Short answer
Declare the phone honestly as faulty and being sent for data recovery or repair, with no commercial value, because there is no sale. Declaring a high value, such as $1000, can trigger import fees and taxes, as one customer found with a $250 fee. We follow the same approach when we return your phone.
What is the process for shipping a broken phone from overseas, such as the US?
The customer was asked to pay a $250 import fee because she completed the shipping form with a $1000 declared value.
We do receive devices, such as phones and SSDs, from international customers when attempts at repair in their own countries are unsuccessful or when they wish to send items to us.
I recommend being transparent with customs declarations.
Avoid vague descriptions; explicitly state that your device is faulty, being sent for repair, and has a declared value of $0 or a nominal amount like $10.
The rationale for this declaration is that if you declare an iPhone as being worth $1000 US dollars, it implies a sale, which is not the case. No money is being exchanged.
Such declarations will incur customs duties and government taxes in Australia upon receipt, or potentially in your own country when the item is returned to you.
We are not attempting to mislead authorities. Simply state that the device is faulty, being sent for data recovery or repair, and specify that it holds no commercial value.
There is no sale or monetary exchange, which will prevent unnecessary fees and charges.
Many individuals send items to our office because it is more cost-effective than shipping to other countries.
For instance, we had a customer in the US who needed their phone recovered.
They sent it to us.
We recovered the data for the equivalent of approximately $500 US dollars at the time (prices are subject to change), but they erred by declaring a $1000 value on their damaged phone, which resulted in a $250 fee.
We aim to help you avoid such situations.
When we return a phone to you, we will follow the same protocol.
We will declare that the phone is broken and damaged, being returned, and that it originated from your country.
Generally, we find that while some minor fees may occasionally apply, we endeavor to avoid any unnecessary charges through lawful means.
Related help
- More about mobile phone data recovery.
- Read a real job: Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra case study.
- And another: iPhone 14 Plus water damage case study.
- See more data recovery success stories.
- Ready to start? Get a free quote.
Phones and tablets are always no fix, no fee. There is no attempt fee, and you see your files before you pay.
International customers are always welcome. Post your device to us from anywhere.