Got a new pair of binos through meoptas warranty service. Came from Czech Republic. Now FedEx is blowing me up trying to collect $90 in duty taxes. They said that meopta did not mark it as a warranty exchange and marked it as DDU (delivery duty unpaid), and now I owe them.

Is this actually enforceable? From where I'm sitting I don't see how I'm even a participant to this shipment other being a 3rd party recipient. Seems like the contract is between meopta and FedEx, and I don't see how it is my problem that meopta checked the wrong box when making the label.

I got nothing to add but I was considering sending my binos in to get repaired too.....will wait to see how this shakes out i suppose.

Basically what I did. Told them to pound sand, that if they want their money they need to call meopta.

What I actually think happened is FedEx paid the tax so the shipment got released and is looking for reimbursement. Since I'm in the US I seem like the easy target. No idea if that's what's actually happening, but it would make sense

We Live in Mxico and Have this happen alot. Sounds like FedEx paid your duties When They shouldve charged Out at delivery.

Only recourse for them is denying future service until the dues are paid. Thats what happens here when they fubar the duties.

Seems like if Fed Ex gets screwed on this enough they will just raise shipping rates to offset the cost. They won't just keep losing money on it.

This is a result of the de minimus rule being revoked by the Trump administration. If my family in Ireland sent me a small gift, I'd have to pay duties on it now.

https://www.dhl.com/discover/en-us/global-logistics-advice/logistics-insights/the-end-of-de-minimis-exemption-meaning-for-your-business

EMY92 said:

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This is a result of the de minimus rule being revoked by the Trump administration. If my family in Ireland sent me a small gift, I'd have to pay duties on it now.

https://www.dhl.com/discover/en-us/global-logistics-advice/logistics-insights/the-end-of-de-minimis-exemption-meaning-for-your-business

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Not if they sent it DDP. They would pay it. Also, warranty items are typically exempt apparently. Issue is Meopta did not disclose that. Not sure how their failure to accurately complete the paperwork becomes my financial burden.

Neither (people)should be paying it. If anyone (not getting into the debate on tariffs) it needs to come from the company involved.

FedEx has buried in their fine print for shippers that unpaid duties will be charged back to the shipper. So if you actually received the goods and never pay the duties, the duties will eventually get charged back to the shipper. The shipper will most likely never ship anything to you again if you go this route, but it sounds like the mistake was made on their side anyway.

They'll send you to collections. Ask me how I know.

jrrhouston98 said:

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They'll send you to collections. Ask me how I know.

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How do you know

I threw away all notices of duties owed to fedex and within a few months I got a letter from a collections agency and I had to pay or it was going to hit my credit. They're going to get their $ one way or another.

jrrhouston98 said:

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I threw away all notices of duties owed to fedex and within a few months I got a letter from a collections agency and I had to pay or it was going to hit my credit. They're going to get their $ one way or another.

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If I understand correctly there was no consideration on my part… so I don't see how there's would be an enforceable contract that I'm party to.

I'm not an attorney so i dont know if that's right.

Regardless, I'm not paying it. I'll deal with it if it goes to collections, but realistically $70 isn't super cost effective to pursue unless it got sold to a debt buyer vs an agency