R2C2 cost of importing to USA

It appears that the only supplier of complete R2C2 boards is in Portugal.
[My apologies, I had it wrong when I thought it was England!]
[www.3dprinting-r2c2.com is the only one I could find]

Is there someone here in the US who has purchased (imported) one
and is willing to share the information on (a) import duties and
(b) US dollar cost for the configuration you purchased.

I'm looking as buying one of their kits, without either the stepper motors
or power supply, since those can both be obtained cheaply here
and are heavy. I'll bet Paypal will tack on a
currency conversion fee which I forgot about.

I'm curious what US customs will charge me and, since I've never imported
anything, how the process works for something mailed (1st class mail).

Frank Pirz
Media Conversions

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2012 05:58PM by Media Conversions.

I think you will find they are in Portugal, not the UK.

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[www.hydraraptor.blogspot.com]

Short answer: duty should be $0, unless someone screws up.

Longer answer: Duty is defined based on something called the "Harmonized Tariff Schedule". It's a giant thing that supposedly covers pretty much everything. Chapter 85 should cover it, and I would consider pretty much any RepRap related board to fall under chapter 85, heading 8542.31.00-00:
Electronic integrated circuits; parts thereof:
Electronic integrated circuits:
Processors and controllers, whether or not
combined with memories, converters, logic circuits,
amplifiers, clock and timing circuits, or other circuits

There's something called "nominal trade status" that, if the country you're importing it from doesn't have, you'd have to pay 35%. But that's just Cuba and North Korea right now.

But, really, the place that intends to ship it will need to declare it, which means they must specify which subheading the objects fall under. So, if it's keeping you up at night, ask them for the code they're going to declare it under, and look it up here.

FWIW, over the past 14 years I've imported pens, ink, books, magazines, CDs, video games, toys, electronics, tools, probably lots more things I'm forgetting from all over the place and not once have I been asked to pay anything extra to the gov'mint.

Mazaw
I had found the 'Harmonizied Tarifs page at"
[www.usitc.gov]
And had looked at chapter 85. It's, if nothing else, intimidating.

Francisco Mendes from 3dprinting in response to my email says the R2C2
is indeed described as electronic processors/components so yes, the
tariff should be zero.

I was hoping to hear from some folks in the US to confirm that belief.

Frank Pirz
Media Conversions

I recieved Mine last month with no fees, just shipping costs which were not that bad.

I did get an email from customs, though, asking what it was, and thought it was an electronics kit for a car or somthing (would have fees aplied then). They had no idea what I was talking about even after I tried explaining, and just kind went "ok....... i'll pass it then....."