[Bemopti123]

I am about to import a pair of rare speakers from Europe, the sum is not great, perhaps $1000, but I wonder if there are major duties to be paid for it, or will it go under the radar?

The speakers are made in the UK.

[bpape]

If it's under $2k and is for personal use, you may not have to.  For sure, you can do the paperwork yourself instead of having to hire a customs broker.

Bryan

[Bemopti123]

Can you be specific about the paperwork?  When do you have to do it?  Is the merchandise delivered first or do you have to fill the paperwork and released afterwards?  Do they send you the paperwork? 

Thanks

[tomjtx]

You should be able to have it delivered to your doorstep by UPS, FedEx or DHL.
They will handle all paperwork and you pay them. You probably won,t have duty or it will be negligable:
  5%

[yooper]

Tom has pretty much got it.

I work for Customs, and can give a little more info.  While I personally don't mess with duties anymore, I remember a little.

I assume you will not be picking the speakers up at the airport?  If not, you will have to hire a freight forwarder (carrier).  The invoice/manifest should be completed by the shipper (or sender of the speakers). 

Once Customs clears your goods, the carrier will then pick up your speakers for delivery.  I did look up the duty charge and you will have to pay a 4.9% duty charge.  You may have the option to pay the fee in advance with the carrier you hire, or possibly pay the duty charge when the carrier delivers them.

Contact the shipper (sender) and make sure the invoice and manifest will accompany the goods prior to shipping to the States, as this will save you some hassle.

While this is the "legal and correct" way of importing, some do things "differently".

Mark

[Philistine]

I've imported second hand speakers and marble plinths from Europe, and did not pay any duty - value was about $1500 for the spkrs.  But did have to pay for customs clearance.
I got quotes from the European postal service along with Fedex/DHL/UPS but decided to import myself using a freight company as it was the less expensive option.  If you have  an understanding of the import documentation process then arranging it yourself is the cheapest route, I was not fully conversant with the process so used a local import broker to do this for me, at the end of the day it would have been easier and the same cost to use the postal service. 

I marked the spkrs as second hand for personal use, but you could also have them recorded as commercial samples.

So, no import duty and if you can handle the documentation yourself this is the potential cheaper option but using the PO or Fedex etc is simpler.