Cali Kid Corals

Avoid buying things from China/HK sellers now (alibaba, AliExpress,..)

Adauqua

Supporting Member
I bought a8se II blue light from AliExpress 02/19 for $186
Yesterday UPS sent me invoice for duty charge $62.24 (tariff rate 38.9% for different categories of the light belonging to) + $15 disbursement fee + $32.71 processing fee = $109.96

I call/complain/ask UPS. Finally they allow me to dispute it by sending an email to their billing department and ask to bill the seller. I am not sure how this will end but I have to track/follow up else I will end up with collector
 

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I’ve been curious to see how this plays out, especially when you buy stuff from China, from a Chinese seller, through a US company, like more than half of Amazon for example. Especially with Amazon owning most of their own shipping process.
 
It’s also interesting that almost half of the fee is UPS charging you to process the tariff they are passing along to you. Which they are basically just making up right?
 
It’s also interesting that almost half of the fee is UPS charging you to process the tariff they are passing along to you. Which they are basically just making up right?
You know it costs money to print out that bill. haha
 
I’ve been curious to see how this plays out, especially when you buy stuff from China, from a Chinese seller, through a US company, like more than half of Amazon for example. Especially with Amazon owning most of their own shipping process.
Yes. And how many other companies with their own chaining-supplies from China cascade down to us.

It’s also interesting that almost half of the fee is UPS charging you to process the tariff they are passing along to you. Which they are basically just making up right?
UPS customer service explained that they only charge $15 disbursement fee, the $32.71 processing fee is from the government for uncollected duty charge of <$800 transaction -- it sounds super suspicious to me.
 
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I've ordered 6 of these lights so far (2x via aliexpress @ $180 each and then 4x via alibaba at $145 each). I am curious if I will get a bill now too - my first order was on 2/25.

Still, 6 lights for the price of a single XR30 - such a massive discount it's hard to complain if I do get a bill. The first two lights are going pretty strong so far.
 
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