Elevator Pitch

• A collector describes how UPS incorrectly charged nearly double the value of vintage computer parts in tariffs, requiring time-consuming appeals to get the fee corrected.

Key Takeaways

• UPS mistakenly assessed a $684 tariff on a $355 shipment of vintage computer parts, later corrected after an appeal.
• Immediate payment is advised to avoid costly storage fees, but customers should always appeal disproportionate charges.
• The shipping broker, not the recipient, is often the importer of record and controls tariff assignments.

Most Memorable Quotes

• "I got hit with US Customs tariffs close to double the cost of the vintage items I was ordering and more than the items were worth."
• "The last thing you want is for your package to get redirected to a warehouse pending your payment, because any shipper will start tacking on storage fees..."
• "Regardless, if this happens to you — whether it's FedEx or DHL or UPS or whatever — pay it and then appeal it."