Overseas orders, when are we liable for import duties?

[Vovchandr]

So this is something that I can't quite figure out.

 

Over the years I've ordered a number of misc things from overseas for the 7 for obvious reasons. I've gotten Royal mail handed to USPS, DHL and FedEx as typical deliveries.

 

For DHL sometimes they've held my items saying I'm supposed to cover the duty fees to get my item. Sometimes not.

 

Recently the FedEx order got delivered to my house and then later they send me a bill for duties.

 

Is this typical? Is this not included/covered by the seller when they quote the shipping price?

 

[SENC]

It is typically the responsibility of the buyer to pay import duties... but I've rarely had any imposed unless a quite significant item.  When I ship something the other way, I label it "parts for repai/refurbishment" to avoid such on the other end - I learned this when shipping a distributor for repair.

[CarlB]

I haven't had a vender pay the import duty. My experience is like yours. I have had parts come from all the different services and different requirements at different times. I think it depends on how the paperwork gets filled out in the UK whether you have to pay. They have to identify what is inside and the value. 

[Croc]

Buyer pays import duties.   Pretty much everything is subject to import duties.  Its just a matter whether anyone feels the need to collect it.  Larger value/sized items seem to get the attention.  Fedex will nearly always bill later after item arrives.  UPS will hold your item hostage until you pay the duties - and if you don't pay quickly they send it back to shipper.  

 

 

[IamScotticus]

last time Burton/Caterham sent me parts FedEx they got here in days.   last one in 3 days.

[Vovchandr]

Thank you all for clearing things up.

[Bartman]

There is a de minimis threshold I believe of $800, for items below this value there should be no duty. 

[DanM]

I don't know what its like in the states but being in Canada I order a lot of stuff from either the US or UK.  I always get asked to pay import fees separately by the carrier. it stings a little (along with the exchange rate!) lol!.