jfc $233 import duty on an $840 Switch kite

[kct]

No wonder their listed prices are so low. This is shipping into the US btw

[POACHER]

Did this just start or has it been ongoing?



I'd never pay that much for one of those kites....not with closeouts or carry overs available from better brands.

[kct]

I don't know it's the first time I've ordered from them.

[POACHER]

I ordered Nitro 2's and Nitro 4's several years ago and there wasn't an import duty. I think it was 2014-15 for the Nitro 4's.
That's an obvious bummer for you and has to be a huge negative for Switch now. That basically negates the customer direct model savings.


Too late to cancel?

[Bill C]

I've been buying Switch kites for years (plus other brands). Pay the USD price as shown on the website and they show up on my doorstep (US address) no problem. Wonder what happened.

[whabbits]

The Trump Trade War with China imposed 15% duty on kites and bars, it is now at 7.5% duties on kites and bars. The Biden Administration has yet to scale this back.

You likely paid $58.80 in duties, the local sales tax rate was likely applied, and you paid brokerage to the carrier.

[borist]

The Trump Trade War with China imposed 15% duty on kites and bars, it is now at 7.5% duties on kites and bars. The Biden Administration has yet to scale this back.
You likely paid $58.80 in duties, the local sales tax rate was likely applied, and you paid brokerage to the carrier.

Indeed. If you receive a product(s) that was manufactured in China and invoiced at either $400 (or $800, not quite sure) or more (at least that's what I was told by Fedex) and it was sent to you from abroad (doesn't need to come from China), you will pay custom duty. This has nothing to do with Switch or anyone else selling the gear. My Takoon wings came from France, the same deal.

[kct]

Looking into the bill from DHL and over half was because DHL charges $30 per day to hold the package while waiting to clear customs.

So, I don't know. I live in Long Beach and the other day I counted 37 loaded container ships waiting to get into the port. I understand things are backed up but still that's a pretty big charge to keep a small box in a room.

[Matteo V]

Way before Trump, I paid something like $175 though UPS for a $1500(?) Kitewing and spare parts package. A--hole retailer in Canada didn't mention this, but they knew sending it back would not really recoup those costs for thier international customers. So those retailers do get a benefit from these charges with virtually no product returns. They are just hoping that the customer is unaware of it beforehand.

If you are going to buy direct internationally, buy pansh.