So Tequipment sent me a nasty ass supprise along with my new DS1102E today - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Ferroto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 12:34:01 pm
content: That surprise was a $100 import fee which I suppose isn't tequipment's fault (I assumed because of NAFTA and whatnot that shipping from the US would be tarrif free.) but it would be nice if they told me about it, or included it in the cost of shipping instead of having the package show up with C.O.D. on it.Low shipping charges were the reason I bought from tequipment in the first place now I realize that everyone else was doing me a solid by including the import fee in the cost of shipping.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 12:56:18 pm
content: Brokerage fees are a common complaint of Canadians ordering from the USA. Shipping by USPS instead of UPS/FedEx seems to lead to much more reasonable costs.

author: Ferroto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 03:57:19 pm
content: Quote from: AcHmed99 on September 19, 2013, 02:10:58 pmUnfortunately I live in Newfoundland otherwise I'd do all my shopping in the US.

author: Len
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 04:22:33 pm
content: I recently bought the same scope, from Saelig in the US. They shipped it by FedEx International Priority. Shipping was pretty expensive but there was no surprise "customs brokerage" extortion added later.I've run into the same problem with UPS. I will never use them again to ship anything US -> Canada. I like US Post / Canada Post because it's cheaper (if you're willing to wait a week) and if I'm not home they leave the package in my mailbox or at the nearby postal outlet, instead of at a depot way out on the edge of town.

author: Alexei.Polkhanov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 04:50:04 pm
content: TestEquity always shows all tax and fees at the time of purchase and despite being in US they always calculate everything correctly for every Canadian province. DigiKey ships over night from Alberta and Newark is same as TestEquity - they may ship from US but I never got any surprises. Sometimes small retailers only charge federal tax (no PST), but I am sure that tax-hungry corrupted Quebec socialists would not be happy if big online retailers like Newark did not give them their cut

author: WarSim
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 04:53:41 pm
content: Quote from: Ferroto on September 19, 2013, 12:34:01 pmNo this has nothing to do with NAFTA. This has everything to do with the stupidity of USA companies not having a clue about their shipping contracts or what shipping terms are. I keep telling people that receiving products across the boarder to find out the incoterms of their shipment. Constantly I get the stunned response. When they complain they blame it on something stupid. If you enter into a contract and do not research the terms you are to blame for these surprises. I have found many USA companies simply do not care, and few UK and EURO companies don't care. Not enough experience with others countries to comment.In summary if the incoterms are not a DDP term there is a legal right to charge a brokerage fee. A shipping company can legally charge you up to 200% of the value of the item shipped for brokerage fees if the incoterm is FOB. With a full range of maximum rates between. Frankly you maybe lucky you recieved the product at all. Many of the commonly used incoterms used by USA companies DO NOT guarantee delivery and DO NOT include a return to sender agreement. This means no refund and after 12ish days the shipper can sell your parcel to reclaim their fees. Also the value of the parcel is not the declared value, it is determined by the shipper by the description and or inspection. There are also allot of traps to avoid if you are using you own broker, many large companies have a broker and legal team if their shipping volume permits.Finally SHIP DDP!

author: WarSim
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 04:58:48 pm
content: Quote from: Alexei.Polkhanov on September 19, 2013, 04:50:04 pmYes DigiKey has been shipping DDP for a very long time. They know their shipping contracts. Newark has many shipping options, just make sure your rep knows you always want DDP terms if you don't have a shipping brokerage team.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 05:39:13 pm
content: UPS and fedex always find a way of gipping the recipient. I now refuse to order anything from any company that has no other shipping method, the last time ups made a delivery to me they demanded COD and as I did not have the exact change they said they would be back with the change the next day, that was two years ago and I have still not had my change.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 05:47:09 pm
content: Quote from: G7PSK on September 19, 2013, 05:39:13 pmUPS IME have always ended up charging me something when ordering from overseas. Other carriers just deliver the stuff regardless. Recently though Digikey have sent me a few items with additional charges, via UPS unsurprisingly.

author: WarSim
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 06:39:36 pm
content: Quote from: Lurch on September 19, 2013, 05:47:09 pmMay have been drop-shipped, and there are some extra shipping charges described in their shipping options. But all non-overweight items should have been $9.00 or less in North America.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 06:46:44 pm
content: Quote from: WarSim on September 19, 2013, 06:39:36 pmYeah, well as you can see from my flag I am not in N. America and my items were not overweight. UPS still wanted £150 though!

author: Tepe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 07:00:43 pm
content: Quote from: Lurch on September 19, 2013, 06:46:44 pmWasn't some of it VAT?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 07:10:17 pm
content: I have had UPS treat DDP shipments as FOB, screwing things up but still insisting on getting paid the brokerage fee for their screwups. And they didn't listen to complaints. The only way to get things fixed was to have the senders having a word or lots of words from their end. It gets really bad when the sender doesn't care (typical US companies didn't care).These days I avoid UPS like the plague.

author: WarSim
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 07:47:25 pm
content: Quote from: Lurch on September 19, 2013, 06:46:44 pmOk and I don't see any flags on my forum viewer.

author: WarSim
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2013, 08:10:11 pm
content: Quote from: Bored@Work on September 19, 2013, 07:10:17 pmI can see UPS doing that. I also have encountered many not caring USA shippers. Despite their Presidents plea for more international trade, USA is push themselves further into their financial pit. Canada has to keep track of what the USA is doing because we are neighbours. If you consistently keep track for very long, you can find allot of humour in it. Of course it is tainted humour because of the fact there are large groups that actually believe they are doing is the right thing.I also avoid UPS to the point of finding another source even if it initially costs more. To a lesser extent I avoid FedEx, they have repeatedly pulled the same thing long time ago. Also had an issue with DHL once. Had to push my issue up three levels before we could find someone who knew enough about import law to process my shipment. Took an extra four weeks but it did make it through. Kinda shameful for a international shipping company but I suspect it was an anomaly. Haven't used them since just because I haven't imported anything that required them since.

author: Paul Moir
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2013, 01:39:54 am
content: Yes, if the company doesn't pre-pay the GST (or HST+PST depending on province), you gotta make them ship USPS which has reasonable brokerage charges. UPS actually used to be worse than they are now. $50 brokerage on any item for example, no matter what the value.You have to watch the guys who pre-pay to. (Except Digikey, newegg et al. who have it figured out). I have had one "Amurican" company ship me something, then claim %15HST on the original price and %15GST+brokerage from the shipper (the two are mutually exclusive) was A-OK. "Doncha know yer all taxed to death uuup there?". Had to argue with them for an hour as apparently their receptionist was a Canadian tax expert. I would have let it go but it was a few hundred bucks.Frankly, 9 times out of 10 things come from China cheaper and faster and way easier. UK is great, at least here on the east coast: cheap and fast and usually very good quality.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2013, 04:18:24 am
content: Quote from: WarSim on September 19, 2013, 04:53:41 pmShipping DDP is a major hassle for a seller, and only viable if you ship enough volume to a given country such that the added sales from the convenience of DDP shipping outweighs the additional burden of handling those shipments.That is a small number of sellers. It gets smaller when you talk about other countries.From the seller perspective, it's not really their job to navigate the maze of rules/taxes/fees/forms for 190 countries of the world. Some do it for some places as a service to the customer. Most don't - and I can see why. You need to do huge volume to make it worthwhile.

author: WarSim
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2013, 06:54:35 pm
content: They don't even attempt DDU.Are you saying that they should be able to just set the product on the curb outside their warehouse because it is easier?That would be a game changer. Yes I will accept your money for a service but I will not bother delivering the service decades it is such a hassle. ;(.A common statement I find on USA sites is a refusal to fix customs declaration problems. These issues are caused by the originator not bothering to complete the export paperwork correctly. Another thing that is "too hard" for them, and one of the thing that only they can do. So the receiver has to pay the large inspection fees or abandon the product. There are mom and pop businesses in the USA that are excellent shippers, yet it is too hard for these lazy companies.By not delivering the service they accepted money for they are effectively closing their boarder.When I pay for a product for a price I want to receive the product. UK and China understand this simple concept much better than the USA. That is why I will buy from China, EURO or UK before these types of USA companies, if I can find a viable option. I have received items from Russia and Germany cheeper and easier than from these lazy USA companies.Sorry, but these excuses needed a good rant.