ClaireAshton Report post Posted August 21, 2014 AND BEFORE YOU START I'LL DOUBLE POST IF IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER! I just got ripped off. I just got scammed. I ordered a Firewind or Freshwind Circle thingy from USA. Not cheap, but stuff from the States tends to be well made and well designed. The postage was not cheap either. So i get a card in the post saying my parcel is ready to be collected at the Post Office Sorting Office (not a post office, more the sorting centre) and don't forget ID such as credit or debit card and remember even though you need one of these as ID you can't pay using one it has to be cash. So I pick up my little package. I pay £3.20 VAT ($5 or $6 Sales Tax) and , wait for it, a £8 handling charge! ($15!) That is why next time I shall be asking for someone over there to get one for me and send it to me using the strict cost as the customs declaration so I don't get stuck allways. In this country, UK, there is a TV programme called Grumpy Old Men and one called Grumpy Old Women. After today I would walk either audition....... Whinge, Whinge....... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXAG Report post Posted August 21, 2014 I'm not sure what it is that you bought, but I am sorry that happened to you. That sucks! Was it shipped via UPS? I've heard really horrible things about their so-called "brokerage fees"... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClaireAshton Report post Posted August 21, 2014 Hi TXAG, I've had a calm look now, it is a Windfire Designs small circle tool. THe website is windfiredesigns.com Now this is a lovely bit of kit, but in the end $70 worth? Shipped USPS Priority Mail, but still took best part of a month. For better or for worse, I am an Amazon Prime baby. If I order before 1700 hours and don't get it by 0930 the following morning I think I am hard done by and briefing solicitors before 1200. Better explain, 'briefing' is retaining or hiring and a solicitor is not, shall we say, a person of suspect morals = but a person of confirmed lack of morals i.e. an attorney I think you would know them as........... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billybopp Report post Posted August 21, 2014 It's almost reassuring to know that USPS isn't the only messed up postal system around. Almost. I recently had a package not get delivered as it was supposed to be, and no notification was left (as there is supposed to be). I tried tracking the package through their system with no luck. The seller had no luck finding the package when I contacted them, either. FINALLY I got a final notice that the package was to be returned to the sender, and I could pick up the package at the post office, or go online and request a re-delivery. Since I don't own a car (and don't need one in the city), it costs me about $4.50 to go to the post office, so I requested re-delivery. After a couple of days, no package so I bit spent the train fare and went to pick it up. Upon complaining that there was no re-delivery nor any notice in the first place, the clerk shrugged his shoulders and said "Don't ever request re-delivery. Those packages always get lost." SHEESH! ... Oh .. and it was a $10 item which ended up costing $14.50 and lost time. And if you think that's bad, last year I ordered a numitron vacuum tube on ebay from Russia. It took 2 .. Nearly 3 months. It seems that Russian customs takes a month-long holiday ... All at the same time every year. Just one more reason to not do any business there! At least you're not alone, Claire! (BTW .. I'll be waiting to find out what postage is on one o' those pyramids) Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TXAG Report post Posted August 21, 2014 hahahahaha...yes, we have attorneys here...for better or worse... I remember seeing those circle tools before...thought about buying one, but holy cow...yes, I would be a bit upset at having to shell out $70 for one with all the fees and all...and the slow shipping. I have amazon prime too...they have slacked off a lot on their delivery commitments over here lately. Glad that it is still speedy for you... For the round cases I make, I thought about getting the circle tool from them...but I ended up buying a vintage leather circle cutter from Sheridan Leather. It works pretty nicely...I think I need a smaller one for the smaller boxes though as it is made for about 5-10" circles...I have to switch around the blades backwards to cut smaller circles and it doesn't always work well. Sometimes, folks will offer a shipping service to help folks overseas...I'm not sure if anyone on here would offer that service...I am away from home too often to be able to offer a reliable service like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macca Report post Posted August 21, 2014 I feel your pain, I got bummed recently, bought a Swiss stitching clamp from Walter on here, forgot they aren't considered part of the EU 60 quid customs & handling fees Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClaireAshton Report post Posted August 21, 2014 Oh!! Now that makes you shiver...... (Keep this quiet, but if the custom slip CN22 reads less than a certain amount, no charge. Thanky You to Goodsjapan who charge, and certify, that their goods are virtually worthless and attract no customs and no VAT, but their the post element of their 'free' postage prices are astronomical. <smug> $60? Ouch..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoubleC Report post Posted August 21, 2014 Claire the USPS just is plain horrid anymore. I can't believe these younger carriers have one of the best jobs in the USA and don't provide good service. The older folk seem to do better. I have had more things lost, damaged and destroyed by the Post Office than I can count. I feel for you and to be charged a handling fee is outrageous. They lost all my first class mail for THREE months. Found it in a drawer some where. I could go on and but I won't LOL. Hang in there and no you're not alone. Cheryl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClaireAshton Report post Posted August 21, 2014 ........................... I could go on and but I won't LOL. Hang in there and no you're not alone. Cheryl No, please do! It's nice to know that you are not the only one being persecuted. In UK we have had a rash of new starts doing 'courier' (parcel) services and most are excellent. Best yet for me was an Amazon order at 8pm delivered at 7am next morning. That was from about 500 miles away! Now i'm old enough to remember when anyone went to University (College to you) they sent their stuff by British Railways Parcels in a Trunk. I heard of one Trunk that was delivered one month after the person had got their degree three years later! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClaireAshton Report post Posted August 21, 2014 Er, Cheryl, just had a look at your Etsy shop. I think I should shut up and go and get making some stuff. Impressed, and I'm not easily.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoubleC Report post Posted August 21, 2014 Thank you Claire, that's very kind. And I remember when people sent things by rail too but now you can't ship things anymore. And you can't leave it on the train and get it switched to your later train for you. They have a walled off area where you can store it for $20.00. Layovers cost an arm and leg, LOL. The food is expensive, even McDonalds cost three times the normal price. You have to get red caps to do anything for you and they work for tips. If you leave your luggage for any reason even if you ask someone to watch it for you, man are you in trouble when you get back. I know from experience because they went through all my luggage and checked all my meds. I was just taking my service dog out to potty. I know a lot of this changed because of 9/11 but I think it's gone to far. Last time I flew I had the dog with me and we got pulled out of line at each switch. I tied her loosely to the railing to get searched myself, walked through the metal detector, searched and then went back through to get the dog. They told me I had to do it all again because I went back through. So had to have the dog sit/stay in a very noisy, strange environment, walk back through, get searched again and then tell her to come. Strange world we're living in these days. And don't feel the need to run off and work because I'm doing my best to not start a belt, LOL. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
