Ridiculous Fedex Charges - Page 3

Originally Posted by Bounder

I don't think you quite take my point.

First, has anyone ever ordered a tie and then engaged in a lengthy discussion of incoterms with the seller? I doubt it. On the contrary, the seller charges you shipping and you expect that the tie will arrive at your door. Sometimes, particularly careful sellers will say something about how taxes and duties are the responsibility of the buyer.

But the point that I am making is that the shipper has made a deal with delivery company to deliver your goods. So the contract is between the shipper and the delivery company. You might be a beneficiary of that contract but you are not a party to the contract.

So, if push comes to shove, I doubt that you are contractually obligated to pay the bill the delivery company sends you. There may well be other legal theories that the delivery company could invoke, especially to collect customs duties actually paid to the government. But, in a very real sense, I suspect the shipping companies know that they would have a tough time actually forcing you to pay their "clearance fees" and are just trying it on.

If you don't want to just ignore the bill, one trick you might try for fun is sending the delivery company an "accord and satisfaction" for just the actual customs duties. Check how to do this correctly in the appropriate jurisdiction.

Once again, none of this is legal advice. Do not rely on it for anything whatsoever in any jurisdiction anywhere in the world or its subsidiaries.

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

I've used Royal Mail with good results as well. As regards tracking, though, it's only ever been tracked up to departing the UK, not the USA.

Originally Posted by zippyh

Once it departs the UK, you can use that same tracking number on the USPS site.

Originally Posted by Raoul Duke

Doing your own brokerage isn't exactly an easy solution unless you live close to the main hub where the package was received into your country.

Originally Posted by Redwoood

When you use Fedex' "express" service level, brokerage is included. For "Ground" or whatever the bottom-tier overseas method is, it is not. You can also call ahead to give them your CC number for your customs charges. This way you avoid additional fees they charge since they effectively front you money. http://fedex.com/ca_english/internat...brokerage.html

Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley

Fedex has charged me close to 30% of the value of some fabric I had delivered from the UK as their 'brokerage and other' fees.

Given that I am expecting a few suits delivered from London next month, can someone suggest a carrier that would not charge me such fees. Would Royal Mail / USPS be the best option?

Naturally, I'm happy to pay the legitimate customs fees, just not these frivolous corporate charges.

Thanks,
ET

Originally Posted by Grammaton Cleric

The boys at FDX just charged me $155 on a 600E order from Grandi & Rubinelli - highway robbery! Though for some reason, they only billed me 15 days after the package was delivered - I'm tempted to just ignore this charge given that I wasn't notified beforehand, but the do have my SSN and I'm afraid to take the hit to my FICO.

Crooks.

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Are you sure about this? I receive packages from Italy and each time get assessed duty plus a flat $50 brokerage (I don't have the invoice in front of me but it says something about payment advance, like you describe). I've asked FedEx on two occasions whether if I can pre-pay or have my CC on file to avoid this and they said no. The link you gave is for Canada; I tried contacting the US equivalent of FedEx Trade Networks and they said they only handle packages over 150 lbs, and that I would have to call the FedEx main line, which I did previously.

Originally Posted by Bill Smith

For a second I thought you were from Canada. We get screwed by Fed Ex and UPS with "brokerage fees" when we purchase stuff abroad, contrast that with Canada Post only charging $5 for the same thing.