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Advice on UPS and overseas transactions

  • 09-09-2014 3:09pm
    #1
    Boskowski
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,361 ✭✭✭


    Just got stung by UPS and customs.

    Bought a golf club from Canada worth $60 (second hand), shipping was $50. Not terribly cheap, but the club had a particular shaft in it and its practically impossible to get it here in that combination. Anyway...

    So the buyer declared the value at $100 but forgot to state specifically that shipping was included in that.

    So UPS do the automatic customs clearance, great stuff only they're very stringent. For customs evaluation shipping is added to the value of the good. So it should have been evaluated at 110 CAD which is about €77. So I expected a custom charge of about €18, only UPS are looking for €55 off me. :o

    Reason is the seller forgot to mention specifically that the $110 included shipping so UPS added their own shipping cost to it. Only they didn't add what the guy actually paid to them (as if they didn't know???) but the most pricey option if I was going to send it back tomorrow. Idiots, but there you go.
    This added another $100 to the overall value.

    Moral of the story is... When buying from overseas and using UPS (or any other courier I guess) make sure the seller declares the value very specifically and also the shipping cost. Otherwise customs regulations will sting you badly.

    Now UPS told me that I can try to get the difference back from revenue - which I will do, I have the receipts after all - but there is no guarantee that they will entertain me.

    It seems to me in fact they are really trying to deter you from buying overseas at all. Revenue that is.


Comments

  • #2
    Nody
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,375 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    UPS ****s up the pricing calculation but it's revenue's fault somehow even though the only thing they have done is to get a payment done on behalf of UPS based on UPS's customs calculations (which they failed to complete in an appropriate way)? Sorry but you're barking up the wrong tree here...


  • #3
    Boskowski
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,361 ✭✭✭Boskowski


    Nody wrote: »
    ... Sorry but you're barking up the wrong tree here...

    Sorry, not really barking up anyones tree?!? Only saying make sure your seller is specific about value and shipping cost when declaring the parcel value.

    Of course UPS didn't cover themselves in glory here either...


  • #4
    Beano
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,357 ✭✭✭Beano


    what exactly have customs done wrong in this instance?


  • #5
    Boskowski
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,361 ✭✭✭Boskowski


    Not much really, but according to UPS they have set very strict, possibly overly strict rules to them. And also I was advised while I can appeal the charge with receipt in hand there is no guarantee revenue will entertain me.

    Although I have to admit that I find the latter hard to believe. Revenue surely aren't making up rules, they stick to the law. So I expect once I can prove the correct value of the shipment they will refund me.

    I only got stung here between the seller failing to be specific and UPS making all assumptions to my disadvantage and also applying a rather healthy 'handling fee'. Which makes the whole transaction rather cumbersome now.

    What I'm trying to say to others is how to avoid that.

    Edit: The UPS lady told me however that revenue rules dictate that they must assume to the buyers disadvantage at all times which is effectively driving the customs charge. Thats what I would call overly strict and possibly designed as a deterrent.


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