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.