Want to buy mother of the bride dress in NYC

paddyrg

Your poor Mr...He thought he was going on holiday not shopping! ;-)

dollywops

paddyrg wrote: »

Your poor Mr...He thought he was going on holiday not shopping! ;-)

My poor Mr - I don't think so. Sightseeing and shopping are both on the itinerary.

He and DS can't wait to go to Macy's (floor 1 1/2) where they have always bought infinitely more than myself and DD. Also, a planned trip to the New Jersey Mall elicits much joy from the men.

marsman802

zagfles wrote: »

Never happened to me, but it does happen. A colleague had their bag searched when going through the green channel off a NY flight (she didn't have anything that needed declaring but they had a good look at everything).

Customs aren't thick, if they do do a search they'll spot a new expensive designer dress, they can probably tell from the care labels etc that it's from the US, and if you're off a US flight they'll ask you to prove where you got it from and may even confiscate it till you do.

Hey mate - all good points.

It does happen and I have seen people getting searched but playing the odds the customs guys are looking for certain people.

What's the worst that would happen? You'd just have to pay the tax unless you had something akin to major smuggling of multiple items.

Doshwaster

I must have flown back from the US over 30 times and I've never been stopped at Customs, and I usually have several hundred pound of shopping with me. As long as you dispose of the price tickets, packaging and bag then there is nothing to say that you bought the item on that trip. The people who get caught are those who walk through the Green channel carrying Macy's bags.

totallybored

zagfles wrote: »

Customs aren't thick, if they do do a search they'll spot a new expensive designer dress, they can probably tell from the care labels etc that it's from the US, and if you're off a US flight they'll ask you to prove where you got it from and may even confiscate it till you do.

Half of my wardrobe in from the US so most of my luggage would have US labels. However, not all bought from one trip and not all bought in the US. I order from Nieman Marcus, Saks, Macys etc online and all taxes are included. I also have US stuff bought from various countries around the world that have original labels in English. I have worried in the past in case I'm stopped and they can only find a pair of Sainburys socks in my luggage.

richardw

I must have flown back from the US over 30 times.... and I usually have several hundred pound of shopping with me.

Er perhaps edit this out so not to give MSE extra work if HMRC contact them.

phatbear

marsman802 wrote: »

Who has been stopped coming back from a flight to USA by customs?

I've never been stopped but i've stopped plenty of people

zagfles wrote: »

Customs aren't thick,

Its true and we're good looking too, oh and its border force nowdays, however if you asked me I'd still identify myself as a customs officer

marsman802 wrote: »

What's the worst that would happen? You'd just have to pay the tax unless you had something akin to major smuggling of multiple items.

I've seized everything they bought as they were royal'y taking the you know what

marsman802

Haha nice reply!
That's what I mean - you bring loads then thats going to cause problems. The odd item is impossible to prove.
How have you guys dealt with the influx of ipads and other apple products? If the device is totally removed from the box and the american power cord thrown away I imagine there isn't much you could identify to say whether its new or not?

phatbear

marsman802 wrote: »

I imagine there isn't much you could identify to say whether its new or not?

Well i cant go into specifics but even on the most basic level your serial number on an ipad will tell me, or anyone, when the item was registered from warranty purposes if this during your trip then you bought it over there and if its unregistered why are you travelling with it?

If theres a shadow of a doubt seize the items and its up to you to disprove my suspicions

marsman802

Ah very good!
This is all very insightful.
One more question - approx what % of people do you guys check on a daily basis?