While you’re out on vacation, keep these tips in mind when you’re considering purchasing an interesting souvenir.
A beloved hobby for enthusiastic travelers is collecting interesting items on vacation. However, getting them back home in one piece can prove to be complicated. Furthermore, it’s important to validate what you’re buying when in search of rare treasures.
While you're out on vacation, keep these tips in mind when you're considering purchasing an interesting souvenir:
Caveat emptor
The business of producing replicas is practically as old as the objects being replicated. Many replicas are legitimate reproductions and openly advertised as such, like the recently reissued Victrola record player and classic jukebox sets. However, many other reproductions of antiques and artifacts are meant to deceive the buyer into believing them to be genuine. This is particularly true in regards to artifacts purported to be ancient in origin.
While the steps for discerning an authentic item from a replicated item is different for each type of item, there are easy signs that you can spot with the naked eye. Look for printed tags that display the company's logo and name. Check the stitching on clothes and handbags for mistakes. When it comes to purchasing movies and music, ensure that the wrapping around the case is intact.
When looking at an antique item or historical artifact, do your proper investigating before deciding to buy. Whether it’s antique dining room chairs, estate jewelry, or fine art paintings, it’s important that you’re buying from a credible company, such as M.S. Rau Antiques, who is an internationally recognized leader in rare and important antiques. If you aren’t familiar with the company or the vendor, start with the naked eye test to ensure that the antique item is still in quality condition and then research the company you are purchasing the item from.
Getting your souvenirs through customs
When you travel to another country and collect souvenirs, your home country wants to know about them when you fly back in. The reasons vary, from laws banning certain products from being brought into the country to regulations regarding taxes owed on items being imported.
These customs regulations are different in every country. For instance, in the United States, citizens can bring various items under a certain amount of money without a customs tax. If your items are worth more than the maximum allowed, you must declare them to the customs agents and pay taxes.
The taxes that you'll have to pay are determined by the price of the item. This is something you should keep in mind when you purchase an expensive souvenir. Regardless of how much money your souvenirs cost, you should save the receipts as proof of cost to avoid issues declaring items at customs.
Shipping versus packing
Instead of going through all of the hassles of customs, you can choose to ship your items back home through the mail. When it comes to shipping items globally through the mail, you have another set of options with regards to carriers.
A quick internet search will give you an idea of how much money each carrier will charge you to ship your item. This shipping cost is determined by shipping weight, the size of the package, and the delivery speed you choose. Keep these costs in mind when you are shipping large items back home.
International carriers have websites that provide you with the ability to weigh your package, print a shipping label, and prepare your package to be shipped out immediately. Using these carriers will give you more convenience than ones who require you to visit a post office or an affiliated shipping store.
Just about everyone who travels to faraway places wants to bring something special back with them. These souvenirs range from cheap little trinkets to big expensive treasures. Being a responsible buyer and having a solid plan for getting the items back across the border are the keys to the successful collection of unique items from around the world.
