Help
Welcome to USBOX Help Centre!
Need help with cargo transportation between Poland and around the world ?
Check out the process of transporting your cargo.
Here you will find the most frequently asked questions and answers to them – they will allow you to make your own decision about transport.
You will also find a lot of information in the “Blog” tab.
If you have trouble finding the information you need, please contact our Customer Service.
Additional services of the warehouse
By using our warehouse you can also commission us to:
1
Storing a package over a period of one month:
This option may be utilized in case of the Client being unable to collect their packages or waiting for arrival of another package.The service is available only after a payment to USBOX’s account has been made, but no later than on the 30th day since the arrival at the warehouse. Otherwise, the package is returned to the sender at the expense of the Client.
2
Separation of a consolidated shipment:
This option may be utilized if the Client wishes to send the components of the package to their respective consignees in Poland. We want to point out that the abovementioned situation impacts the customs clearing process as each consignee becomes the importer and party to the proceedings before the Customs Office.
3
Digital photo of a product:
This option may prove useful to the Clients wishing to have a preview of the purchased product before having it sent. All photos are sent by email.
4
Digital photo of packaging:
Taking a digital photo of packaging prior shipment may help pursue UPS damage claims in case any damage is sustained while in transit to Poland.
5
Consolidation of packages:
This is the most commonly chosen option. In order to reduce the shipping costs, the Client may decide to combine items from multiple orders into the same consignment.
What is EORI?
The Economic Operators’ Registration and Identification system, called the EORI System, is one of the elements of the electronic customs environment established in the European Union within the e-Customs programme, that is a “paperless” environment for the EU customs and trade (link to e-cło page). Each EU Member State establishes its own EORI system that will constitute a part of the EU EORI system. The EORI system in Poland was implemented in the Ministry of Finance, the Customs Service Department for the Polish Customs Administration (PAC) in July 2009.
The main objective of the EORI system is to speed up formalities and customs operations by economic operators and natural persons running businesses and involved in customs activities.
The legal grounds for the obligation of registration in the EORI system are:
The EU customs regulations on EORI resulting from the Commission Regulation (EC) No TAXUD 1435/2007 the Commission Regulation (EC) No 312/2009 adopted on 16 April 2009 amending the Commission Regulation (EC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code.
How can I get it?
eori2.png
In Poland economic operators can register in the EORI system in one of the following ways:
lodging or sending a (written) application form by mail,
personally by the applicant or by a representative of the applicant (authorised by the applicant),
in customs offices or branches in Poland,
before or during the first customs operation.
via our customs at a charge of 30 PLN
Where can I find a registration form?
You can find the registration form below.
Send it to the Customs Office
The application forms are used not only for registration but also verification, updating, correcting or supplementing data. A form should be filled in according the guidelines.
Attachments
While lodging a registration form, the following information/documents are required, depending on the type of the economic operator: NIP (tax identification number), PESEL, ID card, passport, KRS (National Court Register number), REGON, number issued for customs purposes by a responsible authority of a non-EU country, if the operator has such a number, etc.
Guarantees / complaints
We wish to inform that USBOX provides logistical services of delivering parcels from the USA to Poland. A purchase and sale agreement is contracted between the U.S vendor (i.e. online store) and the buyer. USBOX takes responsibility for a logistical delivery of a package from the moment of its arrival at the U.S warehouse to handing it over to the client. The company assumes no responsibility for the contents of packages nor their compliance with the client orders. USBOX may help you return the claimed goods.
U.S vendors are obliged to provide the following forms of warranty:
- Responsibility within the so called express warranty (i.e. defective goods) – The seller’s responsibility. Time limits for complaints vary according to the state. Any description of the goods, which is made part of the basis of the bargain creates an express warranty that the goods shall conform to the description. The seller’s opinion and commendation of the goods does not create a warranty.
- Responsibility within the so called implied warranty (merchantability, usage of trade) – The seller’s responsibility. This assurance is characterized as a warranty irrespective of whether the seller has expressly promised it orally or in writing. As a result, it includes an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, an implied warranty of merchantability for products. An implied warranty also protects consumers against cosmetics faults.
- Responsibility within the so called extended warranty (equivalent of a Polish warranty). Full details of the warranty are included in the warranty document or the store terms and conditions. In reality it is based on the original manufacturer’s warranty. If indicated in the warranty of the U.S purchased product is valid outside the United States, it is possible to file a complaint by means specified in the warranty document. In practice, most manufacturers divide their offer into world regions identifying “warranty zones” The warranty is valid for the given zone only, which means that products bought in the US cannot be repaired in Poland under warranty.
1
Note: When ordering a product pay attention if the world warranty has been assigned to the product as it entitles the holder to repair it in the territory of Poland.
2
Note: You should find guidelines for filling complaints or returning products on the seller’s website. It is therefore worth reviewing terms and conditions of the shop as well as buying products in the online stores which clearly inform their clients of the complaint procedure.
3
Note: The color of the actual product may vary from the color shown on your screen. The image depends on the quality of the picture, the color reproduction of the monitor or the graphics card in your computer.
4
The United States of America consists of 51 states. Consumer Law and complaint procedures therefore may vary among states. In the event of a complaint, a customer needs to verify a registered place of business of the company that is an owner of the shop where the agreement of sale and purchase has been made.
In case of returning purchased products, our Customer Care Centre will support our Clients and provide detailed information on the costs and dates of services.
Packing instructions
Clients have no direct influence on the way American online stores pack their products. Our warehouse is obliged to check incoming shipments to make sure that they do not have punctures, tears, rips, corner damage, spills, move loosely inside the package, or give off suspicious odors.
You will be informed electronically of each of the above cases so as to decide on further course of action od the package.
However, the Clients who have their packages shipped to Poland via the platform as well as the ones interested in shipping to the USA may find the following link to standard packing instructions useful.
Shops directory
A shop directory is a collection of exemplary shops where you can purchase your products. The platform enables clients who have been cooperating with U.S. suppliers on preferential conditions or may wish to shop places not included in the list to add new shops (suppliers) to respective categories (or create new ones) and shop where originally intended.
For those who are unwilling to add the source at which they intend to buy their products, we propose getting an individual address code to continue shopping. After the purchase, enter information about your order in the orders tab regardless of whether you underwent the cost estimating process or not. It will enable you to track your package and facilitate the process of preparing export and customs clearance documentation.
Customs tresholds
Legal basis:
Customs duty – Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty
VAT – The Value Added tax Act – Article 51 Dz. U. No 254 of 5 April 2004
Relief for Customs Duty and VAT for imports from the United States:
1. One private individual to another private individual:
1.1 The intrinsic value up to 45 EUR per consignment – goods of a non-commercial character – free of import duties (Article 26 of COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1186/2009) and VAT (Article 5(3) of the VAT Act) according the quantities given against each of the goods (Article 27 of COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1186/2009) i.e. tobacco products, alcohol products, perfumes or toilet waters the relief
1.2 The intrinsic value up to 150 EUR per consignment – free of import duties (Article 23 and 24 of COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1186/2009, VAT charged (Article 5(3) of the VAT Act)
1.3 The intrinsic value up to 700 EUR per consignment, for own use, occasional and noncommercial – customs duty at a flat rate of 2,5% and VAT charged (Council Regulation (EC) No 275/2008 of 17 March 2008 amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff . Such flat-rate assessment shall not apply to goods for which the rate of duty in the schedule of customs duties is “free” and to goods of Chapter 24 which are contained in a consignment or in travelers’ personal luggage in amounts exceeding those laid down in Article 31 or pursuant to Article 45 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 918/83 of 28 March 1983 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty.
Internet payments
When paying with your credit card pay attention to:
- avoiding Polish characters,
- a credit card number consists of 16 digits,
- you will find validity date and the bottom of the card in M/Y (month/year) format,
- a security code (CVV2/CVC2/PCSC) is shown on the reverse of the card and consists of 3 digits.
Following the hints above is necessary to make payments online.
The most common causes for payment rejections are insufficient funds or an exceeded credit limit on the card. It is also common that zero limit is set on the card by default.
Another popular way of paying online is PayPal. Companies that do not possess credit cards may resort to a PayPal system which remains one of few noteworthy methods of paying in American online stores. You will find more about this payment intermediary here:
Tracking
Goods over $2500 - SED
Weights of courier packages
Logistics and courier companies determine their rates on the basis of so called billable weight. The billable weight will be the greater of the dimensional weight compared to the actual weight. Light but large sized packages, such as aluminum frames or photographic lamps are space-occupying, therefore more expensive to import.
Actual weight is the weight of package.
Dimensional weight is the calculation used to reflect the package density. To calculate it multiply the carton dimensions (length x width x height) and divide the cubic centimeters by the dimensional weight factor which is 5000 and rounded to the next full kilogram
Example I:
A 3D printer whose weight is 22 kg and packaging dimensions 40cm x 40cm x 40cm
Actual weight: 22 kg
Dimensional weight: 40 x 40 x 40 / 5000=12,8 kg, which rounded up amounts to 13kg
The billable weight amounts to 13 kg as this weight is larger of the two.
Example II:
Hard plastic carrying case whose weight is 3kg and packaging dimensions 30 cm x 40 cm x 70 cm;
Actual weight: 3 kg
Dimensional weight: 30 x 40 x 70 / 5000 = 16,8 kg , rounded 17 kg
The billable weight is 17 kg as this weight is larger of the two.
Additional services of the warehouse
By using our warehouse you can also commission us to:
1
Storing a package over a period of one month:
This option may be utilized in case of the Client being unable to collect their packages or waiting for arrival of another package.The service is available only after a payment to USBOX’s account has been made, but no later than on the 30th day since the arrival at the warehouse. Otherwise, the package is returned to the sender at the expense of the Client.
2
Separation of a consolidated shipment:
This option may be utilized if the Client wishes to send the components of the package to their respective consignees in Poland. We want to point out that the abovementioned situation impacts the customs clearing process as each consignee becomes the importer and party to the proceedings before the Customs Office.
3
Digital photo of a product:
This option may prove useful to the Clients wishing to have a preview of the purchased product before having it sent. All photos are sent by email.
4
Digital photo of packaging:
Taking a digital photo of packaging prior shipment may help pursue UPS damage claims in case any damage is sustained while in transit to Poland.
5
Consolidation of packages:
This is the most commonly chosen option. In order to reduce the shipping costs, the Client may decide to combine items from multiple orders into the same consignment.
What is EORI?
The Economic Operators’ Registration and Identification system, called the EORI System, is one of the elements of the electronic customs environment established in the European Union within the e-Customs programme, that is a “paperless” environment for the EU customs and trade (link to e-cło page). Each EU Member State establishes its own EORI system that will constitute a part of the EU EORI system. The EORI system in Poland was implemented in the Ministry of Finance, the Customs Service Department for the Polish Customs Administration (PAC) in July 2009.
The main objective of the EORI system is to speed up formalities and customs operations by economic operators and natural persons running businesses and involved in customs activities.
The legal grounds for the obligation of registration in the EORI system are:
The EU customs regulations on EORI resulting from the Commission Regulation (EC) No TAXUD 1435/2007 the Commission Regulation (EC) No 312/2009 adopted on 16 April 2009 amending the Commission Regulation (EC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code.
How can I get it?
eori2.png
In Poland economic operators can register in the EORI system in one of the following ways:
lodging or sending a (written) application form by mail,
personally by the applicant or by a representative of the applicant (authorised by the applicant),
in customs offices or branches in Poland,
before or during the first customs operation.
via our customs at a charge of 30 PLN
Where can I find a registration form?
You can find the registration form below.
Send it to the Customs Office
The application forms are used not only for registration but also verification, updating, correcting or supplementing data. A form should be filled in according the guidelines.
Attachments
While lodging a registration form, the following information/documents are required, depending on the type of the economic operator: NIP (tax identification number), PESEL, ID card, passport, KRS (National Court Register number), REGON, number issued for customs purposes by a responsible authority of a non-EU country, if the operator has such a number, etc.
Guarantees / complaints
We wish to inform that USBOX provides logistical services of delivering parcels from the USA to Poland. A purchase and sale agreement is contracted between the U.S vendor (i.e. online store) and the buyer. USBOX takes responsibility for a logistical delivery of a package from the moment of its arrival at the U.S warehouse to handing it over to the client. The company assumes no responsibility for the contents of packages nor their compliance with the client orders. USBOX may help you return the claimed goods.
U.S vendors are obliged to provide the following forms of warranty:
- Responsibility within the so called express warranty (i.e. defective goods) – The seller’s responsibility. Time limits for complaints vary according to the state. Any description of the goods, which is made part of the basis of the bargain creates an express warranty that the goods shall conform to the description. The seller’s opinion and commendation of the goods does not create a warranty.
- Responsibility within the so called implied warranty (merchantability, usage of trade) – The seller’s responsibility. This assurance is characterized as a warranty irrespective of whether the seller has expressly promised it orally or in writing. As a result, it includes an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, an implied warranty of merchantability for products. An implied warranty also protects consumers against cosmetics faults.
- Responsibility within the so called extended warranty (equivalent of a Polish warranty). Full details of the warranty are included in the warranty document or the store terms and conditions. In reality it is based on the original manufacturer’s warranty. If indicated in the warranty of the U.S purchased product is valid outside the United States, it is possible to file a complaint by means specified in the warranty document. In practice, most manufacturers divide their offer into world regions identifying “warranty zones” The warranty is valid for the given zone only, which means that products bought in the US cannot be repaired in Poland under warranty.
1
Note: When ordering a product pay attention if the world warranty has been assigned to the product as it entitles the holder to repair it in the territory of Poland.
2
Note: You should find guidelines for filling complaints or returning products on the seller’s website. It is therefore worth reviewing terms and conditions of the shop as well as buying products in the online stores which clearly inform their clients of the complaint procedure.
3
Note: The color of the actual product may vary from the color shown on your screen. The image depends on the quality of the picture, the color reproduction of the monitor or the graphics card in your computer.
4
The United States of America consists of 51 states. Consumer Law and complaint procedures therefore may vary among states. In the event of a complaint, a customer needs to verify a registered place of business of the company that is an owner of the shop where the agreement of sale and purchase has been made.
In case of returning purchased products, our Customer Care Centre will support our Clients and provide detailed information on the costs and dates of services.
Packing instructions
Clients have no direct influence on the way American online stores pack their products. Our warehouse is obliged to check incoming shipments to make sure that they do not have punctures, tears, rips, corner damage, spills, move loosely inside the package, or give off suspicious odors.
You will be informed electronically of each of the above cases so as to decide on further course of action od the package.
However, the Clients who have their packages shipped to Poland via the platform as well as the ones interested in shipping to the USA may find the following link to standard packing instructions useful.
Shops directory
A shop directory is a collection of exemplary shops where you can purchase your products. The platform enables clients who have been cooperating with U.S. suppliers on preferential conditions or may wish to shop places not included in the list to add new shops (suppliers) to respective categories (or create new ones) and shop where originally intended.
For those who are unwilling to add the source at which they intend to buy their products, we propose getting an individual address code to continue shopping. After the purchase, enter information about your order in the orders tab regardless of whether you underwent the cost estimating process or not. It will enable you to track your package and facilitate the process of preparing export and customs clearance documentation.
Customs tresholds
Legal basis:
Customs duty – Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty
VAT – The Value Added tax Act – Article 51 Dz. U. No 254 of 5 April 2004
Relief for Customs Duty and VAT for imports from the United States:
1. One private individual to another private individual:
1.1 The intrinsic value up to 45 EUR per consignment – goods of a non-commercial character – free of import duties (Article 26 of COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1186/2009) and VAT (Article 5(3) of the VAT Act) according the quantities given against each of the goods (Article 27 of COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1186/2009) i.e. tobacco products, alcohol products, perfumes or toilet waters the relief
1.2 The intrinsic value up to 150 EUR per consignment – free of import duties (Article 23 and 24 of COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1186/2009, VAT charged (Article 5(3) of the VAT Act)
1.3 The intrinsic value up to 700 EUR per consignment, for own use, occasional and noncommercial – customs duty at a flat rate of 2,5% and VAT charged (Council Regulation (EC) No 275/2008 of 17 March 2008 amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff . Such flat-rate assessment shall not apply to goods for which the rate of duty in the schedule of customs duties is “free” and to goods of Chapter 24 which are contained in a consignment or in travelers’ personal luggage in amounts exceeding those laid down in Article 31 or pursuant to Article 45 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 918/83 of 28 March 1983 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty.
Internet payments
When paying with your credit card pay attention to:
- avoiding Polish characters,
- a credit card number consists of 16 digits,
- you will find validity date and the bottom of the card in M/Y (month/year) format,
- a security code (CVV2/CVC2/PCSC) is shown on the reverse of the card and consists of 3 digits.
Following the hints above is necessary to make payments online.
The most common causes for payment rejections are insufficient funds or an exceeded credit limit on the card. It is also common that zero limit is set on the card by default.
Another popular way of paying online is PayPal. Companies that do not possess credit cards may resort to a PayPal system which remains one of few noteworthy methods of paying in American online stores. You will find more about this payment intermediary here:
Tracking
Goods over $2500 - SED
Weights of courier packages
Logistics and courier companies determine their rates on the basis of so called billable weight. The billable weight will be the greater of the dimensional weight compared to the actual weight. Light but large sized packages, such as aluminum frames or photographic lamps are space-occupying, therefore more expensive to import.
Actual weight is the weight of package.
Dimensional weight is the calculation used to reflect the package density. To calculate it multiply the carton dimensions (length x width x height) and divide the cubic centimeters by the dimensional weight factor which is 5000 and rounded to the next full kilogram
Example I:
A 3D printer whose weight is 22 kg and packaging dimensions 40cm x 40cm x 40cm
Actual weight: 22 kg
Dimensional weight: 40 x 40 x 40 / 5000=12,8 kg, which rounded up amounts to 13kg
The billable weight amounts to 13 kg as this weight is larger of the two.
Example II:
Hard plastic carrying case whose weight is 3kg and packaging dimensions 30 cm x 40 cm x 70 cm;
Actual weight: 3 kg
Dimensional weight: 30 x 40 x 70 / 5000 = 16,8 kg , rounded 17 kg
The billable weight is 17 kg as this weight is larger of the two.