bringing electrics and wine thru customs

[mattie]

I had a moving company come round this morning to prepare a quote for our move.  The guy told me that we can only take one of each electronic item eg tv, stereo per family, and we can't take wine, or at least we might be able to take maximum 10 bottles.  The news on the electronic items is bad enough, but our wine !!!!!!!!!! devastating.  Has anyone else been through customs with 2 tvs and stereos? Its not essential that we have 2, but since we own them, we had planned on bringing them.  Someone else said that we can't take any video cassettes.  this is also devastating, we only have Lions collection and Monty Python - and then family videos, nothing naughty!  Can anyone offer advice?

[Hoosier]

I'd suggest you get another quote.  Of course you can bring wine (booze) into Singapore but you will have to pay duty which is not cheap.  Regarding electrical appliances, depending upon where you come from they may not be compatible with different voltages however you can bring them in and take them out no problem.  Videos are another matter as the Singapore censorship laws are stingent as there are many things they do not want you to see, like your old videos of your dog or your past holidays etc.  They are screening for PORNO stuff and you can bring them in (no, not the porno) but you have to pay some Village Idiot in Singapore about $40 for each tape to watch them (screen them) to ensure they are Ok for the fine, refined, dignified Singaporean mentality.

I'd get a second opinion if I were you, it is wise to get 3 quotes anyway as international movers are known thieves.

[moving]

I agree you should get another quote.  We brought all our electrical goods in and about 20 cases of wine (the duty is about $8 per bottle from memory).  Videos are a problem as if customs find them (and your shippers will put them on the inventory) they will view each one and charge you per hour for the privilege.  Up to you whether you try to slip them in on the quiet!

[alanh70]

This is crazy. I myself work for a large moving company and can advise that the info they have given you is not worth a cent.

Any person transferring their residence to Singapore may import used household effects duty-free, provided they
are the owner of the effects, have owned them for at least six months, and provide an undertaking not to sell them
within three months of arrival. Effects must arrive within six months of entry. A bill of lading and an inventory of
items are required.

Make sure that the movers do not list the video tapes on their inventory list. Also, if you have any bottles of "juice" which are already open, I suggest that you have them packed up and write " packing crew" on the box. This way, if customs do examine, you have the excuse that this carton was destined for the packing crew but loaded by mistake.

If you are in the UK, then send me your address and I will send you a very useful guide "Moving to Singapore".

Good luck  

[alanh70]

Sorry,

Forgot about the two TV's etc - if you want to bring in 20 TV's you can - same rules as above apply. I have just had a thought about your move - could it be your mover thinks you are moving to India, Paksistan or Israel - I know that the rule of 1's applies in those countries.

Regards  

[mattie to Moving]

Thanks everyone.
Moving -did you find that paying the extra $8 per bottle or $96 per case was worth it? or are retail prices just $8 more in Singapore?  I am moving from France, so we get quite good value for wine here.  Do you know if the duty is per bottle or a percentage of purchase value of the wine?
Thanks
(if we get to bring lots inn you must come and have a sess with us!!)

[PaulD.]

Am very interested in this "Moving to Singapore" guide.

Contact me by email to arrange further:

paul_j_davies@hotmail.com

Many thanks

[alanh70]

Paul,

We just missed the post so the guide will not leave my office until Tuesday - but it is worth waiting for.

Alan  

[This message has been edited by alanh70 (edited 26-08-2000).]

[PhilM]

"Is it worth bringing wine?"

The tax is the same no matter what the quality of the wine - you pay the same for a bottle of Vin De Pays or a Chateau Latour.

The majority of French wine sold here falls into the group Vin De Pays from about $18.00 upwards! Chateau bottled wines on sale are either not well known, very young, or if a good well cellared wine very expensive.

If you want a real experience I have even seen two year old Beajoulais Noveau still on sale here!

My advise would be to bring the good wines from your cellar which will be drinking well during the time you are to be here for. Any wines you have laid down for the future would be best left at home.

[Connie]

With respect to videos, we brought loads in. You fill in a form stating the categories (old films, family, documentary) and sign that there is no excessive sex/violence, and then unless they don't believe you, they don't need to be censored. However, I did meet a lady recently who'd had Woody Allen's "The Sleeper" stopped and viewed at customs!

[you'll need to store it]

If you bring in a reasonable quantity of wine you'll need to buy a wine fridge to store it in otherwise you might as well not bother. They start around $1200 and range up from there.

You can get good wine here but it is quite expensive. New World stuff, Aussie in particular tends to be better value.