The actual duty on a imported gun is not expensive, It's the brokers and forwarders that wade through Government paperwork that cost. If you can find someone who brings in guns in bulk, lot at one time, the administrative cost will be split over the total shipment & freight is much cheaper in bulk.
It cost Wal Mart or Target about a 100 dollars in broker and forwarder fees to bring in one shipment, not counting freight or duty. Single toaster 100 dollars. 10 containers with 20,000 toasters in each. Small fraction of 1 cent per toaster.
Not to be difficult but it is government policy that has raised shipping cost. I have held a Coast Guard License since 1968, Used to require a Physical, free at the Public Health service. Local marine safety office looked over references and sea service letters then administered a written and oral test that took about half a day. No cost to the mariner & you were dealing with people who knew their jobs.
Today all the work has been outsourced to vendors. Pay for everything, 7 different checks to write including mandatory courses that I could easily teach myself. Get it all together, you go to a License consultant, who charges a fee to put the papers in order and argue with the Coast Guard licensing office in West Virginia for you. Its a foolish mariner that does not hire the consultant, you cant work without the license and could see months delay without one. Total cost not counting travel over 3000 dollars. Import regulations just as complicated, some goods like guns even worse.
Boats
