Import, China to US: UPS shipper and tariff charges - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 06:04:15 pm
content: I purchased some parts from LCSC. LCSC provided a Commercial invoice that shows $47.86 of Merchandise and $32.66 of Freight. UPS wants $131.60 ($14.00 brokerage fee and $117.60 "government charges"). It has been my understand that the tariffs are 30% so how it is possible to charge 146% (or 245.7% if you exclude shipping)? I have escalated this and they say they will get back to me. It only took 64 minutes on hold and 2 escalations. The parts are just 1x24 2.54mm pitch sockets, country of origin China. I do not believe there are additional tariffs on them.I recently received a JLCPCB order where they (JLCPCB) calculated, declared and paid the tariff. They did charge me for it. It was more in line with 30% (not precise, though). It also appears that Aliexpress calculates and pays the tariffs though I have not received what I ordered from them yet.How do I avoid UPS making the calculations and get the chinese seller (LCSC in this case but in general as well) to do it like JLCPCB did? I like UPS because their shipping charges are lower than DHL. But, their import tariff group is wanked and want to avoid it. I've tried going through the UPS web site but it keeps pushing me back to pages that upsell their services or generic help pages.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 08:32:16 pm
content: You need to look at the description of the service, not just UPS/DHL and which is cheaper. If you use DDP service, it will be more expensive upfront, since seller collects the tariffs. If you pick a service where tariffs are on you, then you are responsible for them and then UPS/DHL will charge you arbitrary amount of money because they can.I think AliExpress disabled all shipping options to the US that are not DDP, likely because it generated a ton of support requests.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 09:06:31 pm
content: Thanks. It looks like LCSC does not offer DDP. That's too bad as it means I will skip them due to the difficulty of avoiding a wildly inflated tariff rate from the delivery companies.While DDP is supposed to be more expensive, the brokerage fees that shippers like UPS ($14) and DHL add on make the alternative significantly more expensive for smaller orders (say, less than $100). And even worse when they get the tariff wrong.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 09:23:21 pm
content: I have an order from LCSC on the way using "Global Direct Standard Line" method to avoid major carriers. I'm really interested in what happens to tariffs on this one. It just landed in Los Angeles, so it should not take too long to find out.Also, JLC for sure has DDP option, I had an order delivered a couple days ago and it was shipped "UPS Worldwide Express Saver(DDP)". The charges were:QuoteSo, over 50% of "Import Taxes".

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2025, 10:01:19 pm
content: They should not include shipping charges, you probably have three options:- convince them to change the bill (maybe get an updated invoice from LCSC)- self clear and pay customs yourself (probably not worth the effort)- pay the full amount and reclaim any overpayment back from the governmentThis site is saying electrical connectors have a 50% tariff:https://www.china-briefing.com/news/us-china-tariff-rates-2025/I think that stacks on other general tariffs, like the 10% lib day, 20% fent, etc.Quote from: phil from seattle on August 27, 2025, 06:04:15 pmNow you understand how companies can charge less up front to look more attractive, then pile on fees later down the line. This has been the case in Canada for 20+ years with UPS.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 01:12:39 am
content: FWIW I ordered both an inexpensive voltage standard and an inexpensive resistance standard from China via Ebay 29 days ago and they just arrived today and I didn't have any problem with any tariff and/or US Customs and/or no one tried to bill me for any kind of import fee. They were evidently shipped in some kind of large shipment to the US from China and then reshipped by USPS by a company named Orange Connex.com. They show their return address as being in Nebraska (zip code 68504) but then it says that it was shipped from New York (11434 zip code). But the really odd thing is that the package is marked as "Hazmat - Surface Transportation only".

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 04:27:50 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on August 27, 2025, 09:23:21 pmI think it depends on your account. I am not offered that shipping option, and on the shopping cart page it says:"Customers are responsible for any duties and taxes imposed by customs at the destination. For DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) inquiries, please contact our customer service team."

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2025, 04:39:43 am
content: That's interesting. I order quite a bit from them, but I doubt it is enough to justify special treatment.

author: sam512bb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2025, 06:10:36 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on August 27, 2025, 10:01:19 pmGood day All,This has also been my experience. UPS is the absolute worst for adding numerous and inflated nickel and dime (actually many $) amounts to inbound Canadian shipments. Fed Ex and DHL charge a flat rate for their brokerage fees (+ any of the Gov taxes/tariffs) up to a certain amount of line items indicated on the invoice. Even exceeding the flat rate line item limit, Fed Ex/DHL tends to be far cheaper overall. UPS is simply a rip off for both inbound and internal Canadian shipments. If possible use any other shipping company.Cheers,Sam

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2025, 09:24:59 pm
content: LCSC package shipped using "Global Direct Standard Line" came in. Shipping cost $13.77, which was 100% discounted for whatever reason. No tariffs or fees were applied anywhere.Order placed on 2025/08/16 arrived on 2025/08/30. Not the fastest shipping, but for no extra BS, it is fine.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2025, 10:49:29 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on August 28, 2025, 04:27:50 amFor sure JLC has DDP. I just got an order from them last week and it was DDP. In fact, it seems to be the default.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2025, 10:55:32 pm
content: Quote from: sam512bb on August 29, 2025, 06:10:36 pmSounds similar to my experience. FWIW, UPS does not break out the charges other than "government fees". I have a dispute in with them but they have been super slow - it took 5 days just for them to notify their tariff group that I want to dispute the tariff charges. Given that the charges are 146% of merchandise+shipping. I'm just going to refuse delivery. There are cheaper options for sure. Won't be using UPS again. Writing off this one as tuition to the school of hard knocks.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2025, 11:05:33 pm
content: Quote from: phil from seattle on September 02, 2025, 10:49:29 pmWhat shipping option did you choose? Was it marked as DDP in the list?

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 01:15:08 am
content: Quote from: edavid on September 02, 2025, 11:05:33 pmIt was the default. It wasn't marked DDP but they listed the tariff fees in the shopping cart. It was delivered on time and no additional charges.

author: phil from seattle
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 04, 2025, 01:19:50 am
content: I received an Aliexpress order of the same connectors that I ordered from LCSC. Delivered by UniUni which I think is the Aliexpress US delivery service. It too had the tariff fees listed at the point of sale. No muss, no fuss - it showed up on my doorstep with no additional fees. So far, LCSC has lost my business because of the UPS/LCSC mess. UPS is STILL slow walking my dispute.By the way, I noticed something interesting in all this. The amount UPS said was government fees was almost exactly 300% of the merchandise price. Hmmm, did someone miss a decimal point? Probably coincidence.