DHL and "Import Duty" for modular equip
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- KVRian
- 945 posts since 8 Jan, 2004 from California
Just ordered $500 from Greece for Modular stuff...just got a ransom notice from DHL for $150!! for "Import Duty" with "we are sending it back in 5 days".
Am I stuck? Options? I'm kind of shocked and pissed right now, can't think straight.
Am I stuck? Options? I'm kind of shocked and pissed right now, can't think straight.
The armchair is more than the sum of the bastards
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- KVRAF
- 7158 posts since 23 Nov, 2016 from a small city
https://www.simplyduty.com/import-calculator/
It came out as $91 for me, but that was just stating $500 for music hardware
Import duty is just a tarrif you pay on high value imports
It came out as $91 for me, but that was just stating $500 for music hardware
Import duty is just a tarrif you pay on high value imports
- KVRAF
- 16800 posts since 8 Mar, 2005 from Utrecht, Holland
> from Greece
And your own location is where on the globe?
And your own location is where on the globe?
We are the KVR collective. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. 
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
My MusicCalc is served over https!!
- addled muppet weed
- 111275 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
california according to his profile.
it's trumps beautiful tarrifs that aren't a tax on the consumer....
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 945 posts since 8 Jan, 2004 from California
7 more years and I'm taking my pension and splitting this giant ghetto of fast food, Home Depots and Costco's!
The armchair is more than the sum of the bastards
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 945 posts since 8 Jan, 2004 from California
Is it completely random or are they charging everyone like this? I've never had to pay something like this ever to California. Sorry, I'm so daft on this, just new that's all....and it feels DHL is shady af. Don't know whether to send it back or bite the bullet. It's like blackmail, certainly not worth it.
The armchair is more than the sum of the bastards
- KVRAF
- 13124 posts since 7 May, 2006 from Southern California
Yep, some vendors outside of the US are now charging US customers up front for those fees, so it doesn't come as a surprise when the package goes through customs. A bit of a bummer but not unexpected.
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- KVRAF
- 1699 posts since 7 Dec, 2017
It didn't have to be like this, we have trump-o the clown running the country randomly giving out tariffs because....no good reason except he is making some money off it somewhere I'm sure. But we have a large pool of dumb shit voters here so this is what we're stuck with now.
- KVRAF
- 8073 posts since 9 Jan, 2003 from Saint Louis MO
I bought a pedal from Maneco Labs in Uruguay. DHL charged me both for the actual tariff and a "service fee" which was more than the actual tariff. But there's really no choice but to pay it, or... just don't buy stuff.meeks wrote: Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:34 pm Is it completely random or are they charging everyone like this? I've never had to pay something like this ever to California. Sorry, I'm so daft on this, just new that's all....and it feels DHL is shady af. Don't know whether to send it back or bite the bullet. It's like blackmail, certainly not worth it.
- KVRAF
- 2856 posts since 10 Jul, 2008 from Orbit SW US
Wowzer!meeks wrote: Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:01 pm ...just got a ransom notice from DHL for $150!! for "Import Duty" with "we are sending it back in 5 days".
ftfyBunny_boy wrote: Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:23 pm ... ...
Import duty is just a tariff you pay on any value imports.
Noooo, most certainly not...vurt wrote: Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:11 pm it's trumps beautiful tarrifs that aren't a tax on the consumer....
You're in a good spot with a pension.meeks wrote: Mon Nov 24, 2025 11:26 pm 7 more years and I'm taking my pension and splitting this giant ghetto of fast food, Home Depots and Costco's!
Making money off of the bribes that countries are paying to not get tariffed and likely skimming off the tariffs.seangm wrote: Tue Nov 25, 2025 3:19 am It didn't have to be like this, we have trump-o the clown running the country randomly giving out tariffs because....no good reason except he is making some money off it somewhere I'm sure. But we have a large pool of dumb shit voters here so this is what we're stuck with now.
Best advice. Especially this friday "buy nothing day" (in the US)
Use what ya got and use it more.
gadgets an gizmos..make noise~crystalawareness.bandcamp.com/ soundcloud.com/crystalawareness Restocked: 5/2026
if this post is edited -it was for punctuation, grammar, or to make it coherent (or make me seem coherent).
if this post is edited -it was for punctuation, grammar, or to make it coherent (or make me seem coherent).
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- KVRAF
- 7158 posts since 23 Nov, 2016 from a small city
Noooo, there is a threshold. It's really low, but there is one. Buying, say, individual blu rays from the US to the UK doesn't incur a charge.CrystalWizard wrote: Tue Nov 25, 2025 6:40 amftfyBunny_boy wrote: Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:23 pm ... ...
Import duty is just a tariff you pay on any value imports.
That might've changed for the us since Trump decided to nix the economy, like you say, but it used to be a thing.
Edit - you're correct. No threshold anymore
"Following the 29 August 2025 regulatory changes, the long-standing de minimis threshold of USD 800 has been eliminated"
https://www.dhl.com/discover/en-my/logi ... and-Duties
Last edited by Bunny_boy on Tue Nov 25, 2025 8:06 am, edited 2 times in total.
- KVRAF
- 8489 posts since 29 Sep, 2010 from Maui
Here in the US, we've been pretty spoiled compared to most countries, we haven't really had to pay squat before donald dipshit took over. Sooner or later that was probably bound to come to an end anyway. Who would have thought that we would be the ones to do that to ourselves tho. ha ha