Ering is here - But the duty payment is SO HIGH. Bottom Lip is out...

[CushionNovice]

Thank you everyone for your great advice, support, hand holding.
In short, and to put it bluntly and honestly, I simply did not realise I would have to pay GST on this item.
I know I know I hear you cry, how silly can this girl be?? At 38 years old, and purchasing my first diamond, I've not been in this situation before and I simply didn't think

When GOG were talking about duty excemption, I niavely assumed that meant tax too..

I feel very silly but that's the truth.

Spoke to FEDEX and they have said that the forms are inside the box and they don't open the boxes, so I sent them all the GOG info etc.. however now i'm still left with the gst which works out at around $1700 once they convert it to AUD at todays rate (and when I purchased the rates were super! not the case anymore)....

So, I believe what's going to happen is it will go back to Erica. Then i start to save again (I'm paying for my ering myself - long story, my SO isn't in a position to do so - we rented out my place to pay for the dream ring and have been moving between his family members while the apartment sub letting pays for that sparkly baby being held for ransom). On the upside my Siamese Ragdoll cat thinks he is constantly going on holiday

When that ring finally gets on my chubby little finger I promise to post around 300 photos to thank you all for the support. xx

 

[missydebby]

big hugs!!! So sorry for all your trouble.

 

[ericad]

The forms they need are in the pouch affixed to the OUTSIDE of the box. Additional copies are inside (how on earth do they know this if they didn''t open it?) - but if they open the resealable pouch on the exterior of the box, they will find everything. Unless these docs have been removed during transit - but I see no reason why that would be.

 

[CushionNovice]

Hey Erica,
Yup they remove the outside stuff when it lands in the country I believe, which makes no sense (actually I'll ask when I speak to them today)...
I had to tell them that the forms were inside the box as they were stating that all they had was the box and they wont open it.

In short, you are amazing and they are stooooopid.

Off to go get a second job now... sob... sniff... woe is me.. x

 

[RaiKai]

If FedEx is your broker for this, I am at a loss as to why they will not do their job!

I think the best thing will be to go through the claims process required, even if it costs you some, at least you will get that duty back!

I feel for you. The process can be a pain in the a** here (with things being held up for clearance for days at times), but, as most people on here in Calgary or Southern Alberta maybe know, Steve (the FedEx broker guy in Calgary) is pretty good (in my experience at least) and at least does not seem to be working *against* you! I appreciate that as he has a demanding job I imagine (someone on here recently said when she talked to him he was in middle of processing a large import of horse semen or something...from diamonds to semen...ha!).

Your FedEx people just sound lazy...?

 

[ericad]

Date: 6/1/2010 8:56:18 PM
Author: CushionNovice
Hey Erica,

Yup they remove the outside stuff when it lands in the country I believe, which makes no sense (actually I''ll ask when I speak to them today)...

I had to tell them that the forms were inside the box as they were stating that all they had was the box and they wont open it.


In short, you are amazing and they are stooooopid.


Off to go get a second job now... sob... sniff... woe is me.. x

That''s a relief - for a sec I misunderstood and thought maybe they opened the box!

Thanks for your kind words - I''ll do what I can to help you - I just wish they had made it easy for you

 

[CushionNovice]

update.
My baby is on it''s way back to America. *sniff*
until i can save up the funds to get it back! When I spoke to a very sweet lady at FedEx, I couldn''t believe she actually said "Just find someone to wear it back in!'' and then quickly added, I never said that!.. Bless her, clearly she felt for me.

Oh and BTW 2 pieces of sponge cake didn''t help the pain.

 

[MrsBettyBoop]

I wish I had a trip planned, I know you don''t know me from Betty Boop but I would wear it in for you. I hope you get it back soon.

 

[arjunajane]

Date: 6/1/2010 10:06:45 AM
Author: ericad
Hi AJ!


Thanks for your help on this. One thing to note is that I did include both the docs from GOG as well as ourselves for purposes of the AUSFTA, and submitted all of the paperwork in with the customs declarations docs. The info I included clearly states that the goods being exported have originated from the US under the FTA.


Since customs has already been given all of the necessary paperwork, does Cushionnovice simply need to re-direct a supervisor''s attention to this fact? Sheesh - you''d think they would actually take a look at the paperwork we have submitted.


Cushionnovice - I did a fair bit of research to ensure that AUS customs had all of the necessary paperwork in order for you to pay the minimum duties. Perhaps if you contact them again and REMIND them that they have all of the necessary documentation there already?

hey erica,
apologies for my late reply on this - what pancake has told you is correct. Pretty much every FedEx broker I have spoken to is simply a jerk, I''m afraid.
They will not reverse the decision, even if it''s their mistake unless you pay $150.
I had this happen to me too.

Even though you and GOG did all the right things, what was really necessary was the ''missing link'' - CN needed to phone FedEx *as soon as a shipment number had been generated* and instruct them about the item being eligible.
What should then happen, a note goes on your shipment ''file'' so that when the item arrives whatever broker receives it is notified there should be extra ppwk and so is alerted to look for it and process according to FTA.
I am not saying this to beat up on CN at all - just so you that you and other vendors can be aware of this extra step that is needed for next time

As to the box and the ppwk, no they will not open a shipment to obtain ppwk even if you tell them to. They would only open something for inspection purposes, and then they wouldn''t tell you (I know, kind of back to front!.)
To my knowledge, that paperwork that goes in the sealable pouch remains on the box until it reaches the recipient - although a duplicate is likely taken out for customs processing purposes. Every package I''ve received still has it''s pouch and ppwk on..
I guess another key thing, make sure it is written on all ppwk as clearly as possible - they are lazy and mean, it is not our vendor''s faults.

I would like to say I am very happy to hear that both you and GOG are discussing this practice and acting on it for your clients - I am very glad the awareness is there and that the vendors are following through.
Kudos for doing all you could to help CN, Erica

 

[pancake]

Date: 6/2/2010 4:23:33 AM
Author: arjunajane
Even though you and GOG did all the right things, what was really necessary was the ''missing link'' - CN needed to phone FedEx *as soon as a shipment number had been generated* and instruct them about the item being eligible.

What should then happen, a note goes on your shipment ''file'' so that when the item arrives whatever broker receives it is notified there should be extra ppwk and so is alerted to look for it and process according to FTA.

I think calling FedEx in advance is always a good idea (as per Lestat in the AUSFTA thread) but I don''t think that that FedEx have a consistent procedure such that this necessarily guarantees success, either. I do hope that over time they will develop a protocol for dealing with this but it doesn''t seem to have happened yet.

When I bought my ring, I did call ahead and speak to a FedEx worker in the customs department, and I asked for a note to be put on file for the shipment. This person told me that it was not possible to do so until the shipment arrived in Australia (??why - most likely because he didn''t know what they were doing). In good faith I took this advice only to receive a call from Customs/FedEx whilst the shipment was still in MEMPHIS to say that I owed $X in duties and fees.

The unfortunate reality is that it all seems ad hoc and operator-dependent at the moment.

I''m really sorry that you have had this experience, CN - and Erica, I am sorry that your diligence did not result in the proper outcome!