My first and last order

**Archangel** · 27th September 07, 07:56 PM

Having learned my lesson and posted it on all threads to share.

Always insist on domestic service, Royal mail, USPS, Canada Post. They're cheaper and sometimes get past customs. If they don't, they're still cheaper.

The couriers are 100% going through customs and they're own broker.

It has to be a significant difference for me to accept it going through courier.

BTW, you can use foreign tracking numbers in your own country, it just switches tracker (once an US shipment crosses the border, Can Post tracks it using the same number).

**McClef** · 28th September 07, 02:10 AM

We have all these couriers here in the UK so firms will use them to deliver their goods. Of course there are no customs duties etc. within the UK but they still cannot be trusted to always deliver on time. UPS managed to turn a next day delivery from the Celtic Craft Centre into a four day delay for example.

But for international deliveries the tales of horror indicate that suppliers should certainly offer the national mail option. Royal Mail here has a fixed handling fee if it processes anything for Customs duties and I have only had to pay that once which was actually for a DVD collection.

**Joe Gondek** · 28th September 07, 02:03 PM

I had two kilts shipped Royal Air ,No problems no customs charge

One jacket shipped Fed X cost almost 1/2 the price of the jacket in shipping and custom charges

Never again!

**ccga3359** · 28th September 07, 02:10 PM

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**Hamish** · 29th September 07, 06:06 PM

This works in both directions, and with Royal Mail! I recently ordered three kilt pins from Don McKee in Colorado (value including shipping: £36.29). On arrival, Royal Mail could not deliver to my home because there were charges to be paid, so I had to make a special visit to the Sorting Office.

There was no Excise Duty to pay, but there was Value Added Tax of £6.50. In addition, Royal Mail charged £8.00 for handling - a total of £14.50. Equivalent to a 40% surcharge on the order!!

**Kilted_John** · 29th September 07, 08:40 PM

I usually only use the mail service nowadays. FedEx is spendy, no matter what. A couple times, they didn't ship stuff, since they couldn't find our address. Since then, they've been reliable and stuff hasn't been broken.

UPS breaks stuff too often. Once had a 300mm Nikon lens shipped via UPS. When I got it, the lens was in the corner of the box with all the packing material on top of it, even though it had been boxed with the packing material around it. Another time, I shipped off a major appliance to someone in Arizona, using UPS. Got the box returned to me in the shape of a ball. I've also heard stuff fall off the shelving in the back of a UPS truck while it was moving. Was behind a truck and heard an expensive "thud" coming from the truck.

USPS, on the other hand, has been reliable, cheap, quick, and hasn't broken items that I've mailed off or received from other people.

-J

**McClef** · 30th September 07, 02:52 AM

It sounds a lot for the value of the order Hamish but it's a fixed fee and not a sliding scale.

The dreaded VAT is chargeable at 17.5% on the whole amount of the declared value if it exceeds some ridiculously low figure (something like £18) and is calculated on the whole value, not just on the excess over it.

But as I said it's only happened to me once out of many things I have had from the US and Canada so they appear much less likely to intercept things in the first place.

**Pleater** · 30th September 07, 03:43 AM

In one of my other lives I post items from the UK as spare parts for domestic knitting machines.

The post office air mail service has always delivered in good condition, and the only problem is that there is a weight limit of 2 Kg.

We normally expect 4 to 5 days transit time to the US.

It is true that we do not deal in high value items, and there might even be a restriction on the value of what can be posted - but if I should ever go into the business of making kilts for others I will certainly investigate the posibility of using the post office rather than carriers.

Having recently waited in all day for a delivery of fabric by a carrier, I was informed that the delivery had been attempted and a card left. Well, the doorbell was never rung and I could not find a card anywhere. The supplier had paid for next day delivery, but rather than Thursday delivery it arrived the following Monday. It doesn't inspire confidence.

**Hamish** · 30th September 07, 05:12 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

It sounds a lot for the value of the order Hamish but it's a fixed fee and not a sliding scale.

Indeed Trefor, I am well aware of that. However, I am sure I was charged more than £8.00 by Royal Mail a year or two ago under similar circumstances

The dreaded VAT is chargeable at 17.5% on the whole amount of the declared value if it exceeds some ridiculously low figure (something like £18) and is calculated on the whole value, not just on the excess over it.

Yes, VAT is charged not only on the value of the incoming order but also on the shipping charge the recipient has paid. The actual limits for importing by mail into the United Kingdom without paying VAT are: £18.00 for goods you have purchased yourself, and £36.00 for gifts. [Correct as at: 06.09.07]

But as I said it's only happened to me once out of many things I have had from the US and Canada so they appear much less likely to intercept things in the first place.

You are luckier than I am then. Unfortunately, I seem to have been stung a number of times in recent years.

**MacSimoin** · 30th September 07, 05:58 AM

It's sad to see so many others experiencing similar issues, both here and abroad.

Getting back to my original point---I am very happy with the items I've purchased; in fact, the kilt I bought is my first "tank", an 8-yard kilt of 16 oz. heavyweight wool, if that's your favored term. My displeasure stems from dealing with FedEx and US Customs and Border Patrol regulations.

FedEx uses its Memphis (TN) airport facility as a "clearing house" for imported goods and from speaking to people who've actually been to that airport, it's no small wonder I recieved my order, especially after being told the package was on its way back to France [after my raising hell with FedEx]. I was so frustrated with FedEx that I asked them to leave the package where it was and that if I could avoid dealing with FedEx altogether, I'd drive my disabled self (and my two-month old daugher---I'm now a "stay-at-home Dad") to Memphis and pick-up the package in-person. The employee seemed completely stunned and said she'd never been asked that one before. I think she (and her supervisor) eventually got the hint.

I've had a longstanding dislike for FedEx and none of the hassle I've experienced here came as a surprise, so I also emailed Kiltstore.net and told them of the situation. I explained I would expect a full and immediate refund if my order went undelivered and was returned by FedEx. My email went unanswered.

Again, I'm still waiting to get slapped silly with the exorbitant duties. In the end and as I said before, if I do happen to order from Kiltstore.net again I will opt-out of using FedEx. I suggest you do the same.