Never having done this, what should I expect in having a used flute shipped from Europe to US? Customs hang-up? Import duty/taxes? Social disdain/expulsion from the Country Club?
Thanks and best wishes.
Steve
Duty on flutes is $4.90 per $100 valuation. Over $2000 value there is a separate customs process. I think the valuation will be based on insurance. Irish post has a max $300 insurance (so I’ve been told). The packages from national postal services have a liason service here, it was DHL for English post. The service should contact you for duty payment. Put the phone on the outside of the package to make it easy for them, they won’t be mad when it takes them 2 months to find your phone #.
Your shipper should be able to find UPS or FedEx, that would be my choice.
L
Hey Steve,
Europe to U.S. = smooth sailing, airmail in about a week. But it does depend upon from where the flute hails.
I’ld worry more about the flute being properly packaged, make sure it is sealed in a plastic bag or cellophane so it won’t dry and crack during transit.
I’ve bought/traded many a flute with people in the E.U. and never had a transit problem (with proper packing). I once bought a exceptionally lovely flute from one of the Hobgoblin shops and they just stuffed it in a box with old news-papers… it arrived with 5-cracks! 
Best of Luck!
I get flutes sent from Europe frequently for key retrofitting. Of course, these originated here. But the authorities don’t always know that. However, I’ve never had to pay any duty on these.
Not the case when I send flutes to Europe. And even if I mark on the package that the instrument was sent for repairs or warranty servicing (as is sometimes the case) my clients still sometimes have to pay customs duty.
Casey
I have had whistles from the UK arrive through the postal system anywhere from 10 days to nearly 3 weeks. No customs charges were added. None were valued much over 200 pounds.
As stated earlier above, the Harmonized Tariff Schedule sets Duty on the Import of Flutes (Musical Instruments->Woodwind->Other->Flutes) as 4.9% from countries the U.S. isn’t pissed at. 40% if it’s from somewhere nasty/nearly prohibited. There can be a $5 paperwork fee if processed by a Customs agent, plus your delivery service might charge a processing fee for the collection of duty and handling the paperwork.
The above may certainly apply for international commerce regarding quantities of items brought into the U.S. for distribution and sale. However, I have never had duty collected for individual items (used or new) that I have purchased in the last 12 years, flutes or CDs.
Thanks all. Greatly appreciate the information.
Best wishes.
Steve