Buy in USA

July 2015 update: eBay now offers the option to pay all fees and taxes (including VAT) related to your purchase at the time of order, so you don't have to pay them when your package enters France. Listings that offer this service are marked " Customs clearance and international tracking provided ."

Some useful information:

When you order a product benefiting from this service, you pay for the product, the shipping costs of the order as well as the import costs of your order (estimated on the product sheet, confirmed when finalizing the purchase) .

If you pay via Paypal, you will find that for one and the same order, you will pay two separate amounts: This is normal. On the one hand, you pay the product and the shipping costs to the seller and on the other hand you pay the import costs to the service in charge of customs clearance of your shipment.

When the seller ships your package, you'll receive a tracking number in the format UPAAAxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. This number cannot be used for online tracking. For the time being, you'll need to rely on the tracking information provided by eBay in your purchase history.

When the package arrives in France, a message will appear stating: " This package has been transferred to ARVATO for delivery to final destination N° AWSPBE... ".

You can then track your package directly at GLS via the link provided.

If you order a product that does not benefit from the " Customs formalities and international tracking provided " service , the information below applies:

As seasoned LEGO collectors, you have probably already noticed that many sellers on eBay or Bricklink who offer the best prices and the largest selection are located in the United States.

Often the astronomical shipping costs inflate the overall cost of your coveted set, but it must be admitted that everything is also very often competitive.

But ordering from the USA via eBay or Bricklink can be a real challenge if you don't take a few basic precautions. Having placed numerous orders with American sellers, I think I've covered all the potential problems, and here are some very useful tips, especially if you encounter any issues:

- Please be aware that your order will take some time to arrive. Most sellers use the services of the United States Postal Service, also known as USPS (not to be confused with UPS). Each seller offers their own shipping method, the cost of which varies depending on the speed of delivery.

Generally, for small packages, you'll be offered First-Class Mail® International with no guaranteed delivery time, while for larger packages, the seller will offer Priority Mail® International with a delivery time of 6 to 10 days. Opt for the latter, as it's more reliable.

- Few sellers today agree not to declare the real value of the contents of the package and to carry the mention "Gift" on the customs slip to allow you to escape taxation. Do not insist if the seller refuses because he considers it illegal and does not want to break the law.

In the case of a high value product (over 200/250 USD), most sellers will declare the value of the shipment. And this is where the obstacle course will begin. First of all, ask the seller to put an invoice on the outside of the package in a clearly visible pocket and not on the inside.

If the seller is a private individual, they must still include an invoice (eBay, Bricklink, or handwritten). - Online tracking of your shipment is available on the USPS website via the Track & Confirm section using the tracking number provided by the seller.

Generally, the first online tracking update is " Electronic Shipping Info Received " followed by " International Dispatch ." If your USPS Express Mail International® tracking number begins with an E (ExxxxxxxxxUS), it will be handled by Chronopost once it arrives in France. Tracking will be available on the Chronopost website using the original tracking number. If your USPS Priority Mail International® tracking number begins with a C (CxxxxxxxxxUS), it will be handled by La Poste once it arrives in France.

Upon arrival in France, the tracking will show " Arrived Abroad, " and your shipment will be handed over to a French carrier, usually La Poste (Colissimo), and its tracking number will change. You will then need to contact 3631 or 0825 311 311 to obtain the Colissimo tracking number for your USPS package. This is a standard procedure and is provided by La Poste; the operator will give you this number without any problem.

If your shipment is not inspected by French customs, you will receive it within a few days. If your package is held by customs, the USPS tracking will show " Into Foreign Customs ." In this case, you will need to act quickly: You will have to provide documents to have your package released: - A purchase invoice - Proof of payment - Optionally, a signed statement confirming that you agree to pay the fees and taxes.

These documents will be requested by mail from a special service called Service Disjoints of the Export / Import center of La Poste in Chilly Mazarin.

A word of advice: don't wait for this letter, as it can take a very long time to arrive, or may never reach you. Send your documents by email to disjoints.cei@laposte.fr , mentioning your USPS and Colissimo tracking numbers in the subject line.

Do not forget to include in your message a detailed description of the contents of the package. Sooner or later you will be asked for it anyway. This La Poste service will answer you by email and confirm that your documents have been taken into account (prefer the pdf format).

If needed, here is the telephone number for this service: 01 69 10 12 51 and the fax number: 01 69 10 21 89. - If all goes well, within a few days, the USPS tracking should mention " Out of Foreign Customs ", meaning that the customs broker has done their job and that you will receive your package with "Tax to be collected".

Upon delivery, you will have to pay an amount calculated based on the declared value, including 19.6% VAT, customs duties, and any applicable processing fees. If your package needs to be opened, you will be charged an additional tax. On this page of the official customs website, you will find information to help you estimate the taxes you should pay based on your purchase. In addition, the Colissimo tracking system will also provide the location of your package with messages such as " Invoice missing, your package is being held by our services pending customs clearance " during the verification and taxation phase.

In any case, be careful and follow your shipment every day in order to react quickly in the event of an incident, and to be able to send the documents as soon as your package enters France. Do not harass the Service Disjoints, they are only administrative agents of La Poste. As for the customs declarant, he cannot be contacted directly.

If you phone the Disjoints Service, be clear and specific. Give your information and leave your phone number, you will be called back quickly if necessary.