Reize
2 Wheeled Islander
Hi guys, as you all know we as motorcyclists, or anyone for that matter, sometimes do shop online for stuff we really can't get in our vicinity.
And as motorcyclists most of the stuff we order online tend to either be parts, or gear, and they may or may not be dutiable, depending on where you live.
But one thing is constant. If you end up having to pay a duty for the stuff you buy, turns out DHL charges you an "Advance Payment" for the service of clearing customs for you. In all my life I have never had a courier peg additional charges on top of the amount paid for duties and taxes.
I had recently bought a lens for my camera, a microphone and recorder from B&H. And based on my country's import laws a duty had to be paid on purchases over SGD400 which of course my items were much more expensive than. DHL Express was used, and they handled both the collection and delivery in both countries, and I was surprised when I calculated my dutiable fees to be over by SGD20. Turns out it was said "Advance Payment". An interest on the "loan" of SGD71 used to pay the duties if you will. This is literally worse than going to a loan shark.
For a company handling both ends of the delivery and should know such duties would apply, they did not relay the costs upfront through the merchant, nor did not give me the chance to clear customs personally without their assistance. Personally I find such practices unethical and scummy.
In the future be smart, if you're buying a jacket of helmet or whatever, make sure your merchant never ships it with DHL.
And as motorcyclists most of the stuff we order online tend to either be parts, or gear, and they may or may not be dutiable, depending on where you live.
But one thing is constant. If you end up having to pay a duty for the stuff you buy, turns out DHL charges you an "Advance Payment" for the service of clearing customs for you. In all my life I have never had a courier peg additional charges on top of the amount paid for duties and taxes.
I had recently bought a lens for my camera, a microphone and recorder from B&H. And based on my country's import laws a duty had to be paid on purchases over SGD400 which of course my items were much more expensive than. DHL Express was used, and they handled both the collection and delivery in both countries, and I was surprised when I calculated my dutiable fees to be over by SGD20. Turns out it was said "Advance Payment". An interest on the "loan" of SGD71 used to pay the duties if you will. This is literally worse than going to a loan shark.
For a company handling both ends of the delivery and should know such duties would apply, they did not relay the costs upfront through the merchant, nor did not give me the chance to clear customs personally without their assistance. Personally I find such practices unethical and scummy.
In the future be smart, if you're buying a jacket of helmet or whatever, make sure your merchant never ships it with DHL.
