Question Scuba Gaskets order - duty payment required???

[Scuba-74]

But does the seller even know this? Isn’t that a new number imposed by the importer. Does the international seller know that number? How can it be incorporated intovthe final number?

In this particular case, they absolutely do. I received 5 or 6 emails from them yesterday indicating that they know it very well, and have posted it on their social media and newsletters. Just "forgot" to disclose it where it matters.

 

[Scuba-74]

I'm with ScubaGaskets on this one. Keeping up with all of this and making the required system updates to their web-based purchasing applications is a HUGE effort and I'm sure a total PITA. They at least took efforts to communicate it via their existing communication channels. The fact that the de minimis exemption was expiring has been extensively covered in the news. Anyone purchasing anything from overseas should expect surprises. While some very large vendors (Aliexpress) are able to cushion the blow a bit (although you are still paying the duties, just baked into the price), the majority of the online vendors will not be able to do so.

This is a learning point on what can be expected going forward due to the insanity (and outright lies) of the current administration.

I hear you, and if it becomes the new norm - so be it. We'll adjust and I'm sure will survive.

But it hasn't yet. And I doubt that it will, it's just very unconventional - buying something not knowing how much you will end up paying. I'll venture a guess that the businesses that are going with this model will lose large portion of their customer base.

In either case, it was complete news to me, and if anything I hope this post raises awareness of the issue.

 

[Whitrzac]

Having to pay import tax is a thing in every other country(that I know of)

Its on you to know that you had to pay it.


Most small sellers have just stopped shipping to the USA. There are a few things I want to buy, but cant because the sellers/stores refuse to ship to the USA now.

 

[BoltSnap]

I live in Libya and buy goods from all over Europe and the United States. Vendors don't care how much I end up paying when the goods are delivered here. Some tell me upfront that it's my responsibility to take care of that. Most don't, assuming you already know (which is a correct assumption). When goods arrive here, I usually don't have to pay much, if anything, since what I buy is for personal use, and its value isn't something the local authorities worry about. Ultimately, the vendor isn't responsible for anything once the goods leave their premises. Big vendors will arrange official documents, such as a certificate of origin or an invoice, that may be required by local authorities. However, these documents usually aren't required since what I buy is just for personal use and doesn't come in containers.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I hear you, and if it becomes the new norm - so be it. We'll adjust and I'm sure will survive.

But it hasn't yet. And I doubt that it will, it's just very unconventional - buying something not knowing how much you will end up paying. I'll venture a guess that the businesses that are going with this model will lose large portion of their customer base.

In either case, it was complete news to me, and if anything I hope this post raises awareness of the issue.

Unconventional for us, not for those in other countries who deal with this regularly.

As to business going with this model losing a large portion of their customer base, maybe ... maybe not. It depends upon how large their US business is and what competition exists, if any, and what that competition does. In the miniscule space that is the scuba industy, there sometimes are not other sourcing options, especially for niche items. Another possibility is that when buying things from OUS, this just may be something we have to get used to just as folks in other countries have to.

 

[Scuba-74]

Unconventional for us, not for those in other countries who deal with this regularly.

As to business going with this model losing a large portion of their customer base, maybe ... maybe not. It depends upon how large their US business is and what competition exists, if any, and what that competition does. In the miniscule space that is the scuba industy, there sometimes are not other sourcing options, especially for niche items. Another possibility is that when buying things from OUS, this just may be something we have to get used to just as folks in other countries have to.

I'm not convinced folks in other countries deal with it regularly. I'm not from the US originally, moved here as an adult, and the only time I dealt with it before was when I bought a car abroad and drove it personally into the country. My parents and a lot of friends are still in the old country, and I've never heard of them having to pay import taxes on small purchases after the fact.

There are huge international distributors, like Aliexpress and similar ones, that shield the end customer from having to deal with it, and I've never heard about people paying import taxes on something bought on, say, eBay. I can't speak for the whole wide world or how each small online store works, but in general I'm not aware of that happening where I am from.

 

[BoltSnap]

Unconventional for us, not for those in other countries who deal with this regularly.

As to business going with this model losing a large portion of their customer base, maybe ... maybe not. It depends upon how large their US business is and what competition exists, if any, and what that competition does. In the miniscule space that is the scuba industy, there sometimes are not other sourcing options, especially for niche items. Another possibility is that when buying things from OUS, this just may be something we have to get used to just as folks in other countries have to.

Joking and mockery aside (and this is very difficult not to do considering the asinine circumstances in the US), this issue and big mess is the creation of the US government and is paid for by the American citizen/voter out of their own pockets, not the overseas vendor. The enemy/devil is coming from within, not from outside. The US citizens are victimized by their own glorious Führer. Don't expect that the foreign vendor will solve your in-house problems for you.

 

[Scuba-74]

Joking and mockery aside (and this is very difficult not to do considering the asinine circumstances in the US), this issue and big mess is the creation of the US government and is paid for by the American citizen/voter out of their own pockets, not the overseas vendor. The enemy/devil is coming from within, not from outside. The US citizens are victimized by their own glorious Führer. Don't expect that the foreign vendor will solve your in-house problems for you.

It'd be great if you refrained from bringing political garbage here.

I kind of ignored your previous attempts, but since you're offering an unsolicited advice over and over again, and now suggesting that I "expect the foreign vendor to solve some problems", kindly stop.

 

[Scuba-74]

Paid the god damned charge.

What is interesting, only $2.69 of that amount is the actual tax, and $17 is DHL's "duty tax processing" fee.

So, f..k DHL.

 

[BoltSnap]

It'd be great if you refrained from bringing political garbage here.

I kind of ignored your previous attempts, but since you're offering an unsolicited advice over and over again, and now suggesting that I "expect the foreign vendor to solve some problems", kindly stop.

That's because you don't seem to get the point that foreign vendors aren't responsible for your internal mess or government polices. You keep insisting that somehow the outside vendor is supposed to figure out what your government is doing inside its borders. You are also insisting that they put labels all over their website telling you what your government will charge you, the buyer/importer, and look into their crystal ball to give a quote for that part. I buy from all over the US and Europe, and no one from my vendors does for me what you seem to be insisting they do for you. This point was made several times by others here, but you seem not to accept it and want it your way. Get over it.