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 Replies: 8 / Views: 166 |
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Valued Member
Australia
144 Posts |
I've made a few small submissions for PCGS grading via their agent Roxbury's in Brisbane Australia. Everything has gone smoothly, until today. It's the first time I tried submitting a Chinese coin (1902 Hong Kong 50c) and I just received a call from Roxbury's stating there's a fixed AUD$350 (US$245) fee to send any Chinese coin to the USA. I was just stunned by this. It's a flat tariff on a per package basis. If I'm the only one sending a Chinese coin in the bulk submission to the USA, I pay the full $350 fee. Roxbury's rep was very nice to deal with and they gave me the option of either waiting to see if anyone else will submit a Chinese coin in the same package, or to just have the coin returned to me. I opted for a return, which Roxbury's graciously will do for free. The coin is probably in AU55 condition and probably has a retail value of AUD$500. I asked if the fee was due to US tariffs or PCGS policy, and was told it's a tariff. Interestingly I have a 1949 Chinese banknote in the same submission and that wasn't raised as a problem. Is it only silver Chinese coins (and presumably gold) that attract a tariff? I have sent Chinese coins to the USA ( ebay sale) via Australia Post and only paid the current 10% tariff, so maybe the $350 fee is charged by courier companies only? So this post is a heads up to anyone in Australia (and presumably other countries) about the extremely large tariff. |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
6653 Posts |
Did they happen to cite the specific code for the tariff? In a completely different industry, someone recently told me that the shippers were charging sizable fees that were described to their customers as caused by the tariff. Turns out they were keeping the lion's share of the fee themselves.
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Moderator
 United States
191114 Posts |
Ouch!  |
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Valued Member
 Australia
144 Posts |
Quote:
Did they happen to cite the specific code for the tariff? In a completely different industry, someone recently told me that the shippers were charging sizable fees that were described to their customers as caused by the tariff. Turns out they were keeping the lion's share of the fee themselves. Good question. I didn't ask which courier company they use or how it's declared. I know they can't use Australia Post, as it's against the terms and conditions to send any coin or banknote, regardless of whether it's ancient or demonetized. I also don't know why it's specific to Chinese coins, when a Chinese banknote isn't affected. I also had Australian and Mexican coins and banknotes in the submission. Those were fine. Regarding the flat $350 fee, I'll ask people familiar with international trade and see what they say. Maybe there are some special declaration rules and procedures as the coins and banknotes in a bulk PCGS submission are imported into the USA but they shouldn't be taxed as the items will not stay in the USA. And as a footnote, I'm sure PCGS would like to grade as many coins as possible. It's good for them and grows the business. This trade barrier, whatever it is, prevents that. |
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Valued Member
Australia
144 Posts |
It seems I have my answer, and it's at the bottom of Roxbury's page. https://roxburysnumismatics.com.au/pcgs-grading/Quote:
There is an additional clearance fee for any Chinese items going over to PCGS for grading. This is due to Chinese coins and banknotes requiring additional clearance through customs.
The fee for Chinese items that require additional clearance is $350AUD per shipment.
Where possible, this fee will be shared evenly among all customers submitting Chinese items in that shipment. If only one customer submits Chinese items during that period, the fee will apply to that submission. I had a 1902 Hong Kong coin and 1949 Chinese banknote in my submission, but the person I spoke to only mentioned the coin as being a problem. Perhaps they had not yet seen the other form, as both should be affected. Looks like it's a broker fee for Customs clearance rather than a tariff. Still, it's very annoying that Chinese products are being singled out for some reason. Anyone else had this problem when sending Chinese products to the USA? Things get complicated with where a product was actually made. My coin was made in England even though Hong Kong is stamped on it, but it seems that doesn't matter. https://en.numista.com/15287Mint: Royal Mint (Tower Hill), London, United Kingdom (1810-1975) |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5406 Posts |
Supposed to go by Country of origin .
A Hong Kong coin of that era was manufactured
, originated in The UK .
But not to get political, the whole import system is really messed
up due to ill thought out policy of the current US administration.
Think you are exasperated and confused in Australia .
Try us here in Canada , really enjoying the ride!.Not !
Edited by Pacificoin
Yesterday 11:21 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4610 Posts |
Recall, the de minimis exception (packages with value < $800) is gone. https://www.freightamigo.com/en/blo...plete-guide/Quote:
Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): The Core Charge
The MPF is the most significant government fee, calculated at 0.3464% of the entered value (including cost, insurance, and freight - CIF). For FY2026, the minimum jumped to $33.58 from $32.71, while the maximum caps at $651.50. This fee funds CBP operations and applies to formal entries exceeding $2,500 in value. Low-value shipments previously dodged it under de minimis rules, but post-August 2025 reforms, even sub-$800 parcels from certain origins now incur it. and Quote:
Typical Broker Fee Structures
For simple Section 321 de minimis entries (<$800), expect $35-$65. Standard formal entries (1-3 HTS codes, air/ocean) range $100-$200 base. Complex cases - multiple lines, PGAs, amendments - climb to $200-$500+.
Volume importers negotiate discounts: 0.3%-1% of value or flat schedules. Averages hover at $150-$350 total (broker + government, excluding duties). Air freight often adds $200 for terminal handling. -----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Valued Member
Australia
144 Posts |
The de minimis exemption is indeed gone since August last year, but this case is different as it only affects products from one country.
I am accustomed to paying the tariff through Zonos when sending items to the USA with Australia Post. Prior to February a Chinese coin was charged 30%. Now it's 10%. The flat $350 fee is something different, as it doesn't matter whether the coin is worth $3 or $3000. $350 extra is charged on the parcel.
It just seems odd to me that out of all the countries in the world, only Chinese coins and banknotes attract this special fee.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4610 Posts |
Last sentence "... parcels from certain origins now incur it." which oversimplifies things, there are also special rules for several countries that have upset the Tangerine Toddler.
-----Burton 50+ year / Life / Emeritus ANA member (joined 12/1/1973) Life member: Numismatics International, CONECA Member: TNA, FtWCC, NETCC, EveryCountry (online) coin club Owned by three cats and a wife of 40+ years (joined 1983) Author: 3rd Edition of the Sample Slabs book, https://www.sampleslabs.info/ |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 166 |
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Posted Yesterday 11:39 am
