Warranty Repair/Replacement needs to go to USA. Customs duties when it comes back?

[Facepalm Supreme]

The answer is probably obvious since it involves money and the DR in the same sentence but I have a Gopro that may be damaged and I may need to RMA it. The issue is common and the fix is that GoPro sends you a new camera. I bought it in the States and brought it here on the plane because the ~$400 item will cost me an additional ~$275 in customs duties to import.

Is there any way outside of sending it with a "trusted" (!!) someone who is already on their way back to the USA and plans to return to the DR to RMA this item and receive a replacement under warranty without having to pay 58% of it's value upon its return here? Is there some loophole that you folks know about that could help with this situation?

 

[SantiagoDR]

For an item to be repaired and returned, in the past, you could get an exemption paper from customs to authorize it.
I did it once many moons ago, I had to get the paper from customs at the airport in Santiago I believe.

For a replacement?
Talk with customs about that, see if it counts same as a repair.

 

[Manuel01]

The answer is probably obvious since it involves money and the DR in the same sentence but I have a Gopro that may be damaged and I may need to RMA it. The issue is common and the fix is that GoPro sends you a new camera. I bought it in the States and brought it here on the plane because the ~$400 item will cost me an additional ~$275 in customs duties to import.

Is there any way outside of sending it with a "trusted" (!!) someone who is already on their way back to the USA and plans to return to the DR to RMA this item and receive a replacement under warranty without having to pay 58% of it's value upon its return here? Is there some loophole that you folks know about that could help with this situation?

No need for any loophole. Ship it to the US with Fedex, UPS or DHL. In the Form that you have to fill out; put the exact article desription and THE SERIAL NUMBER and ad "for Repair". When they send it back and it gets holded at aduana, use this form and you do not have to pay anything on taxes. We do this all the time with very expensive equipement. Never had any problems.