Help with Ishibashi imports...

[whyuforcemetosignup]

Hi
am getting a rare Boss pedal from ishibashi and they already emailed me the quote and method of payment... Seeing this is my first time with overseas transactions and all, before I proceed, hope you guys can kindly help me out

For those who have imported stuff from ishibashi directly before:

1) Will the Singapore customs charge any import tax?

2) if you're paying by credit card, how much higher will the usual local banks' exchange rate be compared to the market rate? Am afraid that I might happily shipped it based on the exchange rate off google.com and then getting a shock from my month-end credit card bill... I mean as long as the banks don't mark up too high on foreign exchange transactions on credit card, i'm still ok..

3) What's the usual way of delivery? Does SingPost take over at the customs and send it to your doorstep? or will they send you a note to collect at SingPost branch?

Thanks a lot for reading this lengthy and kiasu post

 

[iverson763]

1) for items above S$400, 7% gst. you won't be charged for the local japanese tax tho

2) never really checked, but they most probably do. not too big a percentage IIRC from my past purchases. tho the exchange rates are really crappy now.
do note they credit your account a good few weeks later. i got burnt by the downturn in the exchange rate... bought something at S$1 = 74 Yen, credited at S$1 = 64 Yen. Pui

3) send to your doorstep.

 

[whyuforcemetosignup]

Man thanks so much for the very helpful answers and very prompt reply. I hope your answer will also help any fellow softies on buying from Ishibashi

 

[jskadiang]

speaking of importing, does anyone know how long it usually takes to get something through at customs? my effects processor has been going through customs for the past 4 days. =/ took a shorter time for it to go from san diego to singapore than from changi to my place >_<

 

[5stringwonder]

It shouldn't be so long. normally clears within a day. any irregularity with the paperwork?

 

[jskadiang]

no idea what's going on. it was shipped via USPS, and when tracked it's been stuck at "Into foreign customs" for like forever. I guess I should give Singpost a call. Thanks.

 

[5stringwonder]

You checking the USPS or Speedpost website. Sometimes it's just that they have not updated the status in the system. If you are looking at the USPS website for tracking, it usually stops when the item reaches Singapore. You may want to check on the Speedpost website.