unexpected expense added to kilt price

**kilted hillbilly** · 22nd March 11, 05:31 AM

OK, so I am naive about the way things work. But I was hit with a "duty and tax" fee charged by our government for ordering from overseas (Scotland). $66.47 total. Not so much, but still a bit of a surprise. Just wanted to let you folks know this in case you planned on ordering from one of our advertisers in G.B. Thanks.

**Father Bill** · 22nd March 11, 05:33 AM

Hey come and move to Canada - mine came in duty free.

**RockyR** · 22nd March 11, 05:34 AM

It has been a topic of discussion up here often as it seems to happen frequently enough. Out of curiosity, who was the carrier (UPS, Fedex, DHL, USPS)?

**kilted hillbilly** · 22nd March 11, 05:41 AM

It was Fedex, They payed the duty and taxes, to expedite the shipment,and now they have billed me.

**CMcG** · 22nd March 11, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by kilted hillbilly

It was Fedex, They payed the duty and taxes, to expedite the shipment,and now they have billed me.

The solution to this problem is to use the postal system rather than a courier, unless you are in a big rush or the package is too heavy. Signed-for airmail is quite reliable and often slips through without being charged duty and tax.

As you wrote, couriers "expedite" the shipment by paying the duty and taxes but they also usually charge an additional "handling" fee to do so. I once got nailed with a $30 handling fee from UPS on a book that cost $20!

**kilted hillbilly** · 22nd March 11, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

The solution to this problem is to use the postal system rather than a courier, unless you are in a big rush or the package is too heavy. Signed-for airmail is quite reliable and often slips through without being charged duty and tax.

As you wrote, couriers "expedite" the shipment by paying the duty and taxes but they also usually charge an additional "handling" fee to do so. I once got nailed with a $30 handling fee from UPS on a book that cost $20!

Very good advise. Like I said, I am naive as to the way these things work. Now I am educated. Thank you.

**ForresterModern** · 22nd March 11, 06:19 AM

Been there, done that, told the story many times over. Short version is that UPS and FEDEX have arrangements with US Customs to expedite their shipments, that being that they agree to broker the customs classifications and bill the recipient directly for the proper amount of duty owed, and they are sticklers about it. They also add in their own "brokerage handling" fee of about $25us, so your actual duty was probably about $41 give or take, then add their fees. Ways around this can range from the illegal mislabelling of the item and value (NOT RECOMMENDED OR CONDONED), specifically requesting shipping via RoyalMails or ParcelForce (their packages, unless really big or expensive tend to get through customs without getting dinged with duty, albeit with a much slower rate of delivery many times as they are NOT prioritied through customs), or buying locally in the US and avoiding customs altogether (or at least directly), as there are many US and Canadian highland outfitters with competitive pricing and high quality goods.

Consider it a painful lesson learned. But wear it with pride---the kilt that is.

j