Jim P.

Just had my first experience with customs duties. Not related to [gestures at everything], but because the Prusa CORE One cost is over the $800 de minimis threshold.

I expected it, since it was in their KB: https://help.prusa3d.com/article/vat-value-added-tax-customs-fees_1505

FedEx made it super easy. They sent me a bill, I paid the bill online.

For the curious:

Customs Duty: $38.63
Disbursement Fee: $14
Total: $52.63

Factor that into any purchasing decisions if you're in the US.

#Prusa #PrusaCOREOne #3DPrinting

VAT (Value Added Tax) & Customs fees | Prusa Knowledge Base

Orders within the EU As of 1 July 2021, updated EU VAT rules for business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions will apply. We, therefore, charge Value Added Tax (VAT), of the Standard rate, set by the country/state the product is to be shipped. For more i…

Mar 18, 2025 at 7:12pmWeb
Show threadalexa-488Mar 18, 2025
@jimp I once received a customs bill from DHL for a $300 secondhand pen, which shouldn't be subject to duty. But DHL had mis-entered the value as $900, which does trigger duty. I got the original custom docs from the seller showing the declared value and it took DHL a day, but they did retract the bill and correct the value.
Show threadJim P.Mar 18, 2025
@alexa488
That's fun. I avoided DHL since they seemed like a lot more trouble to deal with. Some people hate FedEx but they've been decent for me the last few years especially
Show threadalexa-488Mar 18, 2025
@jimp FedEx is my fav of the shipping companies since they make it easy to divert to a location near my home. DHL gets second place because they'll let you reschedule for another day for free. UPS is hands down the worst in my experience.
Show threadJim P.Mar 18, 2025

@alexa488 It's funny how that varies so much from place to place.

UPS is the best here, hands down. The current driver and the one before are great. They are super friendly, ring the doorbell and wait for me, and make sure everything is intact and handed off in person when possible.

FedEx does a decent job but never rings the doorbell, knocks, or anything. And before the last couple years they misdelivered a lot.

I can't recall the last actual DHL drop here. They usually hand off to USPS.

Show threadalexa-488Mar 18, 2025

@jimp I only WFH one day a week, so that complicates deliveries and I try to keep them to a minimum for that reason.

UPS can't deliver unless I'm home and for some reason none of my packages can be sent to an access point despite being supposedly eligible. The default pick up location for my zip code is far away and no where near bus lines.

FedEx is seamless diversion to a pick up location. DHL only has one pick up spot way far away but allows me to schedule deliveries for my WFH day.

Show threadJim P.Mar 18, 2025

@alexa488 I'm lucky since I'm 100% WFH.

I haven't tried redirecting UPS, but they do keep offering me a pickup point about 6 miles away in the next town up from here. Not exactly convenient.

Show threadalexa-488Mar 18, 2025
@jimp There are 2 pick up points super close to me, more convenient than FedEx's even, but I can never get a package sent to them. Multiple CS reps can never figure out why my packages can't be redirected. It's very annoying.