The bulk is most like tariffs going straight (eventually)  to your federal govt. The govt is probably having the big O over this tariff situation. I would not be surprised if the carrier is charging a fee for collecting these tariffs.

Monitors: Please not this is not a political post but rather simply stating where the additional monies collected are going.

@psolk Paul, can you just decline the shipment and get your money back? Agitating I know but if you don’t want to pay those outrageous charges.

4 minutes ago, Patco Lch said:

@psolk Paul, can you just decline the shipment and get your money back? Agitating I know but if you don’t want to pay those outrageous charges.

Hi Vic,

There are apparently a lot of people declining delivery as a result of these surprise payment requests from UPS. 

I'm sure I "could" do that but I am also sure I would then get hit with return shipping charges, don't know about the refund process and I would still be out the throttle unit and left without a TQ 😞 

So I'm guessing it would cost me a few hundred to send it back 😞  

Truly a horrible experience and unfortunately the car requires a lot of deliveries from overseas so I fear this is just the beginning of this for me.

 

It really did blindside me this morning though and $650 is not insignificant.  We need some sort of consumer protection in all of this.  

1 hour ago, psolk said:

That would be a fair assumption but there is no blanket 50% import tariff on everything from the EU to the US that is currently in place.   

Anyone applying a blanket 50% charge TODAY (like UPS)  is simply taking advantage of the situation and ripping off the consumer in the process in my opinion. 

My money had to go to UPS not customs and I had to trust UPS on the amount or I can't get my package.

THAT is a UPS issue in my opinion

Well that's a sucky learning experience, to be sure.

My guess is that your products were manufactured in China.  The US Customs rules of origin are what determine the tariff, not where you purchased it.  The average tariff for products of chinese origin right now is just over 50% due to "tariff stacking", where multiple tariffs are applied (e.g. the additional 25% tariff for products originating from any country that buys Venezuelan oil).

Also, the de minimis exemption that formerly applied to shipments of products valued at less than $800 was suspended for most products of chinese origin, so just about everything originating there is subject to tariffs and the associated brokerage and handling fees.  The $800 de minimus exemption does still exist for products of european origin shipped to the US.  That said, an 1100 eurogazink throttle quad would always have been subject to brokerage handling and import duties because it exceeds the de minimus threshold.

So the takeaways for others in the US are: a) make sure you know where the product you're buying originates and if it's China be prepared for significant additional importation fees, b) if it's manufactured in a country with a de minimus exemption, break the shipment down to parcels valued at less than $800 if possible, and c) make sure you know how any additional importation fees are determined and collected.

2 hours ago, BillW said:

How does UPS know the value of the package?

Value is declared by sender. When I ordered my VKB controllers, DHL only contacted me for charging me the taxes and tariffs. Last time I got surprised with extra fees, I simply refused delivery, let the package return to sender, and got refunded some months later.

4 hours ago, psolk said:

60% in fees and tarriffs???

Ouch, I thought Argentina was bad (50%, no de minimis exemption), but you beat us 😪

14 minutes ago, Bob Scott said:

Also, the de minimis exemption that formerly applied to shipments of products valued at less than $800 was suspended for most products of chinese origin

That explains it all.

2 hours ago, psolk said:

It "appears" UPS is doing it as a customs broker on my behalf. 

 UPS, FDX, DHL, and others have been doing this for years. They know what the declared value of the good are based on the waybill. What was the actual breakdown in those fees? Customs brokerage fees, as well as at least 20% tariff from Italy, who knows maybe a couple other taxes in there as well. Were the components of these purchases made in China or somewhere that has even higher tariffs maybe? 

I've seen 30% on top of my price after shipping etc and that is coming from the US to Canada a couple years ago before all of this nonsense started.

 

Edited June 18, 2025Jun 18 by Dave_YVR

When I ship an item to someone in the USA I must provide a detailed list of what I am shipping for US Customs, our shipping companies here (which are not UPS or FedEx etc) will not except any package unless they know exactly what it is, I cannot even attempt to be vague they want to know what it is, where it was made, its value everything, I've done this it is a pain but they will reject to ship otherwise.

The item is shipped from where I am to Auckland and is at some point handed over to an international shipper, when it arrives in the USA it goes to US Customs first, and then the brokerage, it is finally handed over to a US comany like UPS or FedEx for domestic delivery, the company that delivers it to your door was not involved in the Customs or Brokerage, and may or may not have been involved in the shipping outside of the USA either

So no UPS or FedEx has nothing to do with those brokerages, they probably don’t really know what is in the package at that point because they were probably not involved until later in the shipping chain, the person sending your package from overseas probably didn't use UPS or FedEx at the start of the shipping chain, those companies simply took over later at some point

 

Importing into the US, it used to be for me Royal Mail to USPS was always good.  Even better when they upped de minimis from $200 to $800.   DHL I never used but had a bad reputation.  UPS/Fedex hit or miss.  As "express" shipper my understanding is they might have to clear customs for the entire cargo load.  So they would bill each individual recipient; not sure how they determined how much for each, but $50 as a general broker fee seemed common.

 

I recently ordered a $30 car part from China.  Haven't gotten it yet.  Will have to see what happens.  If they want another $50 will probably just blow it off.

Whats the policy now on bringing items in with you from an overseas trip?

What about receiving items that have been sent overseas for repair and shipped back to you?

And what about buying/receiving 2nd hand goods from overseas?

The commercial invoice will state the actual value of the product being imported.

It sucks for your guys (US) ordering overseas and getting huge duties/taxes and fees.

We as consumers, since we do not have our brokerage or use one for importing, then we have to use UPS/DHL/Fedex own in house brokerage service, and it usually cost quite a bit then plus the fees.

I am sorry, it hard not to relate this politically to a certain extend, but this is the byproduct of tariffs, we as consumers, pays for it.  not the importing company or the one who sold you the product!

   

Had a similar thing happen with a joystick I ordered from the EU, thought I was getting a decent deal until they slapped me with nearly half the price in duties and "brokerage fees." No warning, no way to back out without losing everything.

When I have ordered an item from Europe one carrier insisted on collecting a duty even though none exits with the Canada Europe free trade aggressive. I have to then apply to Canada Customs for a refund which was granted. A pita. I wonder how many people just walk away from the process of getting the duty back, where applicable.

On 6/18/2025 at 9:44 AM, Daube said:

Chances are, it's not UPS who determines the price, but the customs which checked the package when it went through in the airport...

There is a value declaration when its shipped internationally. It's not UPS... All shippers do it. UPS has done customs brokerage for years. Most times with UPS, your package has already cleared customs before landing in the country you live in. Not sure why the OP is bashing UPS for it? 

We have VAT in the UK that`s paid on the final purchase price, on imported goods the post office will want the duty (VAT)paid on collection of the parcel plus tariffs if applicable.

For the record. WinWing customers in the USA. WinWing has an American warehouse storing their products. The warehouse (WinWing) pays the tarrifs for all incoming goods. And then the products go on sale at WinWing's website, with the price stated. There is no tariff fees added to that price because there is no foreign shipment, its now all local. In other words, the tariff fees, if any, are already in the price of the item for sale. 

If you look at YT videos from late last year in December, WinWing panels used to be cheaper. The higher prices now listed on the website are for various reasons, including any tariffs. So the price you see on the website is what you will pay with only the shipping and sales tax added, which are also shown on the website.

I bought 3 winwing panels last month. No tariff other other fees were needed to accept the package. 

Edited June 23, 2025Jun 23 by Fielder