Importing goods (not bike) to Argentina
 

Hi there,

Bike's on the way to Buenos Aires, and I went via Europe. Whilst in Europe, I'd like to pick up a few things and take them with me by airplane to South America (TAM Airlines have a very generous 2x23kg luggage allowance):
1 set of Tourance tyres, chain/sprockets and a few goodies from Touratech (chainguard, bottle holders,...).

Question now is: Am I going to be alright for customs at the airport? Or is there a maximum value I'm allowed to bring into the country.
I'm thinking: a professional photographer, for example, would bring in camera gear worth several thousand US$ anyway... so: I should be alright with my belongings, even if they're new tyres/chain...

If anything, I could show the Argentinian customs guys some pictures from the past few months/years on the road, to demonstrate that the things are my personal belongings. But of course, as long as I don't know the law (i.e. the official "maximum value") I'd be open to interpretation (and bribary).

Bjorn

professional camera [film equipment ed.] gear normally would need a carnet de passage document. But I wouldn't worry about that. Pictures are always a good thing to bring. But I wouldn't stop and start explaining right from the start. I passed customs a few times in Buenos Aires with some parts and even an Engel fridge once...

I've never heard of a Carnet for professional photo equipment (I used to work for a photographic agency).

Question remains: is there an upper $ allowance/limit in value for bringing in personal affairs/goods?

Do the customs guys in BA airport normally apply 'common sense' – or should I better leave those spare tyres at home and buy them in Argentina, so not to draw too much attention to my luggage.
(Never been to S-America, so I really don't know what to expect when they spot a gringo bringing in motorcycle spare parts).

I was talking about film equipment.

When you take the parts into the country and they are still wrapped in original sealed packaging, you might run into trouble, but when you unpack everything an pack it into ziplocks etc, you might have less problems. I wouldn't know with the tires? Ask Xavier of Dakar Motos. He might have an idea...

Thanks for your answer. My initial post was probably a bit misleading: I would never actively try to bribe anyone (I hate bribes as much as anyone else here) – I meant that the customs/cops might try it on.

Maybe I worried a bit too much. I'll just take all the spares with me (unwrapped) and see how it goes.