B&H Question - DPChallenge Forums

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

05/16/2005 01:44:21 PM · #1

I bought two things in this site... Paid for it... And when they came today at my door to deliver the order they said i had to pay extra for costum purposes!!! has this happened to anyone or have i been tricked?
Please help.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

05/16/2005 01:46:50 PM · #2

For "costum" purposes? I'm sorry, can you elaborate? I don't know this word.

I would imagine have thought they should not be charging any extra on delivery. Did you get a receipt for it?

theSaj

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/16/2005 01:47:48 PM · #3

Not sure where you live....

But in many countries a customs agent could evaluate the declared contents of a package being shipped and based on currency fluctuations, etc. Determine that said "70-200mm IS" lens which is listed at $1,650 from B&H is currently valued at $2,400 is Belgium. And thus, there is a difference of nearly $800 from the declared value and current local value. And thus apply additional customs on merchandise.

Also, check the fine print. Many shippers state that they do not include "custom" charges in shipping.

- Jason "The Saj"

srdanz

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

05/16/2005 01:49:12 PM · #4

I don't think that it is a B&H issue. I've sent packages to European countries before, and I've always had to fill out so-called customs forms (I shipped via USPS but it should be more or less the same with all other couriers).

Sometimes the items arrived with no customs issues, but sometimes my recipients had to pay customs fees assessed by local customs officials at their discretion.

B&H probably listed the package content and the value, and on the receiving side someone read it and decided that it is not a duty free item, assessed the value themselves, and decided to charge you that amount.

You may argue the price (if you know your laws and you think that they exagerrated) but there is nothing you can do to avoid paying something for it .

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

05/16/2005 01:51:11 PM · #5

But extra money was asked on the delivery of the package...

Yes they gave a reciept...

I live in Portugal.

srdanz

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

05/16/2005 02:13:02 PM · #6

My friend's experience was that the package was waiting for him at the customs office, and he was to bring some money and pick it up there.

If your postman came and asked you to pay up, it may have been only a better organization between the post office and Portuguese customs...

But IMO, B&H had no way of determining the amount of duty on the package, so they couldn't have possibly charged you up front for it. It remains between you and the customs officials... the question is if you don't pay for it what happens? Do they ship it back to the US and you get your money back (less shipping) or do they just confiscate it at the customs and you lose everything you paid for it?

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/16/2005 02:15:52 PM · #7

Originally posted by Discraft:

But extra money was asked on the delivery of the package...

Yes they gave a reciept...

I live in Portugal.

B & H has nothing to do with it. The carrier will pay the taxes and duties to the government of the recipient country. They will then ask you to pay them back the taxes.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/16/2005 02:16:56 PM · #8

Originally posted by srdanz:

That i don't know but since i ordered my camera from a diferent site and this didin't happen, it was a french site...
And i thought this was odd... but it might be normal and i just wanted to know if you people had the same experience over at that site, or receiveing your order and paying a little more for costums...

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

05/16/2005 02:19:08 PM · #9

Originally posted by Discraft:

Ordering from a French site would not require taxes since Portugal and France are in the European union...basically one same country almost. Ordering from the USA into Europe will incur taxes and duties.

Message edited by author 2005-05-16 14:19:35.

srdanz

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

05/16/2005 02:19:31 PM · #10

Regarding your other experience, if the item was shipped from within EU, it was probably not subject to tax at the import time, but rather at the payment being made time. So, no customs as you presumably paid your taxes already.

This is just my guess, I am no expert in EU trade.

05/16/2005 02:21:34 PM · #11

with the evolution of this thread... i came to that thought to... maybe it might be normal... but still things are cheaper ordering from there... so i guess i'll take it as a normal thing...

theSaj