Re: Foreign calculator sales on eBay Message #8 Posted by blurdybloop on 18 June 2006, 2:13 a.m., in response to message #3 by eBayCalcFreak
The customs declaration in packages leaving the US is not for the US government. As long as the item is not export-controlled goods (e.g., military gear) the US government doesn't care what you report on the customs declaration.
Thus, even if you (as a US sender shipping overseas) falsify the customs declaration, you will not get into trouble with the US government. It's the recipient's foreign government which will be the source of trouble. They won't go after you (they can't) but they will go after the recipient.
In any case, declaring an item for customs purposes is different than pricing something on eBay. The collector value of an item is quite a bit different than the value for insurance (or customs!) purposes.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to get insurance for collector value. Instead, what is the value of this 30-year-old HP calculator as a calculator. It's old. It has cosmetic flaws. It doesn't have as many features as the modern HP-33s. It isn't as reliable.
Suppose there was no HP calculator collector community. Suppose it was just an old calculator that you bought 30 years ago, and recently found in a drawer. What would it be worth as an old calculator?
Not much; and that's a reasonable customs value.
Some collectables, such as old rare coins, have a universally recognized and accepted collector value. Most antiques do not. What may be a valuable old HP calculator to you is an old piece of junk that Aunt Hilda throws in the trash (or sells to coburlin for a pittance) when Uncle Pete dies.
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