How to recieve a package from Australia to the United States?

Barry

Has it not occurred to you that this could be a scam? Of course the shipping will be expensive because she will add it to the $2k that is going into her bank. Surely you can find a suitable dress in the US for similar money? You need to rethink this matter or it may all end in tears.

John P

Indeed best to abandon that idea, and buy a dress locally. Much safer to spend that large amount of money with a source which you know well.

Snezzy

The guy running this fraud has a nice picture and a nice story. As soon as he has your money you will never hear from him again.

Anonymous

You are buying a very expensive dress that you CANNOT see AND touch before buying. Not a very good idea.

Ghost Of Christmas Past

Basically, you put it in a box and send it by courier. The sender needs to complete a customs declaration. In it, she should say that the dress is second hand. Then there's no customs duty. If it's new (or US Customs don't believe you), you will have to pay customs duty to the courier when it is delivered.

Kittysue

Why would you spend $2k on a wedding dress you have not even tried on?? If you've been dress shopping you know that sizes mean nothing. You could fit in a size 6 in one brand and a size 10 in another. I was a bridesmaid in a wedding earlier this year where the bride bought her dress online and it did not arrive until 4 days before the wedding due to customs delays. When she got it, it didn't fit at all and she had to run around trying to find a ready to wear dress that didn't require alterations 3 days before her wedding. Also how do you know this woman even has a dress? If you are going to spend that much, only do so through an escrow company like escrow.com. It will cost about $25 for the service, but the seller won't get her money until you have received the dress. If she doesn't send the dress and it is a scam, the seller knows that the only way you could get your money back would be to fly to Australia, file a suit in small claims court there and wait for a court date. The seller knows it would cost you a lot more than $2000 to do this and that they can easily rip you off without consequence

STEVEN F

I suspect fraud on her part. UPS isn't all that expensive. The MOST US customs would do is open the package to ensure it contains what the paperwork claims.

Spock (rhp)

does the seller have the original sales receipt from the US? If yes and you can get it -- you may be able to avoid customs duty entirely. And -- I've not personally done this and am not an attorney, so keep looking for a definitive answer

Edwena

On the customs form, have it noted as a "used" wedding dress, i.e. clothes and it can enter/be handled as a regular package. If it is for retail, it has to go through customs, get inspected and taxed. Now, if you are going to send a dress like that, spend the money and send it UPS or Fed ex. And insure it. Don't send it through the postal mail. Many countries have ways of losing clothes and personal items when shipped through the regular mail. I would also tell the person sending the gown to box it up and not let anyone in the package business see it. Take it to the UPS store, fill out the forms and pay the money to ship it. It could be several hundred dollars. If there is a problem, cancel the deal because there is a scam involved. She may take your money and no dress.