RE: How to start up ecommerce site

This message was sent from: E-Commerce Laws
http://forums.oscommerce.com/viewtopic.php?p=187906#187906
----------------------------------------------------------------

[quote="cash119uk"]basically, I reallize the trasporting flow. May ask you one more thing ?

That is what is the invoice contents ?
[/quote]

Check with your localized UPS website for the exact requirements - they will have a "Customs Invoice" or "Commecial Invoice" that you can download and fill out or fill out on line.  [b]You can use this as an example.[/b]

In SOME contries and with certain products you may have other forms you may have to fill out.  A common one is "CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN" - this is used alot for software (normally saying that this S/W is not band for sale outside of the contry - can't remember the exact wording) , food and textiles (or anywhere where content could be questionable in what it is or where it was from...).  This has nothing to do with if the goods are "legal or not", it just states what the contents are and where it was made/grown/produced ect....

Shipping within North America, but going outside your contry, you also have to have a NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) certificate or your customer may have to pay extra or "full tariff" duties and taxes on the items where there is normally none or very little.

False or incorrect or missing information can cause delays/fines/extra duties/pain in the butt.  But if you follow the guidlines as best as possable - you should have no problem. 

[quote]
Necessary to describe the export reason or usage ?
[/quote]

Contents - yes! A general discription is normally good - too much detail or too little you could be headed for problems.

Reason - well you sold it.....and "INVOICE" is pretty well expains that. Unless you have to deal with warrenty/repair/DOA of goods or with "free" items like magizenes, catalogues or goods that have been reduced below there ACTUAL value ie: demo/sample products - which would then have to be expained - again - a general discription is good -speically if there is "NO VALUE".

Usage - no - who cares what the customer will use it for - do YOU REALLY want to know....

One thing to mention - you have to declair (fair market) value of ALL goods - which is normally the price you sold it for.  A "FREE" giveaway may have to be delcared with your normal selling price or at least the MIN [b]COST[/b] value.


I don't want to "drive" you way from exporting or importing, I have been importing and exporting for over 15 years with a WIDE varity of goods with many differnt companies.  Everything from a small box to LTL trailers to sea going containers and from Taiwan, Germany, Bazil, Greenland, UK, Sweden and all of North America...  It is not as hard or confusing as it may sound above.  Once you done a few it becomes easier.

A local UPS/FedEX/DHL/Kuehne&Nagel office may help you with your first few....  There Websites are full of information and links you can read about the requirement of IMPORT/EXPORTing of goods.