker/agent is in order and hopefully Osim SG can assist :)
 
Now you're stretching the memory banks - a company I was involved with a number of years ago used to be involved in importing goods.

I would start with finding out from the trader which company they will be using to freight the chair and do the customs & export paperwork and if possible, use the same or allied freight forwarding company here in Australia.

The freight forwarding company will (should) coordinate the location and removal of the chair from the container once it has arrived, custom's clearance documentation for the chair, and notification to you for pickup from their warehouse or arrangement of delivery (depending on your choice).

From memory, it will usually take about 2 ~ 4 days from docking to availability.
 
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