Well, luckily the customs charge for Amandas hair was a false
alarm. It ended up being for another package she got from the
US. She should get the hair hopefully tomorrow, so fingers
crossed she doesn't get charged again. [[[pretty please]]]]
The only thing with customs charges is that they put the
charges on after the package has been shipped. You are not
going to know until it arrives in the US, what they are going to
do. I think this package with 10 irons would be a little too big of
a package to pass as a sample. I think. It really depends on
customs. Which side of bed they got out of that morning.
I am going to call Paypal tomorrow and find out what there deal
is about fees? I rarely use it so can't understand the fee
differences. Hopefully they will shed some light on that for me.
We still need a few more people to be able to get this off the
ground or we can go with Sensual on 8 irons if we fall short on
buyers. What are you girls thinking you want to do? Is anyone
considering just getting it from Docs?
leia1979
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I asked Mr. Chen if his US customers have had to pay customs fees. He said that once we paid DHL $50 we wouldn't have to pay anything else shipping and/or customs wise.
Let us know what Paypal tells you....I've received money from Sherrie and Rae without being charged any fees.
UPDATE: I called DHL, who told me to call US Customs...they seem to think we would be charged a customs duty of 6.5% for the irons, which is about $31 total. If the total value was less than $200, there'd be no customs fee. I'll tell Mr. Chen what I've learned.
This is proving more difficult than I thought, but it's really educational, if nothing else. The only things I've ordered internationally before were PH and my ao dai from Vietnam...each was only worth $40 or so, therefore no fees.
Edited by leia1979
eKatherine
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If this doesn't work out, it's fine for me. It's not like the PH color wheels that I still haven't got and miss dearly. My mannequin head can wait for her shrinkies.
My daughter just informed me that she wants to do roller derby, and she wants my good speedskates. So I need to buy her some skates, or give up mine (which I don't want to do). Money, money, money. Maybe she'll get rich and famous, haha.
Save~A~Stray
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Okay, I called Paypal and they said it was 3.9% to accept an
overseas payment and a 30c transaction fee. (Not 4.279%), It
works out the same amount in the end, but I didn’t know that
you got charged 30c each transaction. He said read the fine
print!!Hee Hee
As for USA transactions……
Our account is premier not personal, so that’s where the
difference seems to be. .He said I will get charged 2.9% fee +
30c transaction fee.
Leia~I told him about a personal account getting $500 per
month with no fees. He said okay, but that is only if the people
pay you by bank transfer-straight from their bank account and I
think he said echeck too. He said if anyone pays with a credit
card then you will still get charged 2.9% + 30c transaction fee.
He said I would have to open up another Paypal account as
personal. I also would have to go and open up another bank
account, as my husband and I only have one bank account. He
said I could not use that same bank account, as our premier
account is linked to that account. He said that is the only way to
avoid most of the fees and everyone has to pay direct from their
bank accounts.
We are looking at roughly $65 x 10....=$650 (actual Paypal
charge would be on 9 iron payments being received- $65 x 9 =
$585)
This is over the $500, that you get free with a personal account
per month, so you would still end up getting charged 2.9% +
30c transaction fee...........wouldn't you Leia?
Like I said, I do not really use Paypal enough to know 100%
how it really works. I just use my hubbys account when I need
it.
Edited by Save~A~Stray
Save~A~Stray
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We need 3 more people to go with Mr Chen (10 irons) or we
can go with Sensual with 1 more person (8 irons). Both will still
work out cheaper than buying from Docs.
Is there anyone else that wants a dual sided,
temperature controlled heat clamp?
Edited by Save~A~Stray
stacey_m
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Hi! I've been lurking around here for a bit and I would be very
interested in buying a heat clamp. The only problem is that I'm
from Canada. I don't really want to be a pain in the butt and add
to the confusion. So if it's not too much trouble for anybody,
that I'd like to buy one If it's just one more thing to worry about, I'll suck it up and pay full price somewhere. Let me know!
Save~A~Stray
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Hi Stacey~ I think that is possible……I don’t mind doing the
work but I need to know the exact voltage for Canada……. 110
volts/ 60 Hz? We would have to ship out with Global Priority
mail, which is $7 I think for a large flat rate envelope to
Canada. If it is sent by box it may be more….will have to check.
I will have to call Paypal to find out what the Paypal charge
might possibly be from Canada. I just don't know anything
about Canadian customs.........do you?
So, It looks like we have 8 people now. Do you girls want to go
with Sensual on 8 irons now or wait for 2 more people to go
with Mr Chen? Please let me know what you want to do………
Edited by Save~A~Stray
leia1979
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Could you contact the Sensual people and see if we'd have to pay
customs fees? I would hope that for $98 shipping that customs
would be included.
It would be cheaper to buy from Mr. Chen, but I'm not sure if we'll get
two more people. I could post over on Quinn's and see if there
are any more Americans (or even Canadians) who are interested.
Save~A~Stray
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Leia~This post was from the Sensual thread........
Yes we have the US type of clamp you are
looking for. We accept payment via TT/ Wire Service only. The
shipment will take the latest a week. We currently have only 8
pcs left but I will only charge you at USD$50 each.
No, I don know anything about the foreign customs practise. I
am sorry.
Thanks
Irene
Once they send out the item, they don't care what happens after
that. I have dealt with a few companies that told me no customs
charges. Then 3-4 days later my Fedex account would get
billed from US customs.
Edited by Save~A~Stray
Save~A~Stray
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Leia~ I would rather try and stick to US if possible because
Canadians may have to pay customs twice....coming into the
US then to Canada. Or if you post on Quinns please let
Canadians know they may have extra charges.
I am waiting for Staceys response about Canadian customs.
I contacted Paypal and they said I would have to pay a cross
border fee to accept a Canadian purchase. She said it's a daily
rate which fluctuates daily at about 1%. She said I can figure
3.9% + transaction fee
Leia~Paypal told me that with a Personal account you cannot
even except more than $500 a month or you have to upgrade
to a Premier account. She also said with a Personal account
you cannot accept debit or credit card charges....only bank
transfer and e-check only. Once you upgrade to Premier you
then get charged up to 2.9% + 30c transaction fee for all
payments...bank transfer, e-check, debit or credit card
purchases. So now we know there is no way around the Paypal
fee.
Well, you can always pay by check ......and pay no fees!!
Edited by Save~A~Stray
stacey_m
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Hi. Because this whole thing sounds so confusing, I'd totally
understand if you wanted to keep the order to those in the US.
As far as Canada customs goes, it's really inconsistent. My
fiance and I buy a lot of things from the US and the UK and on occasion
we do get stuck paying customs fees. Generally, if the item is
marked gift this doesn't happen. There's no logic to it,
really. I've talked to people while disputing my customs fees
[and eventually paying them ] and they tell me pretty much the same
thing. Luckily, it doesn't happen that often.
Oh, and the voltage in Canada is the same as in the US.
But like I said, if this is too much of a hassle, I wouldn't be
offended at all. I was just planning on buying a heat clamp
sometime in the near future and thought that I may be able to save a
little bit of money. Looking for any opportunity I can find,
especially with the crappy Canadian exchange rate.
leia1979
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Well, it's possible to avoid the Paypal fees, just not easy, and
probably not likely. It would mean no credit/debit cards and one
or two people would have to mail a check. So, at any rate, very
difficult. I do not have a bank account associated with Paypal,
so I use my credit card for it.
So let's see... 8 irons at $50 ea + $98 shipping + 6.5% customs fees=
$524 (they said they'd absorb the T/T fee, didn't they?)
Divide that by 8 people to get $65.50 each
Shipping is probably $5.75 for Priority mail...round up to $71.50
And a 3% (roughly) Paypal fee...about $2.15...that's $73.65
Let's round that up again to $74 each (did I miss anything?)
Compared to an iron from Doc (approx. $108 including shipping), that's
still a savings of over $30. We might need to add another dollar
each for bank fees or something.
As for Canadian customs, a single iron might be a small enough thing to
pass with little or no charges. I don't know. US Customs
told me that $200 or less was exempt here....maybe the Canadians have
something similar. And whatever happened to NAFTA? Free trade, people!
Stacey, if you're willing to pay a few more dollars (and whatever the currency conversion is), I think it's cool.
Edited by leia1979
leia1979
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Here's how Canadian customs works....if it's sent as a gift, you just
pay the taxes and duties over $60 CAN. The irons and $50 US
currently work out to $60.87. So you'd pay taxes and duties on 87
cents. Since we're not a business, company, or association, we
can send it as a gift...it just needs a card that says it's a gift...so
Stacey...Happy Easter! =)
Stacey~ Please don't think I'm trying to say no to you because
really I'm not at all. I would just feel bad if customs were to slam
you at your end too. I would absolutely put gift on the package
as I always do to help people avoid customs. It has always
worked for me. You just have to be prepared just incase. I just
thought it would keep things simpler to try and stay within the
US. You are very welcome to join in with us.....so please don't
feel you're not.....okay dokey. As Leia said you will have to pay
a couple bucks more on the shipping charges.
Leia~ Maybe you missed this.........
Posted: March 22 2005 at 1:03am | IP Logged
Leia~ On an e-mail last week Sensual talked about absorbing
the wire charge. So I e-mailed her back to confirm this. This
was her response…….
Yes, do not worry. I will absorb the wire
charges. But you have to pay your side wire charges. I won't
charge you the wire charges on my side.
Thanks
Irene
I wrote back and said that I have never had to pay a wire
transfer fee on both sides before. I also asked her if she could
beat Mr Chens prices. This was her response……..
I can say my price is a good bargain
already. We have sold to many people of different country and
there have never been a problem. But if you want cheaper
price, you can try and buy the 220v iron. We can sell you at
USD$46.00. Not many company can offer a good iron and also
the right voltage. You can take from him if you want.
Best Regards
Irene
We still have to pay the wire charge which will be about $30. I
don't know why she was talking about paying for wire charges
on her side. We will definitely get charged to send the money.
Edited by Save~A~Stray
leia1979
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Save A Stray~ I just wanted you to know that I wouldn't feel even the
slightest bit bad about not being included. I realize that this
entire order is very confusing to begin with and if it makes things
simpler I wouldn't be sad about being exempt. I just don't want
you to feel bad about me feeling bad. This board in general seems like
a very welcoming place.
Like I said, I'm just trying to save a couple of dollars where I can
(I'm a student and tuition is not a pretty thing). Besides that,
most of the times I've gotten slammed by customs its been with orders
from actual businesses (like Dr.Locs). It's always a risk,
so it's all good either way.
Save~A~Stray
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Well, we could wait for 2 more people and go with Mr Chen. He
is $48 cheaper on the shipping and $2 cheaper on the irons.
So 10 of us would save another $5. Is it worth the wait?
Whatcha think girls?
sherrie215
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Soooo....lets say customs does charge us, then what are we looking at $ wise? And just for the record, Ive always had to pay t/t fees on both ends of the transaction between my bank and my Korean suppliers bank. Which is generally around $ 25 each bank. Im alittle concerned because I dont know all the 'possible' charges that 'could' be involved yet!
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Really Sherrie, so you have had to pay both ends. I have never
had to do that from India.....only one way. Well, I just e-mailed
Irene to ask what the charges normally are one way. I know Mr
Chen had originally said $30-50 for wire fee then I read approx
$30 from the last post about that. So I guess we need a definite
fee from him to be able to see where we stand.
Gosh, this is getting to be much higher than we had originally
thought . I am wondering if it is worth all the trouble??
Leia~ Would you mind sending one more e-mail to Mr Chen to
finalize the wire fee for us (both ways?).........thank you kindly
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