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Your experience with FedEx International?

C

concun

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
186
Can you share your experience with FedEx International shipping? My shipment from TAKAHASHI is on hold at Custom with status ‘clearance delay’. FedEx customer service took my email and said someone will email me a form to fill out but they don’t know when so I have called 2 days in a row and same answer, just wait. One time they gave me the FedEx logistic number to call but I was on hold for 1hr, finally gave up to leave a message but their voicemail is full. I have received FedEx annd DHL international shipments and did not have to fill out any custom form. Any of you care to share the process and time wise? Thanks.
 
As someone who regularly deals with shipments from Japan, Australia, and other International locations, this will be entirely dependent on whom you happen to come across and sometimes the mood they're feeling in as they process shipments. It's not really a FedEx thing but rather a customs thing.

Typically waiting for whatever paperwork they have to get you/process is indeed your only solution -- Usually about a week or two, but my maximum hold up for some orders in the past has been 3-4 months.
 
I had a package from Takahashi in August and there was also a clearance delay around "animal parts or animal products clearance"...I called and they were able to get rid of that fairly quickly, and they did send me a docusign where I had to fill out I believe Tax ID number (??) and some other details. All in all it took about a week to receive it. Maybe there was some backlog with it being the Thanksgiving holiday?

Interestingly I recently received another package from Belgium and it breezed right through Customs, no form to fill out, anything. Granted it wasn't pearls and of course a different country so perhaps different rules apply but I found that interesting.
 
@molinePDG I assume you are referring to the waiting time for Customs to process the paperwork if they have it. I have not even gotten the form from FedEx to submit the info that Customs is asking for. Darn, 3-4 month wait with your $ tied is dreadful.
 
@Civnhasy 1 week wait gives me hope. I hope the goodies gets here sooner than the credit card bill lol.
 
concun said:
@molinePDG I assume you are referring to the waiting time for Customs to process the paperwork if they have it. I have not even gotten the form from FedEx to submit the info that Customs is asking for. Darn, 3-4 month wait with your $ tied is dreadful.
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Usually getting the FedEx portion done and the paperwork correctly filled out is the extensive part. Once customs has your papers, correctly completed, they will typically process in a week-ish.
 
I’ve had several clearance delays but that’s just because I need to pay tax.

Did the vendor fill out your paperwork correctly? For me it’s only ever been tax that’s held it up. Fedex send me the bill, I pay and the package moves right away.
 
Amy only delays are as Mellowyellowgirl mentioned. Tax , there's always a tax that holds up Fed Ex here in Australia. But Andrew has the info correct for America, if the paperwork is correct there shouldn't be a problem.
 
katbran said:
Amy only delays are as Mellowyellowgirl mentioned. Tax , there's always a tax that holds up Fed Ex here in Australia. But Andrew has the info correct for America, if the paperwork is correct there shouldn't be a problem.
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mellowyellowgirl said:
I’ve had several clearance delays but that’s just because I need to pay tax.

Did the vendor fill out your paperwork correctly? For me it’s only ever been tax that’s held it up. Fedex send me the bill, I pay and the package moves right away.
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Speaking of tax, if I paid import tax to bring gemstone into Australia but return the item, is there a way to get the tax money back?
 
I can’t help with customs issues, but chiming in to get an update on which necklace you ended up choosing from Takahashi! I also hope you’ll post lots of pics when it arrives (hopefully soon) :)
 
Are you based in America?

If yes, it's form CBP 5106. Get FedEx to send you that and return it to FedEx (they'll give you an email address to send it to). It's not a FedEx form - FedEx is acting as your import broker and dealing with US customs (CBP = customs & border patrol) for you.

Whose parcels get stopped when... It seems to be pretty random at first, but once you're #OnTheirList you can expect to need to provide paperwork for basically every import moving forward.

Neither FedEx nor customs are charging you tax on your import, btw. You'll need to file use tax directly with your state gov. I'd recommend doing that sooner than later, before you forget, because it isn't less of a hassle if your comptroller sends you a bill end of year :wall:
 
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yssie said:
Are you based in America?

If yes, it's form CBP 5106. Get FedEx to send you that and return it to FedEx (they'll give you an email address to send it to). It's not a FedEx form - FedEx is acting as your import broker and dealing with US customs (CBP = customs & border patrol) for you.

Whose parcels get stopped when... It seems to be pretty random at first, but once you're #OnTheirList you can expect to need to provide paperwork for basically every import moving forward.

Neither FedEx nor customs are charging you tax on your import, btw. You'll need to file use tax directly with your state gov. I'd recommend doing that sooner than later, before you forget, because it isn't less of a hassle if your comptroller sends you a bill end of year :wall:
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No I am in Australia, and from what I can find through google, it seems no tax refund for import tax if you return the item because you don’t like it. But wondered if anyone from Australia knew different.
 
Customs delays (in reality delays by the shipping company acting as agents for the relevant country's border arrangements) can be one of two things - or both. Every country has different rules on how they permit imports as well as rules on what is taxed as an import sales tax as well as duty. Plus most countries have a threshold for tax and duty so that is also why some shipments go through and then wham, your big spend item gets caught
Different shipping companies are more or less diligent/officious too.
I had a shipment to Poland and by the time that finally cleared the rules part I felt the only thing I hadn't had to tell them was my blood group.
 
I hope the OP's issue will be resolved soon!

I am in UK, and I cannot remember any issues with FedEx for international and domestic shipments. They are the best courier in my book!

They even allowed me to go to their depot at London Heathrow airport to collect an urgent custom order and shipment from Pearl Paradise back in December 2008 so that I could wear the necklace for a very important funeral.

DK :))
 
@yssie i think it is the form CBP 5106 you mentioned. The FedEx customer service agent said the same but all they did is taking my email and told me to wait for the form, it has been 3 business days. Should I call them again? It seems that a different department handles it though.
No, no, I hope I am not #OnTheirList. It happens to me with IRS. 15 years or so DH forgot (?) to report a ~1k check he got from his BIL for a small job. Usually BIL would just get him a flight ticket somewhere so I did not know; otherwise I would remind him. Since then, we are #OnTheirList and get audit yearly that my accountant/lawyer even gives us a flat fee to file tax because he is very sure there is more work than filing tax.

@clockworkreader i got the Tennyo strand (pink overtone) and the biggest matching studs they offered. Honestly I was looking for a bigger size studs because mine (silver overtone) is already that size, but I am OCD and will not stand mixing color so I get the studs and will have to think of something to make it different or look bigger on my earlobes, not a halo girl though.
Definitely will share pictures!!!
 
So, FedEx broker asked me to confirm the below.
• MOTHER OF PEARL - ARE THE PEARLS MOTHER OF PEARL ?

I looked at the commercial invoice and it said Cultured Pearl Strand (pinctada fucata ) Temporarily Strung for Transport.

I googled “is cultured Pearl mother of Pearl’ and got the answer from AI “ No, while closely related, a cultured pearl is not exactly "mother of pearl"

What is the right answer here? Appreciate your help.
 
Correct answer is "No".
 
Long answer:
Pinctada fucata is the formal name for the akoya oyster, and mother of pearl is NEVER made from akoya oyster shell. Mother of pearl can be made from south sea or Tahitian oyster shell.

Now, nacre is nacre is nacre, and the nacre of an akoya pearl is nacre, and the nacre of a Tahitian or south sea pearl is nacre, and mother of pearl is also nacre, but customs does NOT need this degree of detail. The correct answer is "no".
 
@yssie thank you for your quick response. I hope this will be resolved soon.
 
It is extremely important that they are aware it is not mother of pearl, which falls under U.S. Fish & Wildlife concern. Mother of pearl, while allowed to be imported, can only be imported to the U.S. through particular ports of entry.

Cultured pearls vs mother of pearl are under a completely different heading for the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Mother of pearl gets put under the same subheading as stuff like ivory, tortoise-shell etc. which is a "we might have to destroy your stuff" category you especially do not want to have to deal with, especially if it has nothing to do with your package.
 
Mother of pearl customs code is 96019020
cultured pearls in finished, made jewellery 7101220000
cultured pearls on temporary strands or loose 7101100000
I'm sure Takahashi will have entered the correct code on the paperwork
 
@Pearlescence this doesn’t look like what you suggested. Will I be paying higher tax than it needs to?
After my answer No to mother of Pearl, FedEx said to wait.
IMG_4553.jpeg
 
What can I do without you guys? Thank you!
 
OOps, comes from working from memory rather than looking them up. Dur.Should have checked them
 
Tried to delete to obviate confusion but can't
 
There's evidently confusion - and the entry in the official customs code paperwork doesn't help. But we are both rightcom code.JPG
 
The status has been changed to “International Import Shipment - Release” since last Thurs and not moving. I am impatiently waiting, and FedEx customer service is no help.
 
concun said:
The status has been changed to “International Import Shipment - Release” since last Thurs and not moving. I am impatiently waiting, and FedEx customer service is no help.
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That means it’s released! You’re fine! It’s just up to the FedEx people in your area now to unload the shipment etc and move to it to delivery. They are probably busy because of Christmas.
 
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