At Airspotters.com, we’re proud to send model aircraft to collectors all over the world — including a loyal group of aviation enthusiasts across the United States. However, from time to time, customers in the U.S. have been surprised by customs tariffs, import duties, and handling fees applied after their model has already been shipped.

We wanted to take a moment to explain why this happens, what it means for you, and how we’re handling it going forward.

Why Are U.S. Import Charges Applied?

Since the UK is no longer part of the European Union, all parcels shipped from Britain to the United States are treated as imports. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may inspect parcels and apply import tariffs or duties depending on the declared value of the goods and the HS (Harmonised System) code used for model aircraft.

Although we provide accurate customs documentation when posting each order, the final charge is set by U.S. authorities, not by Airspotters. These charges can vary based on:

• The total declared value of the models
• The type of goods (die-cast or plastic collectables)
• The state of entry and local handling fees by the carrier (often USPS, UPS, or FedEx)

Charges That May Arise After Delivery

Occasionally, a duty or import fee is billed later by the carrier or customs agent — sometimes even after delivery has taken place. Unfortunately, these costs are not visible at the time of posting and are outside our control.

If this occurs, we may need to contact you to recover the additional amount, as the carrier has charged Airspotters directly after your parcel has cleared customs. We’ll always provide full documentation showing the charges incurred.

What We’re Doing to Help

• Clearly marking customs forms to identify model aircraft as collectables
• Keeping parcel values realistic and correctly declared
• Working with courier partners to monitor changing tariff rates
• Offering advice before purchase for multiple or high-value orders

If you’re unsure about possible duties, please get in touch with us before placing your order, and we’ll give you the latest guidance based on recent experience.

In Summary

We want our American collectors to enjoy the same excellent service as everyone else — but customs procedures are becoming increasingly complex, and we must follow the correct rules when exporting from the UK.

If any U.S. tariff or customs charges arise after shipping, these are set by U.S. authorities, not Airspotters, and may need to be paid separately.

We appreciate your understanding and continued support. Our aim, as always, is to deliver the finest model aircraft — safely, securely, and transparently — to collectors around the world.