Fyi on board buyer beware

The one and only time my husband and I were flagged at customs was the time my husband forgot to sign his name at the bottom of the form. Now, he makes sure he ALWAYS signs his name. It wasn't fun watching them go through all our dirty laundry. :eek:

I'm sure it was even less fun for them.

OP, sorry you felt misled by the salesperson. I think you now know most of the ins and outs of the declaration form and will take them into account the next time you're contemplating a purchase outside the US.

Wow you need to declare your imports, who'd have thought it.

So I am kind of thinking the $500 was a fine for not disclosing it on the customs form. You should always declare everything you purchase.

Your post implies you did not declare it but were caught because RCCL told on you....

One time coming through customs in Miami the official asked "Did you purchase anything?" I replied "Yea, I purchased all that crap you buy on vacation and in six months you look at it in your home and think to yourself " Why the h*ll did I waste money on that crap?"........the official said " I do the same thing"......"on your way"......:D

Second I would never buy an expensive anything from those carnival barkers on any ship or port.....:cool:

I never cease to be flabbergasted by people who go thousands of miles from home and spend tens of thousands with a person they don't know on objects such as diamonds they know nothing about with tax laws concerning which they are clueless.:eek:

I never cease to be flabbergasted by people who go thousands of miles from home and spend tens of thousands with a person they don't know on objects such as diamonds they know nothing about with tax laws concerning which they are clueless.:eek:

Ah, but then the item is more "valuable" and "sentimental" when bought some place other than the vendor down the street at home.:rolleyes:

 

Cruise lines do track what you purchase on board and tell US Customs. I've heard that can also happen for purchases at "recommended" stores in port where you give enough info for them to ID you. Could be wrong about that.

 

 

However, it is also your responsibility to know the law. It's a lesson for anyone -- be sure you know what the law is before you make any purchases abroad.

You are not wrong on that. I bought a nice piece of jewelry in the Caribbean before and the reputable shops most definitely report this to customs. I remember them filling out the forms.

I have cruised pretty extensively and never had any trouble finding out the customs allowance ... it is different in some places ... I think some islands actually had an extra allowance. Anyhow, the allowances were pretty much listed on passenger's documentation. I have never heard them make it into a secret. And ... I think I would have walked right out of any store that suggested that I shouldn't worry about paying duty to customs.

So I am kind of thinking the $500 was a fine for not disclosing it on the customs form. You should always declare everything you purchase.

 

Your post implies you did not declare it but were caught because RCCL told on you....

If you would've read through the posts you would see my second post stating we did in fact declare the purchase on our customs form prior to even exiting the ship (the night before it was filled out). We were flagged as we exited the ship, our passports taken away, no explanation what so evere and escorted to customs by RCL, it was horrible we thought something happened on land to our family, fleeting thoughts of something is wrong went through our heads. However when brought to customs desk they asked for our declaration form, it was then I handed our declaration form to officer. The $500 was duty/tax on the purchases made on board, customs has a roster of large amounts won/purchased on board given to them prior to allowing passengers off the ship. My point was that I was just angry because we were told that there would be no additional fees, its "no problem" was the response when I asked about customs to the manager of the shop,^^^^ had he said we would have to pay 500 I would've haggled more with the price of the item. I would've appreciated a heads up on how much we would've had to pay customs before hand not lied too that there wasn't any additional monies to put out. Lesson learned. Secondly the issue about my original price stating its better to buy in the islands is that there is more haggling on the price of an item that can happen thus making customs process/duty less painful.

No bashing please. This is just a quick FYI for those that may not know. If you buy anything onboard of high value ie;diamonds, gold, watches, jewelry be advised although you may think your getting a good deal you will have to pay customs more money when you get off the ship.

We specifically asked and were told "no worries, it will be no problem" however when getting off the ship apparently RCL turns in a rooster with every large purchase made to customs and we were flagged, needless to say it cost us an additional $500 we weren't prepared for.

Best bet is to buy from reputable dealer in the islands DON'T buy onboard.

If it is over a certain amount and a dutiable item, you have to pay duty. The US customs forms/directions say so. So can't get away with it, pleading ignorance.

Just out of curiosity, and you don't have to give a specific answer, but what did you purchase that triggered a duty of $500?

If it is over a certain amount and a dutiable item, you have to pay duty. The US customs forms/directions say so. So can't get away with it, pleading ignorance.

 

 

Just out of curiosity, and you don't have to give a specific answer, but what did you purchase that triggered a duty of $500?

It was that heart of the sea pendant worn by that old lady from that movie with that song.

It was that heart of the sea pendant worn by that old lady from that movie with that song.

....I suspect it was the pendant worn by Ursula from the Ariel show......:D

The cruise line should disclose if they are going to share your purchase info. with customs. IMO it is a violation of privacy.

I am from Canada and sometimes shop in Buffalo...Macys or other retailers do not fwd. your purchase information to customs and RCCL shouldn't either.

Customs can do their own due diligence to catch people over their limit, not have RCCL do the work for them...PRIVACY.

Here is something from my cruise on the Quantum last year that I have been wondering about. Onboard, I bought a $2,000 RCI exclusive Tag Heuer watch. I declared it on the form, had the receipt in my pocket & the watch was in my carry-on in case the CBP officer needed to see it (plus I wanted it in my possession anyway). From reading posts on here, I knew that the cruise line reports large purchases made onboard, so there was a chance that I would be buzzed instead of the usual bing-bong when my card was scanned at disembarkation.

However, when my card was scanned, I got the usual bing-bong & the Customs officer simply looked at the form and my passport & waved me through. He did not inform me that I had to pay a duty on the watch. Now that cruise only went to Labadee & San Juan, so I wonder if the port stops had anything to do with it. Does anyone know if this could be the case as to why I was able to go through w/o paying duty?

Here is something from my cruise on the Quantum last year that I have been wondering about. Onboard, I bought a $2,000 RCI exclusive Tag Heuer watch. I declared it on the form, had the receipt in my pocket & the watch was in my carry-on in case the CBP officer needed to see it (plus I wanted it in my possession anyway). From reading posts on here, I knew that the cruise line reports large purchases made onboard, so there was a chance that I would be buzzed instead of the usual bing-bong when my card was scanned at disembarkation.

 

However, when my card was scanned, I got the usual bing-bong & the Customs officer simply looked at the form and my passport & waved me through. He did not inform me that I had to pay a duty on the watch. Now that cruise only went to Labadee & San Juan, so I wonder if the port stops had anything to do with it. Does anyone know if this could be the case as to why I was able to go through w/o paying duty?

Probably one of the most confusing web pages in the federal government...

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/types-exemptions

but the short answer is no.

Were you traveling alone or with other family members sharing your address? You'd get an $800 exemption per person, so if there were two of you, that's $1600 exempt, plus 3% on the next $1000 (I think that's multiplied by the number of family members as well, but I'm not sure), so that would be $12. Even if you were alone, it would be about $36, which is probably more than the calculated duty on a stainless steel date only watch.

Right or wrong, it's really not worth it, and they don't seem to push it for that small amount.

Probably one of the most confusing web pages in the federal government...

 

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/types-exemptions

 

but the short answer is no.

 

Were you traveling alone or with other family members sharing your address? You'd get an $800 exemption per person, so if there were two of you, that's $1600 exempt, plus 3% on the next $1000 (I think that's multiplied by the number of family members as well, but I'm not sure), so that would be $12. Even if you were alone, it would be about $36, which is probably more than the calculated duty on a stainless steel date only watch.

 

Right or wrong, it's really not worth it, and they don't seem to push it for that small amount.

Thank you for the response. No, there was someone else with me with the same address. I just thought that maybe because it only went to Labadee (private island- no big ticket items there) & San Juan (US Port) that large purchases were treated differently.

Just how does Customs know that someone has spent a lot of money on the ship? I know that Customs is presented with a list, but where is the list? I've never seen anything on the desk when we go through Customs (and I snoop!!). Do they memorize this list? I don't understand how some people are flagged and stopped and others aren't.

Interesting.

I've heard that some of the shops in the Caribbean islands ask what ship you are on and report back to that ship when an expensive item is purchased. Can't confirm that, but we have been asked what ship we are on to get a "discount."

We don't buy much any more. There's only so many $10 necklaces I can handle! And I do claim even those.

Concerning large purchases made on the ship. It would be tied to your SeaPass card. So, when you disembark you may hear a "buzz" sound instead of the usual "ding" if you made a large purchase onboard. They will pull you aside to look at your Customs form to make sure it is filled out correctly & collect the duty if necessary. Usually, there is a Customs officer already on the ship, or you might bypass the usual line in the terminal if this happens.

As for shops on the islands asking you what ship you're on, they are really only doing that so they can receive credit from the cruise line. They don't usually report large purchases to the ship and/or Customs.

Haven't ever been "pre-flagged" for any of my $1000- $2000 purchases on the islands or the ships. They look at my declaration paperwork & send me thru.

If you would've read through the posts you would see my second post stating we did in fact declare the purchase on our customs form prior to even exiting the ship (the night before it was filled out). We were flagged as we exited the ship, our passports taken away, no explanation what so evere and escorted to customs by RCL, it was horrible we thought something happened on land to our family, fleeting thoughts of something is wrong went through our heads. However when brought to customs desk they asked for our declaration form, it was then I handed our declaration form to officer. The $500 was duty/tax on the purchases made on board, customs has a roster of large amounts won/purchased on board given to them prior to allowing passengers off the ship. My point was that I was just angry because we were told that there would be no additional fees, its "no problem" was the response when I asked about customs to the manager of the shop,^^^^ had he said we would have to pay 500 I would've haggled more with the price of the item. I would've appreciated a heads up on how much we would've had to pay customs before hand not lied too that there wasn't any additional monies to put out. Lesson learned. Secondly the issue about my original price stating its better to buy in the islands is that there is more haggling on the price of an item that can happen thus making customs process/duty less painful.

So in short words, you are pi**ed that the guy was better in the haggling game than you.:p:p:p

Concerning large purchases made on the ship. It would be tied to your SeaPass card. So, when you disembark you may hear a "buzz" sound instead of the usual "ding" if you made a large purchase onboard. They will pull you aside to look at your Customs form to make sure it is filled out correctly & collect the duty if necessary. Usually, there is a Customs officer already on the ship, or you might bypass the usual line in the terminal if this happens.

 

As for shops on the islands asking you what ship you're on, they are really only doing that so they can receive credit from the cruise line. They don't usually report large purchases to the ship and/or Customs.

This does make sense.

But the whole thing seems so arbitrary. Some are dinged, others not. Some pulled aside, others not. Some stopped at Customs, some not.

So random.

This does make sense.

But the whole thing seems so arbitrary. Some are dinged, others not. Some pulled aside, others not. Some stopped at Customs, some not.

So random.

...............your statement reflect that you do not deal with the Federal government very much....:eek:........just look at the justice system.....;):rolleyes:

The cruise line should disclose if they are going to share your purchase info. with customs. IMO it is a violation of privacy.

I am from Canada and sometimes shop in Buffalo...Macys or other retailers do not fwd. your purchase information to customs and RCCL shouldn't either.

Customs can do their own due diligence to catch people over their limit, not have RCCL do the work for them...PRIVACY.

Summarily, I agree with you on the feelings of it being a privacy violation, but it's US customs policy that purchase information on board vessels arriving into the US is shared by the cruise line to CBP.

I was traveling by myself.

I bought a 2200 breitling in Cozumel

I did not want to risk getting caught, and I am just an honest person

so I put it on my declaration.

The guy was very nice, thanked me for reporting it. He took me into a back room.. It was actually fun, I watched them tossing a few peoples luggage that had lied about having something.. ( sorta like having a front row seat to one of those locked up abroad shows) In the end I think I paid them something like $40.00 ( a fraction of what sales tax would have even been) so it was very negligible for me and the whole process took maybe 20 minutes.

it was that heart of the sea pendant worn by that old lady from that movie with that song.

lol!:d

I was traveling by myself.

I bought a 2200 breitling in Cozumel

I did not want to risk getting caught, and I am just an honest person

so I put it on my declaration.

 

The guy was very nice, thanked me for reporting it. He took me into a back room.. It was actually fun, I watched them tossing a few peoples luggage that had lied about having something.. ( sorta like having a front row seat to one of those locked up abroad shows) In the end I think I paid them something like $40.00 ( a fraction of what sales tax would have even been) so it was very negligible for me and the whole process took maybe 20 minutes.

.......you should have checked the pawn shops for you can get great bargains on "trinkets" like that for short money......people still gotta eat so the first thing to go is wrist candy.....;)

No bashing? You've just advised everyone to break the law by lying on the customs form!

Where did you get that from? They said to buy on the island and not on board ship.