To all you seasoned importers how long does it take for a game to clear US Customs?

[Urzu402]

and will there be any import fees?, sorry if this isn't the right board but it seemed appropirate to post here, I'm importing Rockman Megaworld and I want to know this info. I have it shipped via EMS shipping

[gum_drops]

I have waited up to a week and other times its been under 24 hours. No on customs fees if you are within the USA, at least with Fedex and International Airmail/EMS.

[Breetai]

Usually if the product is under $100, you don't need to worry about import fees (customs). With EMS, you'll probably have your game in a week or less.

The above poster is wrong about there being no custom fees with EMS, international airmail, etc. ALL items are subject to customs fees if you purchase over a certain amount. Check post office/government customs websites for specifications on this.

[Aussie2B]

I know I've made purchases between $300-$400, so if there are import fees, it's gotta be a pretty large amount. I don't worry about customs whatsoever. That's more of an issue for Europeans.

[ScourDX]

Usually if the product is under $100, you don't need to worry about import fees (customs). With EMS, you'll probably have your game in a week or less.

The above poster is wrong about there being no custom fees with EMS, international airmail, etc. ALL items are subject to customs fees if you purchase over a certain amount. Check post office/government customs websites for specifications on this.

It is pretty strange because sometimes I get custom fees and sometimes I don't. Last time I ordered $60 item and got charged duty.

[Breetai]

It is pretty strange because sometimes I get custom fees and sometimes I don't. Last time I ordered $60 item and got charged duty.

Yup, completely random. That's why I put a $90 value on anything worth more unless someone requests insurance. Unlikely to get charged, and if they do, it's only $10-20 or so. If anyone says there are no custom fees using a certain shipping method, they are wrong. They just haven't got nailed yet!

[Kyle15]

I have ordered three games from Japan via EMS. Each only took 3-4 days to arrive, and all I had to do was sign for them. My Japanese Wii was delivered the same way. No extra charges, and it came in two days.

You should probably be fine as far as fees are concerned.

[Urzu402]

Well considering the holiday, I'm probably going to have to wait a little longer.

[Nico87]

If it was shipped EMS then there's a tracking number somewhere. Ask the seller.

Anyway, here in Norway the import limit is $30 for regular packages $155 for packages marked as gift, so I always ask the seller to mark it with whatever below that, plus gift. It might be a risk to order games for $500 and have the seller mark it as $140, but I have bought over 400 games from Japan and never once have a package gone missing, wether it be through Air Mail or EMS. EMS is like 99.9% safe anywway.