Hobbyking USA "Free Shipping" - NOT!!!
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:16 pm
So, way back on March 10, I ordered a few new LiPos, a reversing 40A ESC, some servos, and a battery tester/USB power supply. My first time ordering from the HK US site as compared to the international site. Total order cost $89.25 US which equated to $117.98 after conversion and credit card processing fees. I also emailed FedEx to link the tracking number to my account to avoid the advancement fees. The delivery was sent by ground and took close to two weeks to arrive from the US West coast.
Well - today I received the invoice by mail. 6 weeks later. Total fees of $58.02. Talk about TAX! Far too disproportionate for the cost of the components.
Breakdown as follows:
- Advancement Fee = $10.00
- Clearance Entry Fee = $25.50
- Taxes on fees = $5.33
- HST = $17.19
- Total = $58.02
I was expecting / okay with the HST of $17.19 but the others were not anticipated. So what do I do? I call FedEx (possibly in a bit of a "huff!"). At first there is nothing that they can do... then they agree to remove the advancement fee... and then finally also the clearance entry fee. So now I am only paying the HST which I am fine with.
Their comment was that the vendor (HK) shipped the cheapest way possible and were not including any other fees. I believe that this is stated through the ordering process that it is the customer's responsibility to pay any additional border fees... but this is high on such a small order. Their comment was that the clearance fees are buried in the costs for air shipment and therefore do not appear to the end customer. They recommended shipping air next time to avoid such surprises.
This all reminds me of ordering a $200 daggerboard for a sailboat from the US via UPS - and paying $90 in fees on top of shipping costs - that was just to cross the border. I have never used UPS again and will not in the future either.
So ---- buyer beware. I guess that I am "lucky" that they removed the other fees.... and I won't be ordering from HK USA again without some type of reassurance.
Has anyone else encountered such issues????
Brian
Well - today I received the invoice by mail. 6 weeks later. Total fees of $58.02. Talk about TAX! Far too disproportionate for the cost of the components.
Breakdown as follows:
- Advancement Fee = $10.00
- Clearance Entry Fee = $25.50
- Taxes on fees = $5.33
- HST = $17.19
- Total = $58.02
I was expecting / okay with the HST of $17.19 but the others were not anticipated. So what do I do? I call FedEx (possibly in a bit of a "huff!"). At first there is nothing that they can do... then they agree to remove the advancement fee... and then finally also the clearance entry fee. So now I am only paying the HST which I am fine with.
Their comment was that the vendor (HK) shipped the cheapest way possible and were not including any other fees. I believe that this is stated through the ordering process that it is the customer's responsibility to pay any additional border fees... but this is high on such a small order. Their comment was that the clearance fees are buried in the costs for air shipment and therefore do not appear to the end customer. They recommended shipping air next time to avoid such surprises.
This all reminds me of ordering a $200 daggerboard for a sailboat from the US via UPS - and paying $90 in fees on top of shipping costs - that was just to cross the border. I have never used UPS again and will not in the future either.
So ---- buyer beware. I guess that I am "lucky" that they removed the other fees.... and I won't be ordering from HK USA again without some type of reassurance.
Has anyone else encountered such issues????
Brian