The New Intimacy

International Shipping and C.O.D Question

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Contributor: ShadowKitten ShadowKitten
Alright, because of a recent incident I had with another company that will remain unnamed, I'm here to ask about C.O.D (Cash On Delivery) in an effort to understand how it occurs when coming through customs and if I'll ever have to really worry about my EF goodies.

Basically, I've ordered like 10-14 packages from EF so far, and none of them have ever had any fees on delivery or anything from customs but I was hoping to understand what might cause customs (I'm talking about US To Canada customs by the way) to apply C.O.D charges?

I mean is there some mean person that walks around the depot all day randomly stamping 'this person must pay ____ to get this!' on random people's packages or what?

The bigger concern I have is that I usually order via UPS (because I've had even bigger woes with Canada Post (or as I call them, Fail Post) which is who USPS hands their stuff over to but I won't get into too much detail about that...
ANYWAYS, the problem is UPS drivers only take cashiers cheques and credit cards, both I do not have available to me, therefore if for any reason an EF package ever gets C.OD'd on me I not only won't be able to acquire it, it'll get sent back (I bitched up a storm to the UPS customer service desk and they told me over and over again unless I magically acquired those payment methods it was going back the NEXT DAY), stick all my buyout and free assignment reviews on 2-3 week hold as well as supremely piss me off like my aforementioned disaster did.

I know I'm ranting like a loony but after I got told I had to pay 45 dollars for a 80 dollar package on top of 22 dollar shipping I think I've earned the right to worry when my EF packages 'worth' is usually double that or more. Sorry if it seems excessive I just want to figure out a way so it never happens again.
07/13/2011
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Contributor: Jobthingy Jobthingy
I live in Canada and have been placing orders with EF for about 9 months now, quite regularly, and I have never had to pay anything to get my package. I don't quite understand how your package has this
07/13/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
It doesn't really have anything to do with Eden or the companies you purchase items from, it's all about what happens when it lands at your border. If customs determines the product was imported from another country into the U.S. and then shipped to Canada, they'll probably try to make a buck on it.

Additionally, in some provinces you must pay the applicable sales tax (How stupid is that?)...

Contact your Border Services Agency for more information.
07/13/2011
Contributor: ShadowKitten ShadowKitten
Quote:
Originally posted by Jobthingy
I live in Canada and have been placing orders with EF for about 9 months now, quite regularly, and I have never had to pay anything to get my package. I don't quite understand how your package has this
I didn't mean I've had to pay COD from EF, but when I ordered something else in the states last month from another company and it arrived I had no way that UPS would let me even get it (not that I could really afford the ridiculous charge they had on the already overpriced items) it was the first time in my entire life that I'd had it happen and the unnamed company didn't understand it either and said it wasn't their fault.

Basically the purpose of this thread is to determine how, if any items from EF would possibly ever arrive COD to me or not as I worry after my experience with my package from another company that customs is just sticking random 'gotta pay to get this' stickers on packages or what inside the package might set off that 'stamp' saying I have to pay to receive something
07/13/2011
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
Interesting.
In AU, we don't get any customs fees as long as the package is under the allowed customs limit.

I've never dealt with C.O.D - it sounds like a really pain in the ass.
I wouldn't imagine Eden would send C.O.D - doesn't it cost a lot extra to have that feature, for the receiver?
07/13/2011
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Shellz31
Interesting.
In AU, we don't get any customs fees as long as the package is under the allowed customs limit.

I've never dealt with C.O.D - it sounds like a really pain in the ass.
I wouldn't imagine Eden would send C.O.D - ... more
It's not Eden that is doing C.O.D., there are very few if any companies that allow C.O.D. anymore. It's Customs in Canada that is leveraging the taxes on the value of the items and any applicable sales tax.
07/13/2011
Contributor: Ilya Ilya
(EdenFantasys)
Customs may impose fees based on the value of the goods. That said, we haven't had any instances with Canadian orders when UPS would require additional payment on delivery, even when the product in question is an oversized Liberator shape.

EdenFantasys certainly does not require any payment on delivery, all your shipping expenses imposed by EdenFantasys are shown at checkout. Anything else is imposed by your local customs. If you want to find out the details, I would call Canadian customs and see in which cases they impose fees on incoming packages. I can assure you it's not random.
07/13/2011
Contributor: ShadowKitten ShadowKitten
Quote:
Originally posted by Ilya
Customs may impose fees based on the value of the goods. That said, we haven't had any instances with Canadian orders when UPS would require additional payment on delivery, even when the product in question is an oversized Liberator ... more
thanks for the answers Illya
07/13/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
I've been shopping here for a year and I've never had to pay any fees on an EF order. I have had to pay some ridiculous customs fees on things I got from other American sites though. I think it has to do with how they mark the value and contents on the shipping label.
07/13/2011
Contributor: Misfit Momma Misfit Momma
Quote:
Originally posted by Ilya
Customs may impose fees based on the value of the goods. That said, we haven't had any instances with Canadian orders when UPS would require additional payment on delivery, even when the product in question is an oversized Liberator ... more
I'm sorry Ilya, but if you are saying there have been no customers who have had added customs, this is just not true. Most of my Eden packages magically make it through the border, but I have had customs add fees to my packages a couple of times. (The shipper is not notified if/when fees are added, so unless you happen to look at the shipping while it states that it is "Registered with clearing agency / Shipment submitted to clearing agency" you would not know)

One of those times, it was a huge mess and it took me complaining to UPS on Twitter to finally get someone to call me and have my package delivered. (They obviously take public complaints very seriously) I also convinced them to accept cash on that one occasion but they generally do not accept cash unless you pick it up.

Picking the package up will also save you a lot of money, because they will deduct the brokerage fee and only charge the taxes. (You need to fill out a form which will take about 3 minutes)

Either way, having customs add fees to your package has nothing at all to do with the retailer and should not be held against them. It's what we get for being Canadian.
07/21/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Misfit Momma
I'm sorry Ilya, but if you are saying there have been no customers who have had added customs, this is just not true. Most of my Eden packages magically make it through the border, but I have had customs add fees to my packages a couple of times. ... more
I'm going to be the customer care devil's advocate, here, since I'm feeling particularly empathetic after a day of customers yelling...

If they (the company) don't hear back from the customer about the difficulties/problems/ unexpected hiccups with their order, as far as Eden knows, there HAVEN'T been any instances where that's happened.


That being said, if you've complained/emailed with comments/etc., and customer service has no record of that...
07/21/2011
Contributor: Misfit Momma Misfit Momma
Quote:
Originally posted by DeliciousSurprise
I'm going to be the customer care devil's advocate, here, since I'm feeling particularly empathetic after a day of customers yelling...

If they (the company) don't hear back from the customer about the difficulties/problems/ ... more
Understandable. I personally, as a customer would never complain to a shop for customs being added since it has nothing at all to do with the shop. It's a fact, if you live in Canada any package valued over $20 can legally be taxed ($60 if marked as a gift). Any Canadian shopping online/receiving packages from across the border should know and understand this, even though many don't.

Exceptions, I think, are packages specifically marked "Made in USA/Made in Canada" which does happen to cover a large majority of sex toy brands, and is likely the reason they are rarely taxed.

PS. I did not mean for my post to sound like an attack on you, Ilya. Sorry if it came off that way!
07/22/2011
Contributor: Ilya Ilya
(EdenFantasys)
Quote:
Originally posted by Misfit Momma
I'm sorry Ilya, but if you are saying there have been no customers who have had added customs, this is just not true. Most of my Eden packages magically make it through the border, but I have had customs add fees to my packages a couple of times. ... more
Yes, I'm sorry, I should have clarified that I personally haven't heard complaints about customs fees before.
As far as problems with UPS - as an option, you can contact EdenFantasys customer service and maybe we'll be able to do something about it. I can't promise anything, as UPS is a separate company with their own rules and policies, but we can reach out to them and see if we can help you from our end.
07/22/2011
Contributor: Ilya Ilya
(EdenFantasys)
Quote:
Originally posted by Misfit Momma
Understandable. I personally, as a customer would never complain to a shop for customs being added since it has nothing at all to do with the shop. It's a fact, if you live in Canada any package valued over $20 can legally be taxed ($60 if marked ... more
Not at all
07/22/2011
Contributor: DeliciousSurprise DeliciousSurprise
Quote:
Originally posted by Misfit Momma
Understandable. I personally, as a customer would never complain to a shop for customs being added since it has nothing at all to do with the shop. It's a fact, if you live in Canada any package valued over $20 can legally be taxed ($60 if marked ... more
Maybe not complain, but I think that if something unexpected comes up, a call to the company to say, "Hey, you know, this happened and I thought you guys should be aware that this is a problem that occurs," is never a bad thing.

The company for which I work actually requests this; we WANT to know when something goes on so that we can do our best to fix it, and see if there's something we can do for you to make it right if something bad DID happen. I'm going to assume that EF, since they're as pro-customer as my employer, is much the same way.
07/22/2011
Contributor: SassySam SassySam
I've only been on ef for a few months but I've made 5 purchases. On the first 4, there was no charges but this last one I owe 20.34. Looking at what I did before I think I know why. If I pay shipping I pick the cheapest which is usps. this month i was trying out using my review item to get free shipping and there was 2 shipping options usps and ups. I picked ups, not even thinking of it and now I owe cod. Next month I will be picking usps for sure and hopefully this doesn't happen again.
12/15/2012
Contributor: SassySam SassySam
Another 'brokerage fee' from UPS because a pair of tights I had ordered was back-ordered. Sale price of tights on clearance that I paid; 2.10. Price of C.O.D 18.05. I really hate UPS.
02/20/2013
Contributor: Geogeo Geogeo
I've had to pay COD on UPS AND USPS for Eden orders, on big and small orders, so it makes no difference which one is used. Canada screws us so badly with so many taxes it's unbelievable that there hasn't been a revolt yet!
02/20/2013