I have never been penalized with import fees on any JDM Reel that I have purchased. Are rods any different because of the size?

Yes from what I have heard. No experience with rods but have heard numerous guys say they had delays with rods and fees. I don't think EMS ships rods. FedEx & UPS have that market pretty much wrapped up. I heard a very high % of their shipments go to customs.

rods are a killer coming from japan..its the size.

YES!  and expensive

I have an interest in the Megabass F2-60X Cliffhanger and over here, it's a $600.00 rod. I found it at JP Angler for less than $300.00 with very cheap shipping. After I started this Thread, I did a search and it seems that the shipping quote was more than likely an EMS quote and they don't ship rods. So now my rod would more than likely be over $400.00 plus penalties. That sucks IMHO!

I have an interest in the Megabass F2-60X Cliffhanger and over here, it's a $600.00 rod. I found it at JP Angler for less than $300.00 with very cheap shipping. After I started this Thread, I did a search and it seems that the shipping quote was more than likely an EMS quote and they don't ship rods. So now my rod would more than likely be over $400.00 plus penalties. That sucks IMHO!

 

Its not that expensive. I paid 24 dollars tariff for my F4-68X7 last May, and I paid 420ish for it.

You can get a heck of a nice custom for that kind of money if not less.

I must get lucky, after numerous shipments from oversea's, I've never once paid any extra fee's. I'm not talking 1 or 2, I'm talking 60-70 shipments. They were'nt all fishing, but all bigger money purchases. Brian.

Ems will ship 2 piece rods that are sectioned in the middle. Shipping is cheap and there's no customs fees. FedEx and UPS are used with one piece rods and shipping is between 80-100 and they will collect a customs fee which I think is based on the declared value. I found this out when I bought a Poison Adrena BFS.

I don't really get hit with to many fees on baits. There is the shipping fee and depending on where you get it a fee for the place that gets the item then sends it to you.

What Booty said

You can get a heck of a nice custom for that kind of money if not less.

Exactly, I'm more than positive you can have a rod built that you would be quite impressed by for that money.