...but it's still cheaper than paying Korean premium prices.
In the past, I've almost always ordered my juice with hardware... and it's almost always slipped through customs untaxed. This time, I ordered only the juice (I've seriously got too much hardware at this point)... and oh, man, am I getting nailed.
I ordered 7 bottles, each 30mL... and only 20mL is exempt from import tax. At the rate of 400won per 1mL, I have to cough up 76,000won for the tax and an additional 38,000won for education tax (calculated at 50% of the first tax). Urgh. I only paid about 60,000won for the juice to begin with...
Anyway, it works out to about 19,000won per 30mL. That's still much cheaper than Korean suppliers... but for the added cost, I'm thinking I might as well make my next orders only 3 bottles and throw some hardware in there... But my co-teacher said it's just in the summer that customs always gets strict and comes down hard on imports.
---I can't confirm the next steps since it's a long weekend and the Banks don't re-open until Tuesday
All in all, my package has spent over a week in customs waiting...
In the past, I've almost always ordered my juice with hardware... and it's almost always slipped through customs untaxed. This time, I ordered only the juice (I've seriously got too much hardware at this point)... and oh, man, am I getting nailed.
I ordered 7 bottles, each 30mL... and only 20mL is exempt from import tax. At the rate of 400won per 1mL, I have to cough up 76,000won for the tax and an additional 38,000won for education tax (calculated at 50% of the first tax). Urgh. I only paid about 60,000won for the juice to begin with...
Anyway, it works out to about 19,000won per 30mL. That's still much cheaper than Korean suppliers... but for the added cost, I'm thinking I might as well make my next orders only 3 bottles and throw some hardware in there... But my co-teacher said it's just in the summer that customs always gets strict and comes down hard on imports.
By the way, for interest sake here is the process:
1. EMS tracking reported that my package was stopped for inspection;
2. Three days later, I got an EMS letter with a notice from the International Post Office;
3. I had to fillout and fax one of the pages to the IPO (needed a Korean to help translate) (you could also send it back by e-mail or call them or mail back, but fax is quick and painless);
4. The IPO called me to get my e-mail address (next time, I'll include it on the fax, she didn't speak much English so communication sucked);
5. The IPO sent me an e-mail with a tax receipt, which I have to take down to Nonghyup Bank where I can pay the tax (no online banking available, that sucks);
1. EMS tracking reported that my package was stopped for inspection;
2. Three days later, I got an EMS letter with a notice from the International Post Office;
3. I had to fillout and fax one of the pages to the IPO (needed a Korean to help translate) (you could also send it back by e-mail or call them or mail back, but fax is quick and painless);
4. The IPO called me to get my e-mail address (next time, I'll include it on the fax, she didn't speak much English so communication sucked);
5. The IPO sent me an e-mail with a tax receipt, which I have to take down to Nonghyup Bank where I can pay the tax (no online banking available, that sucks);
---I can't confirm the next steps since it's a long weekend and the Banks don't re-open until Tuesday
6. I assume they'll send the package to me but if I understand correctly, I might be required to pay a pick-up fee (a few bucks?) which I hope is payable upon delivery... if I'm home, no problem.
All in all, my package has spent over a week in customs waiting...