International Shipping
About International Shipping
How much are customs duties and taxes?
What are my options to Canada?
Can you claim my package has a lower value than
it really does?
About International Shipping
Acme Guitar Works ships to most countries. International customers
can go through the checkout on our website, where you'll be presented
with appropriate UPS and US Postal Service shipping options and
prices. Payment may be made via Visa/MasterCard, PayPal, or bank
wire transfer. International wire transfers cost us $20 (assessed
by our bank) which will be added to your order. If you want to
pay by wire transfer, please email
us for more information.
International shipping is fraught with headaches, which is why
many US merchants won't ship internationally. The costs can be
high, and there is usually some extra paperwork required. Additionally,
many consumers have a vague idea of how fees are assessed, so
their perception can be that the merchant is charging an exorbitant
amount and that they're getting ripped off. So here's a little
clarification of the process and the expenses.
International Shipping Options
Acme ships with UPS (United Parcel Service) and the US
Postal Service. When you checkout on our website, you'll be presented
with available UPS and USPS shipping options and prices.
About UPS
UPS offers some benefits to you that you may not be aware of,
though their prices will often be a little higher than the US
Postal Service. Since UPS brokers their own packages, they offer
an end-to-end shipping solution for international customers. UPS
picks the package up from us and delivers it directly to you,
the package is never out of their possession or their system.
Consequently, there is total visibility into the package's whereabouts
and delivery status at all times. This virtually eliminates customs
delays, which we sometimes encounter with US Postal Service shipments
(which typically involve at least four government agencies: US
Postal Service, US Customs, receiving country postal service,
receiving country customs). Additionally, we use the UPS service
to email tracking information to customers when packages ship,
so you can track the package at any time from any web browser
in the world.
Typically, UPS Worldwide Express delivery times are quicker than
air shipments with the US Postal Service, with delivery times
of 2-4 days rather than 3-7 days. And again, customs delays are
usually not an issue with UPS since they carry the package end-to-end.
The shipping fee you pay when you place an order on our website
includes brokerage fees (except with UPS Standard to Canada, see
more below). However, because UPS brokers the package, they
have to pay any duties/taxes due the government before delivering
the package to you. They charge a fee for this that varies depending
on the country, usually it's a small percentage of the value but
it can also be a set amount if the value of the package falls
below a certain minimum. When they deliver the package to you,
you'll be responsible to pay any duties/customs that they've prepaid
the government, plus their fee (for more detail, please visit
the UPS website
and select your country from the menu).
About the US Postal Service
We are offering two levels of service, based on the USPS rates/services
update on 5/14/07. Our rates include insurance and delivery confirmation.
All packages will be traceable via the USPS
website.
Express Mail International
2-5 day delivery typical
Global Priority International
4-6 day delivery typical
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How much are customs duties and taxes?
Sorry, no getting around this one. Your order will probably be
charged customs fees (taxes, duties) when it arrives. Unfortunately,
we have no control over these fees (and neither do UPS or the
USPS), they're assessed by your government. If you are not familiar
with the customs fees in your country, please contact your local
customs office for more information.
Acme Guitar Works has no way of estimating customs fees, taxes,
duties, etc., so we won't be able to give you a quote. Please
contact your local customs office for more information.
The shipping charges you pay to Acme Guitar Works do NOT include
customs fees, import taxes, or duties (though brokerage fees are
included on air shipments). If you refuse to pay the customs fees
when your order arrives, the shipment will be returned to Acme
Guitar Works and we may be charged for customs fees and/or return
shipping costs. If any such fees are assessed, they will be deducted
from any refund due.
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What are my options to Canada?
Due to NAFTA, shipments of US-made products to Canada are duty-free.
This will apply to all shipments from Acme Guitar Works.
UPS Standard
Ground service, delivery times vary depending on your distance
from the Philadelphia area (where we are). Brokerage fees not
included, you will have to pay brokerage fees (plus a couple of
other UPS fees) in addition to GST and PST (or QST). We would
suggest that you consider Worldwide Express or one of the US Postal
Service options rather than UPS Standard, as they're often cheaper
in the long run, and almost always faster.
UPS Worldwide Express
Next-business-day delivery to Canada. Brokerage is included, but
UPS does charge a fee for fronting the taxes that are due to the
Canadian government. That is, because UPS brokers the package,
they pay all monies due the Canadian government (GST and PST or
QST) in advance, then are reimbursed by you when they deliver
the package. They charge a modest fee for this, so you will be
responsible for this fee plus the tax amount upon delivery.
US Postal Service Express Mail International
1-2 day delivery typical. All taxes apply.
US Postal Service Global Priority International
2-4 day delivery typical. All taxes apply.
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Can you claim my package has
a lower value than it really does?
We get asked to do this all the time, but we cannot, because
if we get caught doing it then the US government won't just look
the other way. We're a business, and we're expected to conduct
ourselves accordingly, and committing fraud so that our customers
can save on their taxes is a serious and prosecutable offense.
In fact, some of the US' most famous organized crime figures (Al
Capone, John Gotti) have been prosecuted and imprisoned for tax
evasion; the US government takes these matters seriously.
We would love to help you save money, but we will not risk incurring
legal problems to do it.
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