Shipping new furniture?

[dragonrides]

We are currently in a rental, and it was furnished so we would like to get some new furniture in China and pack them in the container...

I would like to have the sellers ship the furniture directly to the warehouse of the shipping company but not sure how big the risks are if NZ customs charge import taxes on our furniture?

What can we do to minimize the risks??

[April]

The easiest way of getting round the duty is to unwrap everything so you can argue it's been used.

Mind you if it's coming from somewhere you didn't live that'd be hard.

[JandM]

You can research the customs liability and rates here. http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/...s/default.aspx

If you have items delivered direct from the supplier to the shipper, I don't see how it would be possible for them to appear not new.

[Duncan74]

Nor why you think you ought to be able to buy new goods overseas and import them without paying the duty.....

Either you are wanting something not available in NZ (so accept the price to have in NZ is cost+duty), you can get it cheaper buying overseas and after the duty is paid (so you're still better off) or it's cheaper to buy in NZ once you've paid duty & gst (which the NZ retailers have paid, so you may as well get it here).