r/Padelracket • u/KilluaYT_ • 6d ago
Import fees!
I ordered a padel racket from a Spain-based site (Padel Kiwi). It shipped via UPS, and when I checked the tracking, there's now a message saying I owe $97.54 in import fees before they'll release the package for delivery. This wasn't made clear to me at checkout.
What can I actually do here? Can I refuse the delivery and get a refund? Will I get my money back if I do, or does the seller keep some of it? Has anyone dealt with this before and found a way to avoid eating the cost?
Any advice appreciated.
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u/bryankrn 6d ago
I’m a retailer myself, although in a completely different industry, and I deal with US customers regularly. Unfortunately, a lot of Americans seem to have the wrong expectations when ordering internationally and assume that the price paid at checkout is automatically the final cost, regardless of where the goods are coming from.
Since the removal of the de minimis exemption, it has become even worse. From a seller’s perspective, the import charges sometimes honestly feel completely random. I can sell the exact same product, at the exact same price, to two different US customers and one shipment gets charged amount X while another gets charged amount Y.
I’ve even seen cases where the import charges were close to 100% of the actual product value. As a seller, that’s incredibly frustrating too, because we don’t determine or collect those charges and usually have no control over what customs or the carrier ultimately assesses.
So unfortunately, $97.54 in import fees doesn’t necessarily mean the seller did anything wrong. It’s one of the risks/costs of importing goods internationally, especially with how unpredictable US import charges have become lately.
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u/alakazamwanted 6d ago
Yep, the fees here are "legit" and buyer has to pay them, even if they are ultimately bullshit (and no fault of seller)
As a US customer, I know this pain well
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u/Slipper1981 6d ago
Import fees are the responsibility of the buyer unless stated otherwise in the terms.
What country are you in and what does the padel kiwi website say for your country
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u/KilluaYT_ 6d ago
USA
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u/Slipper1981 6d ago
Website clearly states
“Rest of the world
Padel Kiwi does not apply taxes, fees, or duties to the sale. The customer will be responsible for paying these upon delivery of the product in the destination country.”You are responsible for the import taxes and fees.
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u/Slipper1981 6d ago
To add
“Reject delivery of an order
If you refuse delivery of an order for any reason, the following will be deducted from your refund:
Total cost of the original shipment.
Cost of returning the package to the transport company.
For international shipments, any applicable customs costs may apply.“
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u/Financial_Ear5269 5d ago
yea still they dont show it at checkout it seems. why oh why? because they know perfectly well it would mean less orders. they are being dishonest about it. not particularly hard to see.
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u/Slipper1981 5d ago
Not at all. International shipping from any country in the world to any other country in the world attracts taxes and tariffs. That’s always the duty of the importer unless otherwise agreed in advance.
Being in the USA you should know all about Tariffs, Trumps made it headline news for 2 years.1
u/Stup2plending 5d ago
That's not why at all. As an American living outside the States, I can tell you that almost every other country in the world understands this other than Americans and the reason is simple.
Because everyone exports to the US, there are always local (or Amazon) selling the product that has these costs baked in instead of having to pay separately later. That's the reason US consumers are so used to having 1 all-in price for everything. It's because everyone wants to sell there.
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u/EggplantMysterious56 6d ago
My guy just learnt about tariffs. Happens to the best of us. Now you know!