Why is the USPS charging me a $40 fee for a delivered package?

So, I ordered some sneakers from the United Kingdom. Everything went fine on eBay—paid the full price plus shipping through PayPal and just waited. Then today, I see this delivery notice saying my package is ready for pickup. Cool. But then I flip the slip over, and apparently, I have to pay $90 just to get my stuff from the post office. Like, why? I already covered the shipping, and even with that, the total is still under $167. It’s a registered shipment too. I can't even call the USPS because they're only available Monday through Friday, and I just noticed the note today.

According to Google:
Price: 39.99 British pounds = 53.50 US dollars
Shipping: 12 British pounds = 16.15 US dollars

Delivery notice (thumbnail)

I wouldn't be surprised if those were just customs fees...

It’s stuff like this that makes me really look forward to us joining the European Union... I once won something in a sweepstakes worth more than $333, and even though it was sent from Portugal, I still had to pay over $100 in taxes to the government...

"Customs duties and sales tax don't apply even if you're just an individual receiving a gift from abroad worth up to $100."
Damn. So, this thing I got is $90, which is basically 80% of $112. Isn't that a bit much for customs to charge?

Unfortunately, those customs processing fees are pretty much negligible... And you’ll see the exact same thing for items valued at $667, even if there isn't any actual duty applied—meaning the tariff stays at 0%!

northernhound2 said:"Customs and sales tax aren't charged even when you receive a gift from abroad as an individual, up to a value of $100."
Damn. Anyway, this part is $90 to me—which is basically 80% of $112. Isn't that a bit much for customs alone?

Yeah, it's a lot... it should probably be around 5 or 10% (depending on what category those sneakers fall under) for customs, then 22% sales tax on everything—both the goods and the shipping—plus fixed processing fees, and then the delivery fee from customs to your door via FedEx. And sometimes the mail carrier misreads the amount... or doesn't provide a receipt, which they're supposed to do. They've gotta grab a coffee too, I guess. 😢

Based on what you wrote below, my math puts it at roughly $70, which is $145 worth of goods... that's about 30% in taxes and duties—you could run the numbers through a calculator, but just eyeballing it, I get $43... plus $10 in fees, plus $17 for shipping... so we're looking at around $70. Who knows if someone won't just round 210 up to 270 and put $20 in the deposit?

Douglas Fowler said:Yeah, it adds up fast. You’re looking at maybe 5 or 10% customs duty depending on what kind of sneakers they are, then 22% sales tax on everything—the goods and the shipping—plus those fixed processing fees, and then whatever FedEx charges to get it from the depot to you. Plus, sometimes the mail carrier misreads the numbers. And yeah, they don't always give you a proper receipt either. They gotta grab a coffee too, I guess. 😢

By my math based on what you wrote, I'd say it's about $70, $145 total for the gear. That's roughly 30% once you factor in taxes and duties (you could probably use a calculator to be exact, but I'm just eyeballing it). So that puts it at $43, plus $10 in fees, plus $17 for shipping... so we're looking at around $70. Honestly, who wouldn't just round 210 up to 270 and toss $20 into the tip jar?

Wait, how is it $145 total if the shipping is $33 and the stuff is $112? Won't they try to tax the shipping too?
So, using your numbers (30% of the price + $10 + $17), I end up with $62. I guess we'll see what they tell me at the counter tomorrow.
If what you said is true, it really just shows how messy things are with government services.

Customs duties are calculated based on the total value of everything you're getting—so that means the actual price of the package itself plus whatever you paid for shipping.

northernhound2 said:If what you're saying is actually true, then the state of our government agencies is just pathetic.

It’s all about the empty state coffers that they desperately need to fill... and having Suker sitting on a pile of cash doesn't exactly help the budget. ☕

Not long ago, I was heading over to the FedEx office to pick up a package and saw them opening this tiny little box containing nothing special—just a guy's belt—and they slapped a massive customs fee on it. Then, for a laptop battery that arrived in the mail, $75 they hit me with $28 ridiculous duties and taxes. The treasury is bone dry, plain and simple.

hm... so I was ordering some clothes off eBay from China, right? The listing said free shipping and it actually stayed true to its word—the mailman just dropped everything off at my door and I didn't have to cough up a single cent for delivery...

Customs. They just charge whatever they feel like in the moment, so don't waste your energy trying to figure out how they landed on that specific number.

I think you might be missing how this actually works, honestly. 😁 🤔

Look, when they pull everything out of the bags, workers are manually processing every single package one by one—relying entirely on what they can see from the outside, which isn't much at all. They have to make a judgment call right then and there: does this need to go through Customs or not? If they flag it, it goes to Customs. At the end of the day, the whole process hinges on those first people handling the parcels—especially if your package happens to get caught up in that initial screening.

So, picked up my stuff from the FedEx today. Paid the man in full.
Lesson learned, though. I guess it’s not worth buying anything more expensive than $100 on eBay.

northernhound2 said:How's it going... $145 Total cost—including shipping... $33...just stuff, really... $112I wonder if they’ll try to hit me with customs fees or taxes on the shipping...
So, based on the numbers you gave me—about 30% of the price plus...$10+$17I guess I'll just take it... $62I'm honestly just curious to see what they tell me at the counter tomorrow...
If what you wrote is actually true—then it really just highlights how bleak things have become within our federal agencies...

I wrote it out in detail before, but—let me try this again—slowly and thoroughly...

Sales tax applies to everything—both the goods and the shipping costs. So, you're basically looking at the total amount multiplied by 22%...

Customs duties depend entirely on the specific tariff classification of your items—though you might be exempt if they fall under a duty-free category... I'm not exactly sure which class sneakers fall into, but I'd guess around 10%—so that would be 335 x 10%...

Then you’ve got fixed costs to deal with—plus shipping straight to your door via FedEx...

When you add it all up—I honestly think it just comes out to zero... $70It’s perfectly normal and acceptable—at least according to the older generation—to round 210 up to... $90Honestly, the real issue is that the invoices are all handwritten in different styles—it makes deciphering exactly what’s written on the customs declaration a total headache... if you ask me, the whole thing should be... It should have been... It should be typed out on a computer—you know, the kind they often hold back from you, even though they really shouldn't...

And just like you realized—the goods arrive... $100 With the old rules—it's clear—customs duties and sales tax are waived...

Karen Young17 said:look, when they pull everything out of the bags, they're manually checking each package one by one—based just on what they can see from the outside, since they can't actually see inside—so they have to guess if it needs to go to Customs or not... and then they send it along if necessary... so it really comes down to those first people handling the packages, especially if your shipment ends up getting flagged for customs...

That isn't quite right—all packages get opened to verify the contents based on the invoice included inside. If the items are low-value (under $100), they go straight to your door, but anything more expensive gets taxed according to federal law. If they can't find an invoice, they just reach out to the buyer—the person who ordered it...

Douglas Fowler said:That isn't quite how it works—all packages undergo inspection to verify the contents against the included invoice. If the items are low-value (under $100), they're cleared for home delivery; if they're more expensive, they go through standard customs processing as required by law. If an invoice is missing, they simply reach out to the buyer to sort it out.

And what exactly are you basing that on?
Do you realize the sheer volume of packages moving through their facilities every single day? You can't seriously believe they have the time or resources to open every single box.

Douglas Fowler said:And just like you realized, the goods are gone. $100 It’s clear—it's exempt from both customs duties and sales tax.

You're wrong. $100 It's only tax-free if you're carrying it across the border in your own hands. Doesn't apply to mail. I know this firsthand because my package from FedEx got hit with customs fees. $75 It all comes down to the total value including shipping. Honestly, it’s just a complete toss-up based on whatever mood the customs agent at the post office happens to be in that day.

Karen Young17 said:And where exactly are you getting that information from...?
Do you realize how many packages pass through their hands every single day—I mean, really... you don't honestly think they're opening every single one, do you?

There's the customs law—it's pretty clear that every single package has to be inspected. I mean, if you have a small package of heroin, it’s still just a small package of heroin... we can't exactly just assume it isn't what it looks like without actually checking, right... 🙂

As for how fast customs moves—I won't even get started on how long my packages sit there, or their daily processing numbers and all that... It’s a sore subject, really. I've just learned to be patient over time—very patient. Let's just say they're probably still working through orders from the optimists who were hoping for an international Christmas gift...

Christian Torres3 said:Not quite right... $100 It’s only exempt if you’re carrying it across the border personally—it doesn't apply to mail service... I know this firsthand, too, because my own package from FedEx got flagged by customs... $75 It all depends on the total value—shipping included... Honestly, it really just comes down to how the customs agent at the post office decides to handle it... whether they flag it or let it slide...

Nothing under that amount should really be subject to customs duties—it just seems unnecessary... $100You could file an appeal against that decision... if you wanted to...

Douglas Fowler said:There are customs laws for a reason. Every single package has to be inspected—that’s just how it works. I mean, a small baggie of heroin is still a small baggie of heroin, right? Are we really supposed to just take their word for it that there isn't anything illegal inside unless someone actually looks? 🙂

Luckily, the people working at Customs aren't quite as mindless or lazy as you seem to think. About 90% of my packages have never even been touched. By your logic, should they be stripping down every single car and checking every tiny item inside it every time it crosses the border?

Douglas Fowler said:Nothing under $100 should even be subject to customs duties. You can always appeal based on that rule.

Actually, everything should be taxed. That exemption for items under $100 in the mail system is only meant for one individual sending a gift to another—which, let's face it, is pretty much ruled out once you factor in an actual invoice. It seems you've managed to expand your repertoire of nonsense from "alternative medicine" and global conspiracies to include basic customs regulations. Truly 🙂

Douglas Fowler said:Then you’ve got those fixed overhead costs to deal with...
.

What exactly constitutes "fixed costs" here? $13 Are we talking about customs inspection fees?
Is there any sort of hint regarding $17 perhaps..?🤷

Douglas Fowler said:shipping costs to your doorstep (via FedEx).
.

Shipping costs? It's just an envelope... I shouldn't have to drive all the way down to the local post office for that.😕

If everyone is supposedly opening and inspecting every single shipment, then I truly cannot wrap my head around how I can ship a massive crate from Australia, valued at $1,000, with absolutely no invoice inside, only to have it cleared through customs without a single cent being charged. Yet, a little while later, I send a tiny little parcel worth maybe $60, and suddenly they’re making a huge production out of it and demanding an itemized receipt. It honestly feels like the folks running the show over there haven't the slightest clue who's actually in charge or how any of this is supposed to work... Both shipments were sent from one private individual to another, so I suspect that’s the variable they’re playing with...