Toys and Tariffs (US customers)

[andrewsaurus rex]

I agree that political discussion needs to be kept off this forum.  For years i was a moderator of a forum and i banned all political discussion.  Had i not, the forum would not have lasted.  Few things will create chaos and hard feelings like discussing politics.  I've been a member of other forums that completely collapsed from unchecked political discussion or inuendo entering almost every topic.

It's really not hard to keep politics out of any discussion that takes place on a dinosaur toy forum....even a discussion on the tariff situation in the US.   Sorry again for my slip up.  I of all people should have known better.

[SBell]

The worst part of this tariff business is always the processing or handling fee or whatever it is called. Because this makes low value items excessively expensive. Unless you purchase through a distributor who can import in bulk quantities. This is why setting the deminimus to low value or even zero is really going to hit the end customer particularly hard. We have seen that when this value was lowered in the EU for applying value added tax. This is always an invitation for shipment companies like DHL etc. to make extra profit from the fees.

I've been dealing with this exact scenario the past few weeks. A package I ordered from US ebay went through their "global shipping program" which charges extra fees and has previously always covered import charges (the only reason to ever tolerate it). Then I got a shady email from DHL (which I confirmed was real) demanding I pay them a $20 import fee (on $35 worth of items!) or they "couldn't protect me from import costs".

Naturally I tried to contact ebay, and after bouncing me between chatbots for 3 hours I reached someone who in only slightly nicer wording, told me to suck it up and pay because they silently changed how it works. Which completely defeats the entire purpose of that "service" existing. Now they just charge non-US customers extra fees for literally no benefit.

I told to DHL I wasn't paying them anything. And the item arrived with... no import fee. What a shock.

Honestly, I stopped buying from US sellers that use the eBay service -- they're brokering on packages that have no business being brokered. It's like a personal exemption of $250 or something, so there wouldn't normally be any charges of any kind -- but they collect the tax, charge the fee, and likely keep all of it.

Also, taxes aren't charged on used goods anyway, which is often what is purchased.

I've brokered customs before, it's generally pretty simple.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

So far, I've ordered two statues from China that UPS charged 67.00 on one and 200.00 on the other claiming ( government fees) and I ordered a large Godzilla figure from a toy store in Canada that offered free shipping. It made it across the border then UPS held it with no word for a week or so, then they asked for 45.00 to deliver it.

I have several more pieces from China I'm hoping aren't as bad.

[SBell]

So far, I've ordered two statues from China that UPS charged 67.00 on one and 200.00 on the other claiming ( government fees) and I ordered a large Godzilla figure from a toy store in Canada that offered free shipping. It made it across the border then UPS held it with no word for a week or so, then they asked for 45.00 to deliver it.

I have several more pieces from China I'm hoping aren't as bad.

The couriers, especially UPS, are the worst with cross border. Their assessment fees often come out way more than whatever tax or duties might be on there

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

So far, I've ordered two statues from China that UPS charged 67.00 on one and 200.00 on the other claiming ( government fees) and I ordered a large Godzilla figure from a toy store in Canada that offered free shipping. It made it across the border then UPS held it with no word for a week or so, then they asked for 45.00 to deliver it.

I have several more pieces from China I'm hoping aren't as bad.

The couriers, especially UPS, are the worst with cross border. Their assessment fees often come out way more than whatever tax or duties might be on there

I may have to scale back as that's just who they use.   I can't be sure, but  I believe they also opened it and took it out of the package at customs. Zipties appeared cut and pieces were just laid in the box.

[thomasw100]

It is interesting to see how shipment companies may perform very differently for orders coming from within a free trade area or from without. For example, UPS has been quite good for any shipments from Dinosaur Models Artworks coming from Spain. They have been fast and very reliable. In this case, this is a shipment within the EU. Now I did also get some shipments from Lana Time Shop that used UPS as their final shipping company once the packages arrive in the EU. These shipments were large and heavy, so Lana used some railway shipping service which then passed on the package to UPS. And UPS has been very difficult in these cases. They took up to 4 weeks to process the shipment through customs once it arrived in the EU. Now I am waiting for nearly 3 weeks for a small package to get processed by UPS. This was airmail shipping from De Clay studio in Vietnam and is not a large package.

This in my view highlights the most problematic aspect of tariffs and trade barriers compared to free trade agreements. This invariably leads to higher costs for the end customer (directly or indirectly via handling or processing fees), more bureaucracy and longer and less predictable shipping times. The aspect of less predictability is actually the one most detrimental to the economy. Companies can adjust to a changing environment with higher costs, but they have a very hard time when key factors like costs, handling times and the actual import rules are not stable.

[Takama]

Im now a collector of 3D prints from a certain Artist in Chile, and im expecting a batch to be shipped my way soon.

Ever since this Tarrifs thing was imposed on the soil I was Born on, Im constantly worried if i will be paying more then I needed at the Door.

Even if I dont have the $$$ at the time.

Thats my biggest fear.

[andrewsaurus rex]

So far, I've ordered two statues from China that UPS charged 67.00 on one and 200.00 on the other claiming ( government fees) and I ordered a large Godzilla figure from a toy store in Canada that offered free shipping. It made it across the border then UPS held it with no word for a week or so, then they asked for 45.00 to deliver it.

I have several more pieces from China I'm hoping aren't as bad.

The couriers, especially UPS, are the worst with cross border. Their assessment fees often come out way more than whatever tax or duties might be on there

I may have to scale back as that's just who they use.   I can't be sure, but  I believe they also opened it and took it out of the package at customs. Zipties appeared cut and pieces were just laid in the box.

It's very possible it was opened, either by UPS or US Customs.  They would want to inspect the item to ensure the country of origin code and HS codes are correct.  The US was levying HUGE fines (ie $50,000) to any carrier that tried to bring an item into the US with incorrect codes, which was looked at as an attempt to circumvent tariffs.

As pointed out, couriers are the worst for brokerage fees (ie fees they charge for bringing an item through Customs).  Best to always stick to the postal system; otherwise be prepared to pay through the nose.  This is something buyers of most nations are very familiar with but US citizens, with their huge $800 deminimus, have not had to deal with it until now. 

[SidB]

That confirms my preference for dealing with postal systems, despite their inherent drawbacks.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

My UPS driver said this was the first time he's ever had to ask for money for a package he had to check how to do it.

USPS is fine and their pricing on some methods is trying to be equal with UPS. They have gone up again on several methods though and they are still losing money I've heard. One reason we are hearing about them being bought out I guess?

[andrewsaurus rex]

it's like that in Canada now too, where many courier company rates are actually cheaper than the postal rates (USPS and Canada Post).  But that's usually just true for urban areas; rural area rates are often way higher with couriers... there are a lot of drawbacks to couriers too......like picking up a package if you weren't home for the delivery.  Far more postal outlets to choose from than courier pick up places...and many of the smaller couriers don't have pick up options at all.

The big advantage of the postal system over couriers though is when it comes to importing items.  Courier company brokerage fees for doing the Customs paperwork can be savage.

[Halichoeres]

USPS is fine and their pricing on some methods is trying to be equal with UPS. They have gone up again on several methods though and they are still losing money I've heard. One reason we are hearing about them being bought out I guess?

If they fully privatize the postal service, rural mail service and package delivery are going to get very expensive. There is not really a way to serve those areas without subsidy from users who are, from a logistics standpoint, more efficiently distributed.

[bmathison1972]

BTW my second parcel from Minizoo came in today with no issues (which means my Jaekelopterus review will be forthcoming...)

[Primeval12]

BTW my second parcel from Minizoo came in today with no issues (which means my Jaekelopterus review will be forthcoming...)

OOO, I plan to order from them once the Maip comes into stock!

[SBell]

BTW my second parcel from Minizoo came in today with no issues (which means my Jaekelopterus review will be forthcoming...)

OOO, I plan to order from them once the Maip comes into stock!

You'll also have to wait for Jaekelopterus to come back in...I placed an order, but it was already out (but I'm told it's coming back soon). Still have it in holding since I'm waiting for the Papo to arrive before shipping

[Primeval12]

ah crumbs

[SBell]

ah crumbs

Jason said they expect them shortly, and that was a week ago

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Received a bill from UPS today asking for a further 55.00 on top of the 45.00 I had already paid on the Canadian toy I ordered. It looks like they are charging me three different times at different percentages for it too. The item was a 135.00 USD with free shipping for a Playmates Godzilla toy.  This was technically while the tariffs were on hold as well. 

[andrewsaurus rex]

i don't understand that.  Sounds like a total rip off to me.  What is the 55 supposed to be for and what was the 45 for?  If the charge is for a tariff because it is made in China that is only 10% and if because it was coming from Canada then 25% of 135 is about $34.  And tariffs on items coming in through the mail were only in place for one day before they were suspended due to lack of manpower.

Seems like a total scam.  But if you don't pay the seller gets charged.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

i don't understand that.  Sounds like a total rip off to me.  What is the 55 supposed to be for and what was the 45 for?  If the charge is for a tariff because it is made in China that is only 10% and if because it was coming from Canada then 25% of 135 is about $34.  And tariffs on items coming in through the mail were only in place for one day before they were suspended due to lack of manpower.

Seems like a total scam.  But if you don't pay the seller gets charged.

Yeah it makes no sense to me. They charged me fees and I paid them, took two weeks for them to sort out and this was supposed to be before the tariffs took place ( I was told they were getting ahead of the game ), The item was delivered weeks ago. Now  I get a bill that arrived today but says it was due to be paid by the 8th of March or else there would be added fees.  I'm not a wholesale importer.