April 2018 — Question 44
What is the CLASSIFICATION of a floor-standing, coin-operated, shoe brushing/polishing machine used in public places such as hotels and airports, the user inserts the required monetary payment and places his/her foot onto the foot plate. Using rotating internal brushes powered by a self-contained electric motor, the machine automatically brushes/polishes the surface and both sides of the shoe. While waiting for the process to be completed, the user can view material posted on the machine’s advertising board. The process stops when (1) the user removes his/her foot or (2) the fixed brushing/polishing time is over.
- A8453.20.0000
- B8467.29.0035
- C8476.89.0000
- D8479.10.0080
- E8479.89.9499 Category VI – Value✓ CBP's answer
Why this answer
No Chapter 84 heading names a coin-operated shoe brushing and polishing machine, so under GRI 1 it falls to heading 8479, which covers machines having individual functions not specified elsewhere in the chapter, and GRI 6 then selects the residual subheading 8479.89.9499. Heading 8453.20 fails because it covers machinery for making or repairing footwear, not maintaining shoes being worn; 8467 requires tools for working in the hand; and 8479.10 is limited to public works machinery. The most tempting distractor, 8476, fails because coin operation alone is not enough: that heading covers automatic vending machines dispensing goods, and this machine sells a service. Watch for: Assuming any coin-operated machine is an automatic vending machine of heading 8476.
Original CBLE Simulator explanation — the question and key above are CBP's; this analysis is ours. Verify against the current edition before relying on it in practice.
CBP's cited authority
Answer and citations as published in CBP's official answer key for the April 2018 examination.
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