A warning for worldly Web buyers

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — As Americans turn to the Internet for holiday shopping convenience, the government warned those who buy goods from abroad to check on the costs and rules for bringing them into the United States.

Internet shoppers are liable for customs duties and other fees on imports, the U.S. Customs Service cautioned Monday. Such fees — separate from normal shipping and handling charges — sometimes exceed an item’s retail price, the agency said.

"You should not be misled into thinking your purchase price includes duty because the seller cannot say with absolute certainty what the duty will be," customs said.

Customs Commissioner Raymond Kelly said: "Shopping on the Internet seems quick and easy but buying gifts or other goods online from a foreign source turns the shopper into an importer who may be subject to complex import regulations."

Consumers should find out whether they need a license or permit to bring an item into the United States, and if there are restrictions on how many can be imported, customs said.

For instance, a permit is needed to bring in soft cheeses such as brie and certain meat products such as pate, customs said. A license is needed to import a gun and made-to-measure suits from Hong Kong are subject to quota restrictions.

Another important consideration for shoppers is how the item will be shipped: international postal service; a courier service; or freight carrier, customs said. Each method has potential benefits and pitfalls, the agency said in a release.

For example, customs said freight shipping can be economical, but if the freight company has not been told to forward goods to a consumer’s doorstep, they could end up on the dock at the port where they enter the country.

Copyright ©2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.