Boutique Sales Megathread: Complete List of Current/Upcoming Sales

[Afriendofours]

Originally Posted by Cherokee Jack

Messaged Indicator again and they replied saying the fees were a surprise to them as well. Also said they would be investigating the situation further. Hopefully they’re able to figure out something on their end because I don’t look forward to fighting with UPS.


It’s weird, each message and the front page they direct to say I owe $42 per delivery, but when I click through the invoice seems incomplete and only lists $30 owed for ‘brokerage charges’. I’ve seen screenshots from other people dealing with charges like these, and they all have line items for government charges as well. There’s also a message at the top of my screen saying ‘Additional charges may be applied based on recent tariff policy changes’, so I’m wondering if the final bill has yet to be determined.


I’m giving Indicator some time to make it better, but I will probably at least attempt to contest it with UPS before delivery if they’re unable to do anything. Google results show several people getting fees reduced or eliminated altogether by telling UPS they never authorized them as a broker.

The never authorizing them is a broker may work. I would ask for a valuation (It may be that there is an assessed value out the wazoo for some strange reason like including cost of shipping along with the declared value - When I ordered, Lime Wood was smart enough to write a value of like 30 pounds while my order was $240) and then contest it on the grounds that it's not subject to tariff or below the threshold. Keep fighting the good fight; don't give in to The Man! Keep us posted.

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by Afriendofours

The never authorizing them is a broker may work. I would ask for a valuation (It may be that there is an assessed value out the wazoo for some strange reason like including cost of shipping along with the declared value - When I ordered, Lime Wood was smart enough to write a value of like 30 pounds while my order was $240) and then contest it on the grounds that it's not subject to tariff or below the threshold.

There is no longer any threshold on tariff charges for incoming packages to the US. Until August 29th there was a de minimis threshold of $800. Packages under that amount were not subject to any import taxes/tariffs no matter what they contained. Today packages of any value--no matter how low--are subject to import tariffs. Except for "informational materials" such as BDs, books, vinyl records, etc which should all be tariff free according to longstanding federal law.

Whether or not your commercial shipper is charging their own private customs brokerage fee--or has a threshold for charging that fee based on the value of the package--is unfortunately up to them. However, I believe they should be required to disclose that fee up front before you agree to the shipping method and total shipping fee. Not be charged additionally after the shipping fee was already disclosed.

[Cherokee Jack]

Originally Posted by sherlockjr

There is no longer any threshold on tariff charges for incoming packages to the US. Until August 29th there was a de minimis threshold of $800. Packages under that amount were not subject to any import taxes/tariffs no matter what they contained. Today packages of any value--no matter how low--are subject to import tariffs. Except for "informational materials" such as BDs, books, vinyl records, etc which should all be tariff free according to longstanding federal law.

Whether or not your commercial shipper is charging their own private customs brokerage fee--or has a threshold for charging that fee based on the value of the package--is unfortunately up to them. However, I believe they should be required to disclose that fee up front before you agree to the shipping method and total shipping fee. Not be charged additionally after the shipping fee was already disclosed.

This is another approach I will take if I end up having to talk with UPS. I’m not looking to throw Indicator under the bus, but I will inform UPS that I was promised free shipping and was subsequently informed by the seller that the fees were a surprise to them as well. As far as I’m concerned, UPS can go after the seller if they want their fees. Indicator’s shipping FAQ mentions the buyer’s obligation to pay ‘import duties and taxes’ but I see no language about courier fees. I would think those would fall under the promise of free shipping and be the responsibility of Indicator.

Actual tariff collection is another matter. I’m well aware that that’s the political environment we currently live in and will offer to pay them and only them if UPS can list them as an actual line item (if they’re reasonable, that is; I’m prepared to refuse the shipments if it comes to that).

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by Cherokee Jack

Ordered direct from Indicator in the UK back in July. This was before the new round of more aggressive tariffs began. No additional fees when the order was placed, I got the messages about fees from UPS literally 10 minutes ago. I had included two pre-orders for September releases in order to qualify for free shipping, which is why it’s only shipping out now. Worked out really great.

The issue is that you ordered back in July when there were no tariffs when sending packages below $800 to the US. The removal of the US de minimis exemption wasn't announced until July 30 and wasn't implemented until August 29. So Indicator had no way of charging you in advance for tariffs or customs paperwork fees that nobody yet knew would be needed.

According to federal law you shouldn't be charged any tariffs on pre-recorded optical media, but that doesn't mean UPS can't attempt to charge you a service fee for filling out the paperwork to get your packages through customs with zero tariffs. I think you have a very strong argument that UPS can't add on additional shipping/paperwork charges after the shipping charges were already paid for, but no idea if the low level customer service person you'll talk to has any power to remove that charge.

What many UK shippers are now doing is using a brand new service from the Royal Mail "Postal Delivered Duties Paid" (PDDP) where shipping and any customs duty is all paid up front to the Royal Mail and they handle the rest with no danger of the customer having to make any additional payments--customs paperwork fees, customs duties, etc--after the shipper pays Royal Mail (and charges you for shipping or not). However, the PDDP service to the US also wasn't in operation in July, they implemented it to the US at the end of August. Plus your shipment went UPS rather than Royal Mail--though you may want to insist on/choose Royal Mail PDDP service in the future to avoid the possibility of these additional charges.

We offer a Postal Delivery Duties Paid Solution (PDDP) to a limited, but growing list of EU and ROW destinations. Postal Delivery Duties Paid (PDDP) is a service whereby duties are handled by Royal Mail and the overseas customs authority/delivery partner so that the recipient does not incur any additional cost at the doorstep. Instead, VAT and duties are calculated and collected at the point of sale and paid to the relevant tax authorities locally via Royal Mail.

PDDP can be used for both business to consumer and business to business sales. Royal Mail will accept items of any value via PDDP but individual country value limits should always be checked.

How Does This Work?

The service allows the UK merchant to calculate and collect from their customer at the checkout an additional amount that will cover the cost of import VAT and customs duty alongside the PDDP handling fee. Royal Mail convey the items to the overseas delivery partner. Upon arrival overseas any VAT and duties are calculated by the overseas authority and then billed to Royal Mail. Royal Mail then pass these on to the sender,

https://www.royalmail.com/business/i...paid-ioss/pddp

[Stanis]

My order from japan thru ebay arrived from usps, no notice of tarriffs or fees. Guess im in the clear?

[playa787]

Limelight sale. Matching the Radiance sale prices with cheaper shipping to US.
https://limelightcollection.co.uk/co...limelight-sale

[Whoozit]

Originally Posted by playa787

Limelight sale. Matching the Radiance sale prices with cheaper shipping to US.
https://limelightcollection.co.uk/co...limelight-sale

Killer Sale, thanks. I bought some Indicator and some Eureka. Hopefully I won’t get smacked with the Trump Tax. $60 shipped to the US.

[SkinnyTwist]

Originally Posted by Whoozit

Killer Sale, thanks. I bought some Indicator and some Eureka. Hopefully I won’t get smacked with the Trump Tax.

[Show spoiler]

You mean the UPS tax.

[jephdood]

Do you know up front if you're going to get hit with any extra charges? I don't want to be surprised with a hike from customs I wasn't aware of when submitting my order.

[Number_6]

Originally Posted by jephdood

Do you know up front if you're going to get hit with any extra charges? I don't want to be surprised with a hike from customs I wasn't aware of when submitting my order.

I don’t think so unless you reach out to the vendor and ask what courier will be taking over delivery once it enters the states.

I got hit with a fee from DHL on my last Anderson order. I just did a preorder with them again last week and there was box at the bottom of my order that said all taxes and import fees had been paid and there would be no extra charge on delivery.

But if UPS, FedEx or DHL handles final delivery I’m pretty sure I’ll get hit with another charge.

[Stanis]

I ordered from Japan (Ultimate Ghostbusters Box) thru ebay who had a big warning about tarrifs and fees, then recieved yesterday ahead of schedule. No fees or tariffs, final delivery was by usps (no choice who, port entry was Mississippi). But also saw a post on social media that someone recieved a tarriff fee weeks later after delivery from Ups. Crazy, who knows?

[Whoozit]

Are you not entertained?

[jephdood]

Well, that cinches it then. Not ordering from overseas when I don't know for sure what I'm paying. What a cluster.

[MarcoF]

That's the way it is in Europe forever when we want to import something. Welcome to the club. At least the playfield has been leveled now...

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by Number_6

I don’t think so unless you reach out to the vendor and ask what courier will be taking over delivery once it enters the states.

I got hit with a fee from DHL on my last Anderson order. I just did a preorder with them again last week and there was box at the bottom of my order that said all taxes and import fees had been paid and there would be no extra charge on delivery.

But if UPS, FedEx or DHL handles final delivery I’m pretty sure I’ll get hit with another charge.

You will know the exact cost to receive your package if it's sent via UK Royal Mail Postage Delivery Duties Paid (PDDP)

"Postal Delivery Duties Paid (PDDP) is a service whereby duties are handled by Royal Mail and the overseas customs authority/delivery partner so that the recipient does not incur any additional cost at the doorstep. Instead, VAT and duties are calculated and collected at the point of sale and paid to the relevant tax authorities locally via Royal Mail."

https://www.royalmail.com/business/i...paid-ioss/pddp

I assume other country's mail services are beginning to have similar services to include all customs and other service charges in the shipping charges.

Note that BluRay disks, 4K disks, CDs, Books, Magazines, etc are all supposed to be free of any customs duty under the 1988 Berman Amendment which exempts all "informational material" from any tariffs, customs duties, etc when entering the US.

I just received a package via Royal Mail from Eureka in the UK. It was sent on Sept 5, it sat at custom in NY for a week, and then was delivered with no customs duties, tariffs, or additional carrier fee.

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by Stanis

But also saw a post on social media that someone recieved a tarriff fee weeks later after delivery from Ups. Crazy, who knows?

Don't believe everything you read on social media. The de minimis exemption was only removed August 29. That was only three weeks ago.

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by rickmiddlebrooks

Not a tax — a fee that UPS keeps completely. So it doesn't pay for any bill.

Commercial carriers--UPS, FedEX, DH--are free to charge whatever fees they want. It seems that some of them are charging fees for customs paperwork, etc even when the actual tariff on a shipment is $0.

Under Federal Law it should always be zero on any pre-recorded movie disks (and music CDs, and printed books, and similar informational materials).

Don't use one of those commercial shippers for your tariff free BlueRays. Instead use a government postal service like UK Royal Mail Postage Delivery Duties Paid (PDDP) which guarantees that all costs for delivery, including any customs duties, are collected as part of the shipping fee with no extra costs charged to the recipient after the shipping fee is collected.

[Mike0284]

Originally Posted by MarcoF

That's the way it is in Europe forever when we want to import something. Welcome to the club. At least the playfield has been leveled now...

[Number_6]

Originally Posted by sherlockjr

Commercial carriers--UPS, FedEX, DH--are free to charge whatever fees they want. It seems that some of them are charging fees for customs paperwork, etc even when the actual tariff on a shipment is $0.

Under Federal Law it should always be zero on any pre-recorded movie disks (and music CDs, and printed books, and similar informational materials).

Don't use one of those commercial shippers for your tariff free BlueRays. Instead use a government postal service like UK Royal Mail Postage Delivery Duties Paid (PDDP) which guarantees that all costs for delivery, including any customs duties, are collected as part of the shipping fee with no extra costs charged to the recipient after the shipping fee is collected.

What do you mean “don’t use those commercial shippers?”

As customers, we don’t get to choose that; the vendor is the one who picks which shipper they’re going to use.

Yes, yes, Royal Post, we get it, they do it correctly so there should’t be any fees, but Royal Post doesn’t operate in the US so has to get handed off to another US based carrier. As the recipient, we get no say in who that is. The vendor may get to choose, but as customers we don’t, and we don’t know who it is until we get a tracking number when it hits the US and by then it’s too late.

Jerez, all that repeated bloviating and not even reading people’s posts.

[ColdCountryMN]

Can we please get back on topic? This is the Boutique Sales Megathread: Complete List of Current/Upcoming Sales, not a dumping ground for side debates.

Moderators, this really needs to be reined in — the constant off-topic chatter makes it hard for the rest of us to actually use the thread for what it’s intended. If people want to keep that discussion going, please take it elsewhere so this space stays useful.