So what's up with the shipping charges from Sweden from Northerner?

[sgreger1]

Wow, so we can expect another 50$ on everything not in the US warehouse. Will northerner itself have to pay this fee when shipping stuff to it's US warehouse? If so, price per tin will go up sharply, that's an extra 50$ cost on every like 100 tins of tobacco. I just ordered a similar amount as Mcoffman, is supposed to show up tomorrow. They better not pull this on me.


EDIT: Calling Frederik (sorry if sp wrong): Please address this, is this going to be something to worry about, and will Northerner be notifying it's customers that they may not be able to recieve their shipment unless they pay the UPS thug a pimp tax upon delivery.

[tom502]

End time is upon us.

[mcoffman]

Premium Parrot, your safe as long as it doesn't come UPS.

[WickedKitchen]

my latest shipment hasn't arrived from Sweden. I'm going to be none too happy if this malarky is for real. If I can get the package off of the guy I guess I'd have to tell him to call the police. I don't think they'd enter my house. WTF is this crap?!?!?!?

I don't know that it's necessarily the seller's responsibility to inform us of this practice. I think that it certainly is UPS's responsibility to inform us. If I'm understanding this correctly it sounds like if you are charged to expedite the parcel through customs then you won't pay the taxes on the goods (if there are any) and if this parcel from whatever company happens to have tobacco in it you'd be responsible for any duty levied wherever you are, just like it is now. If they offered this as a service and one declined then the parcel would go through the customs system another way and would most likely be taxed (properly or improperly) and you'd get a bill along with your package of now spoiled snus due to improper storage. Crappy snus aside if the tax on your order would be more than $50 then pay the $50. This bill would have to be paid or it would come to haunt you someday. Uncle Sam can be a prick about things like that. If this is the case then it certainly is extortion and I'd surmise it's illegal to boot. If UPS knows that the practice is circumventing a law then it's got to be liable for something. It's not right.

[mcoffman]

Here's the email from UPS,
Tracking Number:
Exception Reason: UPS IS PROCESSING SHIPMENT FOR FUTURE SUBMISSION TO THE FOOD/DRUG ADMIN AND/OR DEPT OF AG PPQ
Exception Status/Resolution: BROKERAGE RELEASED SHIPMENT. SHIPMENT IS SUBMITTED TO CLEARING AGENCY FOR FURTHER CLEARANCE (RESOLUTION)

If you receive something similar. then your getting charged with a brokerage fee.

[Snusdog]

Check out these links form the UPS site.

http://www.ups-scs.com/international...ms_broker.html

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/res...toms/fees.html

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/res...oms/terms.html

[Bigblue1]

I really don't know what to say, But If i got one of those e-mails, i might just do some things tht are prolly less than legal to "rectify" the situation.... Can't say much else....

[Snusdog]

One thing is certain-- this is a service that UPS sells. There are options and different packages to choose from or you can choose a different broker.

UPS Broker of Choice: With UPS Broker of ChoiceSM, importers select UPS or their own customs broker for customs clearance of their UPS international shipments. This service is available for shipments using all variations of UPS Worldwide ExpressSM and UPS Worldwide ExpeditedSM.

This contractual, fee-based service ensures that the established relationship with a Customs Broker remains in place while the importer works with UPS to save time and increase efficiencies in shipping and customs processes. Using UPS Broker of Choice enables importers to reduce fees and errors incurred while using multiple customs clearance processes.

I'd read this to the UPS guy at the door and ask for a copy of the contract that I signed



Regardless....

It sounds as if you were charged for UPS' Broker of Choice which is $50

Broker of ChoiceSM OnSite is for shipments that remain in UPS posession while the importer's customs broker completes customs clearance procedures prior to UPS completing delivery of the shipment.

Verses

Broker of ChoiceSM OffSite is for shipments moved "in-bond" directly to a customs controlled (bonded) warehouse (at the importer's direction) where the importer's customs broker completes the customs clearance procedures. The UPS transport is completed upon delivery of the shipment to the warehouse.

You could always tell them that you selected your own broker and that you are not paying UPS for screwing that up

Edit: Upon reflection, the above information is not entirely accurate. The above seems to concern companies that hire UPS to do their shipping for them. I have found nothing so far that even mentions fees for individuals using UPS as their shipping option.

[WickedKitchen]

well I'll be a ...

[Premium Parrots]

........and that.......my friends.........is why Northerner is expanding its US warehouse. I don't think we will be ordering too much tobacco from overseas after PACT goes into effect. It appears that customs charge is going to be there along with all the xtra taxes.




I sure could use a cigarette about now.

[Jwalker]

Man screw it I'll learn to gut dip if I have to pay 50 dollar brokerage fees on every order plus taxes. Oh well guess I'll just grin and bear it until I get rich or fly to sweden and buy like a thousand cans and have alabama or something as first airport so I don't pay too much in taxes.

[Snusdog]

I don't know how they can legally charge you this fee.........THERE IS NO MENTION OF IT for individuals....................If you are a importer and want UPS to do your shipping for you then yes there is a great deal about it (in other words if you are the seller-- not the buyer-- then yes there is a whole list of options and fees).

I see no way for them to do this legally. It is a service that you did not hire them to do for a price that is never disclosed and as such to withhold your goods until you pay is extortion.

I'd call your state Attorneys' Generals office and alert them to this practice.

[danielan]

I'd call your state Attorneys' Generals office and alert them to this practice.

How annoying do you want to be to the only courier service that is shipping tobacco to consumers post-PACT (as far as we know).

Fedex policy is no tobacco. (http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/)

"Tobacco products will be accepted only when shipped from a licensed dealer or distributor to another licensed dealer or distributor. The shipper is solely responsible for compliance with any applicable regulations, which may vary from state to state. "

DHL does not do domestic shipping any more. (http://www.gearlive.com/news/article...ping-services/)

UPS only says that they will not ship cigarettes to consumers. (http://www.ups.com/tobacco)

[GoVegan]

How annoying do you want to be to the only courier service that is shipping tobacco to consumers post-PACT (as far as we know).

Fedex policy is no tobacco. (http://www.fedex.com/us/services/terms/)

"Tobacco products will be accepted only when shipped from a licensed dealer or distributor to another licensed dealer or distributor. The shipper is solely responsible for compliance with any applicable regulations, which may vary from state to state. "

DHL does not do domestic shipping any more. (http://www.gearlive.com/news/article...ping-services/)

UPS only says that they will not ship cigarettes to consumers. (http://www.ups.com/tobacco)

This is sweet for UPS! They are the only ones that can ship tobacco now so they can charge whatever they want and grease Bubba the customs broker palm in the process. Why do I feel that we are becoming more like a 3rd world country with each passing day?

[danielan]

Why do I feel that we are becoming more like a 3rd world country with each passing day?

I gotta agree with your sentiment!

Maybe the government should nationalize UPS and FedEx in a bid to keep the USPS solvent. At least then we would all know what playbook they're using.