Shop and ship customs charges | ExpatWoman.com
 

Shop and ship customs charges

211
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 December 2011 - 09:52

I ordered a sweatshirt from the USA. 21$, plus 5$ postage.

It got stopped here by customs because they claimed there was no invoice (according to the company it ws in the box when it was sent) and was labelled as $365 by aramex in NY.

They are delivering today, with 214 dhs Inc customs charges!

What do I do? That's 41$ in unnecessary customs, plus 5$ and 41dhs in postage!

516
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 January 2012 - 01:14
Isn't the point of using SnS to get around ridiculous shipping charges? No, not primarily. The main point is to be able to buy items from sellers who have policies about not shipping outside the USA or UK (and it's usually more of a problem with America - for example, there are plenty of items on Amazon.com that are listed as "This item cannot be shipped outside the USA", and ditto eBay). If I'm trying to buy something and the seller *doesn't* have a restriction on shipping to the UAE, I'll always compare costs to see if it's worth using SnS or not. Sometimes it's cheaper, sometimes it isn't.
1336
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 01 January 2012 - 01:10
Keeping in mind there are paperwork fees of about 70dhs, and somethign else which I can't remember. None of which is actually "advertised" on the Sns website. I found out the same way with my first Sns orer, that you ARE due for customs charges. customs website implies if it's under 3k dhs & for personal use then you don't pay customs fees. blatant revenue raising if you ask me, so much for 'tax free country'. stupid thing is they even do it on stuff which you can't get here... Even in Australia something has to be over AUD$900 or for commercial use before customs will slug you with duty.
211
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 December 2011 - 12:40
Had another call from another representative. He tells me there are customs charges of 173dhs, according to their other office. I said I know, but there shouldn't be. He said he knows nothing about that. Customer service, very helpful. He has now gone to check with the other office to find out what is going on. Anybody had unnecessary customs charges removed? What's worse is it's not for me, I ordered this on behalf of my pensioner parents, I don't want to incur these costs for them.
5499
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 31 December 2011 - 11:07
Hopefully there will be an invoice/receipt included in the package too.
211
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 December 2011 - 10:57
Spoke to SnS last week and sent copy of invoice. Spoke to them again this morning. She said the value they have on their books is $365, to which I pointed out that I'd discussed it last week with someone else and unless it was gold plated it had a much lower value. She agreed to call the driver with the correct charges. We will see when he arrives!
3804
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 31 December 2011 - 10:17
Isn't the point of using SnS to get around ridiculous shipping charges? They might have highlighted it on purpose and you'll end up pay the actual shipping charges. All you can do is discuss it with them I guess.
736
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 31 December 2011 - 09:57
Can you ask the company in the US to fax/scan a copy of the invoice for you? You could then ask Aramex to go back and get the money back as I presume they have paid the customs amount. Will they allow you to refuse the parcel?
3804
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 31 December 2011 - 09:57
Do you have a copy of the invoice? I mean when you placed the order, they must have emailed you the amount and what the item was etc. Can you not take that and show customs as proof of it's value?
 
 

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