JLCPCB customs clearance? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: j_omega
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2024, 09:17:42 pm
content: I recently shipped some consigned parts to JLCPCB. The package was mailed from the US to Hong Kong by FedEx. I completed all of the required customs paperwork and the tracking history indicates that the package cleared customs. I spoke with a FedEx customer support agent who confirmed this. However, JLCPCB has sent me several emails asking me to pay their customs agent. In these emails they mention that the package will have "customs issues". JLCPBC has always provided top-notch customer service, but this feels like a scam. Can anyone else with experience in this area comment?

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2024, 12:00:11 am
content: Start by making certain you are not being scammed bu\y an outside third party. Communicate directly with those really involved.

author: globoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2024, 01:22:55 am
content: Are you sure there aren't some import duties to be paid? I know the major shippers will hold packages until it is paid (I've had it happen to me - but the other direction). I did a quick google search and it seems that custom agents are a thing. No doubt they have to be paid and it seems plausible JLCPCB has someone they work with but they have to be paid too.I just made an order to PCBWAY's assembly service from some boards and a service they offer, and I paid for, is to prepay the 25% import duties (thanks government...) and handle all the paperwork. I had to pay fees on top of the duties. Totally worth my time however.

author: j_omega
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2024, 03:11:48 am
content: Quote from: globoy on March 31, 2024, 01:22:55 amI assumed that the package would not clear customs until all required duties are paid. Maybe this is where I am mistaken?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2024, 12:00:43 pm
content: Quote from: j_omega on March 31, 2024, 03:11:48 amThere are many different options for how things ship, but clearing ≠ paid.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 01:49:12 am
content: Yep. And, the importer has to pay, right? So if you ship stuff to JLCPCB, *they* have to pay the import fees. In turn, they will ask you to reimburse them.Depending on which carrier you use and the destination, they may handle it transparently, or not. It's a mess.If you received emails from JLCPCB and the emails look genuine, I doubt it's a scam. Just contact them via their website if really in doubt, unless the scam is so well polished that the scammer will intercept your conversation via their website too and confirm the amount with the same reference. Well.But if you suspect JLCPCB themselves to be tax scammers, I somehow doubt it. They probably have better to do.

author: JLCPCB Official
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 02:26:22 am
content: Hello ,Normally, we will contact the customer after receiving the customs clearance notice from the logistics company. Additionally, our import customs clearance procedures are managed by agents, resulting in associated handling fees. Could you please send your logistics number to my email at Daisy@jlcpcb.com? I'll then verify this information with our support team .

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 03:46:42 am
content: Please send the information to the e-mail address I give below and I will verify things!Boy, there is a perfect way for the scammers to bypass proper security. That e-mail address could go ANYWHERE!Oh, but it must be JLCPCB since they posted here. Really? If JLCPCB can monitor this BB, then the scammers also can.If you want to verify that the fees are legit, USE an e-mail address or phone number that YOU KNOW is actually JLCPCB. Like from their web site or from a previous bill or packing slip.You should find the address or phone number to send your inquiry to instead of using one provided in a post to a BB.Quote from: JLCPCB Official on April 01, 2024, 02:26:22 am

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 04:06:27 am
content: When I ship parts to PCBway using DHL I tick a box on the DHL shipping page that charges me for all the destination import tax/duty.I've never had any issue with PCBway asking to be reimbursed for costs incurred. Never tried with JLCPCBAlso, just because the package was delivered to china does not mean there was no duty/customs owing on it.I have had things delivered to me on occasion where I get a customs bill a few days later for it. It's not that common, usually they hold it until I pay but it does happen from time to time.First thing I would do is try to figure out if FedEx actually did chargeyoufor the china import tax/fees.You should have some documentation from Fedex with a full breakdown of the costs they charged you and the china import tax should be on their if they charged it.Or just call FedEx and ask them.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 07:35:30 am
content: Quote from: EPAIII on April 01, 2024, 03:46:42 amCome on, bro…If that were a brand new account with zero prior posts, asking for a email to a gmail address, your concern might be justified. But JLCPCB has been posting here for years from that account. And how would a scammer create an email address on the jlcpcb.com domain anyway?

author: JohanH
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 07:52:33 am
content: Quote from: EPAIII on April 01, 2024, 03:46:42 amNo, that's not how e-mail works. If you see other e-mail addresses with @company.com referred to on saidwww.company.comsite, you can be 100% sure it will end up somewhere in @company.com mailbox. Otherwise someone spoofed (or stole) the whole domain. But then the web site could be fake or intercepted, too.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 08:22:57 am
content: I've had significantly more headaches with FedEx than I've ever had with DHL. I don't use Fedex for anything international anymore.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 08:59:47 am
content: Quote from: JohanH on April 01, 2024, 07:52:33 amIndeed. The only “gotcha” is lookalike domains using alternate Unicode characters that are visually indistinguishable from the regular Latin alphabet. But many email programs now warn about this, plus the easiest way to ensure you’re sending to the legitimate domain is to simply type it in by hand.

author: j_omega
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 01:41:22 pm
content: I decided to not pay and see what happened. FedEx shows that the package was delivered, so it obviously did not have any "issues" with customs.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 01:56:30 pm
content: They may not have worded it properly. I doubt you are going to get a free ride. Either you will get a bill from FedEx or if JLCPCB paid for it they may not ship the order until you reimburse them.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 08:05:19 pm
content: Quote from: j_omega on April 01, 2024, 01:41:22 pmFedex will charge you a penalty for not paying after some time... They do the delivery then send the bill.... guess how I know....

author: alank2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 11:10:56 pm
content: I always use DHL - have never had an issue with them. Maybe their consider their service to include all fees?

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 05:58:02 am
content: Well, that's two that say I am wrong. I hope they are correct.I am here often but was not aware of that person from JLCPCB being a long time member. Perhaps all is OK. I just like being cautious.And there are ways of spoofing either the person's address or the domain. Here is the e-mail address given in the post above:Daisy@jlcpcb.comAnd here is Daisy with a DIFFERENT domain:Daisy@ϳlcpcb.comCan you easily spot the difference? I bet it takes some time if you can spot it at all. It took me all of two minutes to come up with the second address. I'm not even a spoofer and I can easily do it. With a bit more time I can make it look even better.Quote from: JohanH on April 01, 2024, 07:52:33 am

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 05:59:55 am
content: That's why you should not copy-paste addresses when in doubt, but type them yourself. But again, you would otherwise have contacted support via chat on their website to remove any further doubt.And, whatever the address, you would only pay via your account on JLCPCB anyway, so what's the risk. Never accept to pay outside of that.

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2024, 02:13:17 pm
content: If you are ever concerned about a potential 'look-a-like' domain, if you are a Firefox browser user there is a handy easy way you can check it: simply copy the domain part and paste it into the address bar of Firefox. It will automatically transcode any non-ASCII domains into theirIDNPunycoderepresentation and show it in that form.For example, for the second example above, if you paste "ϳlcpcb.com" into the address bar, it will show in the suggestion box "xn--lcpcb-nle.com".I don't know if any other browsers - e.g. Chrome, Edge, Safari, etc. - have this feature.

author: JLCPCB Official
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2024, 02:27:17 am
content: Hello ,If you prefer not to email your logistics number to me, could you please share your JLC account (Account #) information here? I currently don't have access to your logistics number, making it difficult to assess the specific situation.Additionally, please note that customers only need to pay the service fee when they confirm the use of our agent for customs clearance. Typically, import customs clearance is necessary. However, if the customer choose to use their own agent or logistics company for customs clearance, then we do not need to act as their agent.For any assistance, you can also contact our support@jlcpcb.com

author: j_omega
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2024, 07:46:02 am
content: I received the following email from JLCPCB which provided the additional calcification that I was looking for.Quote

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2024, 10:07:02 am
content: I use Firefox but wasn't aware of that feature. And it did take some effort beyond just copying the e-mail address.But, if I did have that domain name properly registered, wouldn't Firefox discover that it was just a legitimate domain? Or could it somehow say it was close to some other domain name so, "Y'all be careful now."1? I think if the domain name was properly registered, as an internet malefactor would probably do. So Firefox or any other internet checker would say it is OK. And then that malefactor would pass the e-mail on to the real domain that was intended so no one would suspect that the information in it, like a credit card number or information about a particular purchase etc., had been compromised.So, I really think that if you are going to send some sensitive information via e-mail, you should use an address that was obtained by yourself from a source more reliable than an e-mail that you received that just looks legit.I am not attackingDaisy@jlcpcb.comor theJLCPCB Officialuser ID which may be used by more than one at JLCPCB. I think it is great that they take enough interest to monitor the BB and try to answer questions or resolve problems posted here. More companies should do likewise. It is only the way that information is returned that is in question. The people who design the websites could provide the e-mail addresses to send such communications to. But instead they are more intent on reducing the e-mail traffic or eliminating it entirely.And I am saying that they should provide real e-mail addresses, not some internet form that must be filled out THEIR WAY, often with required information you do not wish to give or with number of characters limitations.Notes:1. Punch line of an old joke about an airport controller with a Southern US accent.Quote from: HwAoRrDk on April 02, 2024, 02:13:17 pm

author: HwAoRrDk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2024, 10:40:46 am
content: Quote from: EPAIII on April 03, 2024, 10:07:02 amFirefox isn't doing anything other than recognising that a domain entered in the address bar contains non-ASCII characters and showing you the IDN format of that domain. It doesn't check whether it exists, nor anything else. So it's only useful as an "this isn't actually as it may appear" check.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2024, 06:58:41 pm
content: Quote from: EPAIII on April 03, 2024, 10:07:02 amI can't even imagine how horrible it would be for someone to get a hold of my ....... omg it's hard to even type this.... SHIPPING LOGISTICS NUMBER!!!!I think we all understand your position here.