"Customs Form description of contents" Topic

I am shipping a mix of metal and plastic WHFB and LOTR models overseas. On the customs form I put 'metal and plastic toy models'. At the PO I was grilled on the 'metal' part – are they precious metals? Are they ferrous or non-ferrous? Are they rare metals? Are they lead? How much is plastic and how much metal? It seemed like they were suspicious of possibly a weapon or ammunition or some other type of contraband. The package was going to Russia so maybe there are some restrictions I don't know about – I have received packages from Russia but this was my first time mailing something there. Any suggestions or examples of what you put on a customs form when shipping miniatures overseas? Any thoughts about shipping to Russia? I definitely don't want to put 'metal' again! Thank you!

I would just put "toy soldiers" and leave it at that.

pewter figurines or pewter game pieces is what I use. But I have not shipped to Russia.

You get specific and you are asking for trouble. "Toy Soldiers" or just "Toys" is what I say

"Model Soldiers" or "Toy Soldiers"

When asked at the Post Office, I say, loudly and clearly, "bomb making equipment!".

They usually just sigh and take the package…

Way back even before 9/11, our IT guy (a profession not noted for …) took some packages to the airport for express shipment. It went through X-Ray and the clerk said "That looks different."
IT guy said "It's not as if it's a bomb or anything." He got in a lot of trouble for that, and was too stupid to understand why. It was the airport's problem that "They couldn't take a joke."

I've received toy soldiers/miniatures/figures from overseas, many times. They typically put, "Toys," on the customs form. They leave it vague, on purpose.

Modern X-ray equipment is abolutely amazing at what it can detect. The decription is typically consulted only after the X-ray machine scans it. Try watching some of the Border Patrol shows on Netlix, if you have it, or any other, similar show. They block/blur the screen, to avoid showing just how good the X-ray machines really are, but… Based on what they say, and do, when they view a suspicious package, that machine is pretty amazing at what it picks up.

I have not ordered metal figures from overseas, since the late 90's; I've only ordered plastic mini's since around 2000. A vague declaration will only come into question if the X-ray machine flags the package as being suspicious -- when that happens, they will open it, regardless of the description. Cheers!

Use Toy Soldiers for your description.

You will have to also enter the number of items and their total weight. You can do this on one line of the form that you get from the post. For example:

Toy Soldiers. 15 items. 2 pounds total weight. $30 USD total value.

If you use PayPal and it's e-form then you have to fill in multiple line items for each item, so the manual form is actually easier to use.

I've been doing this for ten years so hopefully my experience helps you.

BTW, I use the same procedure for shipments to Russia. It just takes a bit more time to get there. :)

I would contact your purchaser about a useful description and custom rates.
I received a shipment of metal miniatures which customs deemed as a "luxury item' based on the description.
This resulted in a higher customs fee than otherwise.

Try putting "Little Men" and see what happens.

I use Metal Scale Models as a description. SOme countries are funny about the use of the word toys as it raises all sorts of safety issues for children.

The scale models thing also fits in with the tariff code.

Mike

Thanks to everyone for the replies, I will try the 'Toy Soldiers' (or just 'toys') idea – Black Hat Miniatures, thanks for the suggestion but I am hoping to avoid the word 'metal' if possible. Thanks again!!!

FWIW, I've also been advised not to use the word toy in customs declarations and to describe things as model soldiers instead. Reason being that there are requirements relating to safety with toys as the expectation is that they're for children.

Pewter game pieces?

"White metal castings" as a description of "Toy Soldiers" appears to have worked for me over the last 18 years.

That said, the advice about not using the word "Toy" might be good enough for me to start using "Miniature figures."

Too often--though never in a way I have yet been able to predict--my customers in the UK get slammed with outrageous custom or other fees. Maybe "Toys" has been a trigger?

TVAG

No TVAG, it happens to all items – the description will rarely have an effect on the duty charged unless it is a zero rated or VAT free item.

Just say "Toy Soldiers" or "figurines to be painted" avoid the word "metal". Too much information is a bad thing.

dh