Show Price On Packing Slip?

[olimits7]

Hi,

I was wondering do you think it's better not to show the price of the product on the packing slip for international orders (customs)?

I was thinking of doing this because I was thinking if the price isn't stated on the packing slip then customs would just have to go by the price that is stated on the customs form...

Thank you,

olimits7

[LizaJane]

Do you ship insured? In my experience, You cannot file a claim for more then what is shown on the customs form. If you are not insuring the products for full retail value on the customs form, you will not receive full value if the package is lost or product damages.
And, in most cases, you will not be reimbursed for shipping costs. Think of claiming full value as a way to recoup all or part of these shipping costs when you need to reship. And of course, replacement costs for international shipping ( cost + shipping ... again ) can end up more then the original sale , including shipping!
I have had many customers ask me to lie on customs forms. ( of which you can be fined and they can be fined as well) I have never lost a sell when telling then sorry, no we cannot lie on a federal form.

[jecasc]

I was thinking of doing this because I was thinking if the price isn't stated on the packing slip then customs would just have to go by the price that is stated on the customs form...

Thank you very much - but no!

On the contrary - always attach a copy of the invoice with the real sales price on the outside of the parcel along with the customs form!

Every second time I order something in the US the seller wants to do me a favor and puts false prices on the customs form or forgets to attach a copy of the invoice outside on the parcel. And every time it ends up with me driving 30 miles to the next custom office together with a copy of my bank account statement or a printout of my Paypal account where I have to fill out several pages of paperwork, open the parcel in front of a customs officer instead of paying the customs duty to the postman at my door. And usually it takes two or three weeks until I get a notification from the customs - if I get any at all - that they have a parcel for me again with a false customs declaration.

Especially if you send to Europe - the European Union has a comprehensive customs and tariffs database that is updated daily. They seem to now the market price for every single piece of junk that is sold anywhere in the world.

So never ever lie in customs declarations. Not one parcel that was sent to me with a false customs declaration ever got through.

And even if the parcel gets through the customs: The buyer is obliged to check the customs declaration and report any errors. If he does not and it is found out later he can end up with a big fine or even before court.

Never do it - even if the buyer asks you to.

[sun818]

Packing slips by definition do not have the sale price included. If it had a price, it would be called a sales receipt. Packing slips should just have the quantity and item description. It is bad enough the contents have to be described, but if you put a price on it -- there is greater temptation for theft. Some countries are famous for fraud. For example, my insurance provider has special clauses for Italy and Russia. For Italy, they require 15 additional days before I can put a claim in. For Russia, their responsibility ends once the package leaves the cargo plane.

[jwolthuis]

We always include a sales receipt, showing line item prices, sub-total, shipping, and total, in triplicate on the outside of international packages, along with the customs forms.

Inside the parcel, we include a packing slip, with initials and circled quantities by the person packing the order. The packing slip does't have pricing, but is used to ensure to the customer that the specific items and quantities contained in the box were double-checked before shipment. It cuts down on the "I didn't get this item"-type of complaints.

[jecasc]

It is bad enough the contents have to be described, but if you put a price on it -- there is greater temptation for theft.

The commercial invoice with prices and detailed product description is the most important document for the customs and mandatory. If you do not attach it outside at the parcel your customer will nearly always have to drive to the customs office and bring some proof of what he actually payed for the goods. The parcel will then be opened and inspected by a customs officer.

Without commercial invoice - no customs handling.

If you are afraid of theft, insure the parcel.

[sun818]

> nearly always have to drive to the customs office and
> bring some proof of what he actually payed for the goods.

You can't generalize like that. It depends on who you ship with, what you sell, your price points, and how you prepare your documents.

> If you are afraid of theft, insure the parcel.

Again, it depends on each business... but we come out ahead paying out claims from our own pocket than paying for insurance. The labor and time involved with filing a claim and customer service is not worth it. But that is the case for my business -- I don't know if it applies to you nor anyone else.

[LizaJane]

We self insure most shipments for delivery here in the states. However, international shipments are always shipped insured. Usually by USPS Our shipping software makes this very easy.

> if the price isn't stated on the packing slip then customs would just have to go by the price that is stated on the customs form...

Am I assuming too much that you wnat to put a lesser value on the customs form? If so, very sorry!
But, if the point of this is to claim a lesser value on the customs form than what would shon on an invoice, for the customer to pay less/no tax and or duty, you are jeopardizing your business. And, they are risking fines.

[sun818]

> you are jeopardizing your business.

Are there actual case studies of businesses being jeopardized because of declaration values not matching actual sales figures? I hear this doom-and-gloom a lot online, but I'm curious what percentage of businesses actually get prosecuted if at all.

[jwolthuis]

Are there case studies that show the percentage of drivers who speed that actually get a speeding ticket? Probably not. So can we all recommend everyone drive fast?

It's the law; just like collecting/submitting sales tax, having a business license, etc. You can choose to break any of them.

[ShipSameDay]

You do not need to put pricing on the invoice or have the invoice on the outside of the carton. The selling value needs to be on the customs form with the correct Harmonized Code for each item. We ship 200-300 packages a day internationally, 50% of those to Canada. Customs is not concerned with your invoice, they are only concerned with the customs form whcih serves as your (Commercial Invoice).

[LizaJane]

Some countries do accept the US postal service customs form with no invoice needed. Other countries still require an enclosed invoice.
Yessterday - we shipped to Mexico - If I had not checked the USPS site I would not have known the below. Each country has their own customs/iport rules.

Observations when shipping to Mexico

Goods whose commercial value exceed U.S. $70 dollars should be accompanied by a commercial invoice.
Import permits or licenses are required for merchandise exceeding 5000 Mexican pesos. Merchandise valued less than 5000 pesos does not require import permits.

[LizaJane]

And - for those who think thet sell such a unique item that customs will never know the "actual value"
Search for the below article that appeared in the October 2001 issue of The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel
U.S. Customs Service Extends Its Reach: Product Catalogs Are Now FairGame for Import Penalties

[ShipSameDay]

Its recommended that all countries receive a commercial Invoice regardless of the value to avoid delays at Customs. We ship world wide by Fed Ex and USPS and very rarely have any delays at the borders. We use an enclosed company invoice for the customer as well.