International Order Policy

1. Overview

Echinastone can send your order to almost any address in the world and we offer a fast, efficient and hassle-free delivery service, but due to the high risk of fraud with international orders we have had to implement some restrictions.

To be able to serve our international customers, Echinastone thoroughly investigates and checks all international orders for fraud and we will prosecute to the full extent of the law for any fraudulent activities, which may arise. Echinastone reserves the right to hold up or refuse to ship any international order it deems fraudulent.

2. Definitions

"Client": The trader being a company, partnership, sole trader or other organisation or any individual, which undertakes to accept Echinastone Services.

"Services", "Products": rough and faceted gem stones, carved stones, jewelry, equipment, newsletters and other gem stone industry related fields.

"Fraud": intentional misrepresentation or concealment of information in order to deceive or mislead.

3. Taxes & Duties

Duties and Taxes associated with shipping to your country may increase the cost of your order. It is the responsibility of the client to pay all import tariffs, brokerage fees and any other costs related to delivering the product(s) to you. Please note that this is in addition to the cost of your order. Echinastone highly recommends that you check all fees, practices, and local import tariffs prior to placing your order.

The Client will be responsible for return freight charges should you refuse delivery of the product, or if the product is unable to be delivered to you.

4. Canada Customers Notice

To find out the duty rate of an article, contact our Automated Customs Information Service (ACIS). You can access ACIS free of charge throughout Canada by calling: 1-800-461-9999. If you are calling from outside of Canada, you can access ACIS by calling (204) 983-3500 or (506) 636-5064.

According to the Canada Customs Tariff, "Section XIV: Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin " -- there are no duty, restrictions or quotas applied on importing gemstones.

For more information on importing goods by mail you can consult Importing Non-Commercial Goods by Mail, which is explains the requirements and procedures for processing non-commercial international mail that arrives in Canada, including letters and packages.

For more information on importing commercial goods into Canada, you can consult the Importing, A Step-by-Step Guide, which is specifically designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

5. EU & UK Customers Notice

All goods imported into the EU from outside the EU are subject to Customs Duty (Import Duty or Import Tax) and Value Added Tax (VAT). All goods imported into the UK from outside the EU must be declared to HM Customs & Excise and in most cases, this includes goods bought over the Internet.

Customs assess the amount of Import Duty to be paid based on the declared value of the goods, PLUS the transport costs to the country of destination. VAT (Value Added Tax) is then added. The value for VAT purposes is therefore the declared value of the goods, PLUS the transport costs to the country of destination, PLUS the Import Duty.

According to TARIC (Taxation and Customs Union), "Taric Code 7103: Precious stones (other than diamonds) and semi-precious stones, whether or not worked or graded but not strung, mounted or set; ungraded precious stones (other than diamonds) and semi-precious stones, temporarily strung for convenience of transport" -- there are no duty, restrictions or quotas applied on importing gemstones.

For more detailed information, please visit HM Customs&Excise website and review Shopping on the Internet publication.

6. Japan Customers Notice

Coping with rapid increase of small imports, there are fixed 5 average rates (20%, 15%, 10%, 5%, and 3%) in order to speed up customs clearance and to save labour works. These rates are applicable to small amount cargo under Japanese Yen 100,000.

In addition to customs duties, a 5% consumption tax is levied on all imported goods. Goods valued at less than 10,000 yen, except for knitwear, leather goods and some other items, are exempt from the consumption tax.

According to the Japan HS (Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System), "Tariff Code 7103: Precious stones (other than diamonds) and semi-precious stones, whether or not worked or graded but not strung, mounted or set; ungraded precious stones (other than diamonds) and semi-precious stones, temporarily strung for convenience of transport " -- there are no duty, restrictions or quotas applied on importing gemstones.

7. USA Customers Notice

When goods move from any foreign country to the United States, they are being IMPORTED. There are specific rules and regulations that govern the act of importing.

Merchandise shipped through the international postal service is forwarded upon its arrival in the United States to one of Customs International Mail Branches for clearance. If the item is less than USD 2,000 in value and is not subject to a quota or is not a restricted or prohibited item, a Customs official will usually prepare the paperwork for importing it, assess the proper duty, and release it for delivery. This procedure is generally referred to as a mail entry.

Packages whose declared value is under USD 200 (USD100 if being sent as a gift to someone other than the purchaser) will generally be cleared without any additional paperwork prepared by Customs.

According to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, "Section XIV: Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones,precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin" -- there are no duty, restrictions or quotas applied on importing gemstones.

For more detailed information, please visit Customs&Border Protection website and review Internet Purchases, Importing into the United States publication.

8. Shipping Restrictions

Due to high risk of fraud, Echinastone does not ship to the following countries:

• Afghanistan
• Albania
• Angola
• Colombia
• Cambodia
• Congo
• Cuba
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Iran
• Indonesia
• Iraq
• Lebanon
• Lithuania
• Libya
• Malaysia
• Nigeria
• Sierra Leone
• Pakistan

This list may change at any time at our discretion due to an increase in insurance claims and fraudulent credit card transactions and other country´s trade restrictions or import practices.

9. Additional Verification

Since we are unable to verify credit card billing addresses with foreign banks, for yours and our protection, we may ask the following information to be faxed or e-mailed:

1. Front and back copy of credit card to be used.
2. A photo identification that contains a signature and matches the first and last name on the card being used.
3. Most recent credit card statement matching the first and last name on the card being used.

10. Policy Summary

• If we decide to change our International Order Policy for Echinastone, we will post those changes here.
   
• Questions about this policy should be sent to:pr@echinastone.com.
   
• Reports of activity in violation of this policy should be sent via e-mail to: abuse@echinastone.com.
   

This document last revised on: October 26, 2003. 03:12:12 .