Tariffs - anyone have to pay recently ?

[4sallypat]

As a US consumer, I was just hit with a mighty large tariff that caught me off guard.

Normally tariffs are paid for by importers, large businesses or even by the export seller.

In this case, I purchased a $100USD tech part from a Canadian manufacturer and normally would get it delivered UPS International Worldwide service in a couple of days.

This time, on the day of delivery, my UPS app told me that I would have to pay an additional $182 for customs, duties, taxes, and brokerage fees.

Anyone else recently experience this ?

 

[russell_314]

As a US consumer, I was just hit with a mighty large tariff that caught me off guard.

Normally tariffs are paid for by importers, large businesses or even by the export seller.

In this case, I purchased a $100USD tech part from a Canadian manufacturer and normally would get it delivered UPS International Worldwide service in a couple of days.

This time, on the day of delivery, my UPS app told me that I would have to pay an additional $182 for customs, duties, taxes, and brokerage fees.

Anyone else recently experience this ?

View attachment 2536393

I have had this happen years ago when buying something from China. If you buy something directly from overseas, you’re responsible for the tariffs. There used to be a way sellers would get around it by extremely undervaluing the item but I don’t think that works anymore.

 

[4sallypat]

I have had this happen years ago when buying something from China. If you buy something directly from overseas, you’re responsible for the tariffs. There used to be a way sellers would get around it by extremely undervaluing the item but I don’t think that works anymore.

Yah, looks like the new reality....

The seller of the item was shocked when they confirmed that UPS was charging way more than the value of the item to a customer....

 

[aperfectcircle]

Yah, looks like the new reality....

The seller of the item was shocked when they confirmed that UPS was charging way more than the value of the item to a customer....

Has UPS provided any detail/breakdown of how that amount was derived? According to my friend ChatGPT (yeah, I know) the rate for non-exempt Canadian goods is 35%. The math is not math-ing. It’s definitely a genuine UPS email and not a scam? I’d ask them to provide a breakdown of that $182. I wonder how much “admin fee” they’re adding on top.

 

[russell_314]

Yah, looks like the new reality....

The seller of the item was shocked when they confirmed that UPS was charging way more than the value of the item to a customer....

It might be in your best interest just to refuse delivery of the item and have the seller refund your money minus the shipping cost. That is unless you absolutely have to have this item now. The highest tariff I can find on goods from Canada is 50% not 182%. It sounds like someone is trying to take advantage of the tariff situation and pad their pocket. Not sure if that’s the seller, UPS or someone in between, but I smell a scoundrel. 😂

 

[avro707]

Normally tariffs are paid for by importers, large businesses or even by the export seller.

I have had this happen on imports (over a certain value) on items coming into my country. When I got a TT bike from USA for instance I had to pay a pretty big import duty.

It was still $3000 cheaper than buying the same thing locally.

 

[Macky-Mac]

Instead of a tariff, it's probably a large "brokerage fee" from UPS that's created the excessive amount. A quick internet search turned up a number of people complaining about the brokerage charges they've being told to pa UPS.

And a further problem people mentioned is that refusing delivery won't necessarily lead to the package being returned to the seller with the buy's payment being refunded.

 

[weckart]

UPS publishes its worldwide brokerage fees in a pricelist. In the UK, it's about £11.50 plus VAT the last time I was charged. Wrongly in my case. I had to go through department after department to try to sort it out. It took months. It happened a few times. UPS are incompetent and I wish you the best of luck.

 

[erihp]

what a racket!

 

[Pierre535]

Prior to the tariffs, imports from China valued under $800 were exempt from tafiffs. Now who knows?

 

[4sallypat]

Has UPS provided any detail/breakdown of how that amount was derived? According to my friend ChatGPT (yeah, I know) the rate for non-exempt Canadian goods is 35%. The math is not math-ing. It’s definitely a genuine UPS email and not a scam? I’d ask them to provide a breakdown of that $182. I wonder how much “admin fee” they’re adding on top.

Yes, UPS brokerage dept broke it down to 3 fees.

Brokerage fee is $40. Rest is duty.

 

[4sallypat]

Prior to the tariffs, imports from China valued under $800 were exempt from tafiffs. Now who knows?

Yes, the de minimis exemption has been removed to avoid having sellers break down the shipment into small lots under $800 to avoid customs.

Now everything is dutiable.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Move to Australia. We have minimal to zero tariffs on pretty well anything except luxury cars.
We do have a 10% GST, but that applies to everything (except food, tampons, and a few others), including labour, regardless of origin. In return some other taxes (sales tax, e.g.) were removed.

 

[weckart]

Yes, UPS brokerage dept broke it down to 3 fees.

Brokerage fee is $40. Rest is duty.

Sounds like stupendously high duty, even after tariffs.

 

[Huntn]

Right after the first round of **** started, I notice that the frozen crab legs I buy at Kroger jumped from $20 to $25, +25%…

 

[erihp]

Right after the first round of **** started, I notice that the frozen crab legs I buy at Kroger jumped from $20 to $25, +25%…

have you seen steak prices? golden age alright.

not sure who for, exactly, but it aint us.

 

[edubfromktown]

Wow!

Nothing so far (supposed to be 15% but TACO waffling and whipsaw IT's ON, IT's OFF may have benefitted me).

I purchased a OL8N Santoku 170mm Knife and Silky Big Boy 2000 folding saw both from Japan and slid in/around/between when the tariff's hit.

Note: I notice high-end knife prices are higher and "on sale" compared to what they were when I placed an order. I assume that buffers any future buffoonery for when the tariff is active.

 

[erihp]

Wow!

Nothing so far (supposed to be 15% but TACO waffling and whipsaw IT's ON, IT's OFF may have benefitted me).

I purchased a OL8N Santoku 170mm Knife and Silky Big Boy 2000 folding saw both from Japan and slid in/around/between when the tariff's hit.

Note: I notice high-end knife prices are higher and "on sale" compared to what they were when I placed an order. I assume that buffers any future buffoonery for when the tariff is active.

I also recently imported a few camera related purchases from Japan and their listings specifically stated no additional tariff costs would be needed, and sure enough, sailed right through. So who knows.

Wild to see a duty charge higher than the actual item though! Hope it's not something we should get used to.

mmm tacos.

 

[TheIntruder]

Companies like UPS and DHL are sort of taking advantage of the situation, since past exemptions have been eliminated, and pretty much everything, and from every country (at the end of this month) will be subject to tariffs and duties, and thus their processing fees.

Chinese imports were the first to be squeezed, back in Spring, and things have pretty much settled down for marketplace purchases from Asia, though prices are higher than they used to be, not just from the new fees being baked into the price (DDP imports), but also in general, due to market adjustments. The rest of the world is affected by the disruption and instability, to put it kindly, as well.

These things have always been somewhat complex. As individual consumers, we have the option to defer such purchases, but consider what it's like to have to run a business in this whimsical (not in the positive sense) climate.

 

[4sallypat]

Wow!

Nothing so far (supposed to be 15% but TACO waffling and whipsaw IT's ON, IT's OFF may have benefitted me).

I purchased a OL8N Santoku 170mm Knife and Silky Big Boy 2000 folding saw both from Japan and slid in/around/between when the tariff's hit.

Note: I notice high-end knife prices are higher and "on sale" compared to what they were when I placed an order. I assume that buffers any future buffoonery for when the tariff is active.

I picked up in spring, a set of Japanese Damascus steel kitchen knives I have wanted.

They slice thru fish and meat like butter.

But the care involved in oiling it to keep it from rusting is a pain.

 

[4sallypat]

Companies like UPS and DHL are sort of taking advantage of the situation, since past exemptions have been eliminated, and pretty much everything, and from every country (at the end of this month) will be subject to tariffs and duties, and thus their processing fees.

Chinese imports were the first to be squeezed, back in Spring, and things have pretty much settled down for marketplace purchases from Asia, though prices are higher than they used to be, not just from the new fees being baked into the price (DDP imports), but also in general, due to market adjustments. The rest of the world is affected by the disruption and instability, to put it kindly, as well.

These things have always been somewhat complex. As individual consumers, we have the option to defer such purchases, but consider what it's like to have to run a business in this whimsical (not in the positive sense) climate.

I feel bad for the international seller.

Going to hurt them a lot doing business with the US.

This particular Canadian manufacturer sells most of their stuff to the US.

The CEO of the company called me when I got the bad news.
He paid for the duty and brokerage fee himself.

Package delivered to me the next day.

 

[joeblough]

Haha, I thought I saw this before. Yep, On the Mach-E forum! Well, on-topic, I did have to pay an extra tariff charge when buying some small electronic components from Mouser. It was not too much, but still.

 

[Huntn]

I feel bad for the international seller.

Going to hurt them a lot doing business with the US.

This particular Canadian manufacturer sells most of their stuff to the US.

The CEO of the company called me when I got the bad news.
He paid for the duty and brokerage fee himself.

Package delivered to me the next day.

This "tariff policy" has basically closed most US wine and whiskey imports to Canada. I've not heard about Europe. This is a huge loss of revenue. Tourism to the US? Look for some, it maybe illusive.Border towns with Canada are already feeling the burn as many Canadians used (key word) to cross the border to do some shopping. If you respond to the post, please avoid any political comments.

 

[Huntn]

have you seen steak prices? golden age alright.

not sure who for, exactly, but it aint us.

Steak if basically off our menu. I'll still admit that steak is wonderfully tasty, but the price turns off my taste buds. I've very happy with grilled/ seasoned pork chops as a close second. In my part of the wood, shrimp is still very resonably priced. I saw some farm raised shrimp for sale at $6 a pound (Texas). Other shrimp is running about $10/pound.

 

[KaliYoni]

The CEO of the company called me when I got the bad news.
He paid for the duty and brokerage fee himself.

That is excellent customer service! Can you post the name of the company and what they sell? I'm a big proponent of small businesses and companies that go above and beyond for their clients.

----------
For anybody interested, some companies which serve people beyond their local areas that have provided me with outstanding service are:
*Red Oxx (soft luggage)
*Patagonia (outdoor gear)
*Charles Schwab (financial services)
*Three Lobed Recordings (record label)
*Charlie Monroe Software (maker of Downie)
*Bombich Software (maker of Carbon Copy Cloner)