I recently purchased my first PCB from PCB Way, which only cost $5, but I also paid $24 for shipping. Now, DHL is telling me I need to cough up an additional $20 in customs fees! This seems outrageous, especially considering the cost of the item. Is this kind of fee typical? And if it's not, what options do I have for addressing this situation?
3 Answers
Yeah, that actually sounds about right, unfortunately. Customs fees can a bit crazy! The total value of your package ($5 for the PCB plus $24 shipping) is considered when calculating the tariff. So, the tariff might be around 30% of that total. It's still frustrating to see such high fees for low-cost items, though!
This kind of fee isn't unusual given recent trade policies, but it does seem excessive considering your item's price. The tariffs fluctuate, and customs usually charges based on the total package cost. The $20 could easily include a $10 handling fee. For future orders, it might help to look for suppliers that can help minimize those customs costs.
Honestly, $20 seems steep, but it's possible based on the valuation customs puts on your item. There's often a handling fee in addition to the tariff itself. You can try checking with DHL about the fees and see if there's any chance to negotiate or contest them, especially if it seems like a scam. Just to be safe, always verify directly through DHL rather than through links they send you.
I’ll definitely do that! The amount seemed way too high for such a cheap item.
Thanks for clarifying! I guess it's good to know I’m not alone in this. Is there anything I can do to avoid these high fees in the future?