AirSpy Import Tariffs (USA) - $107!

[RugbyJunctionWI]

A friend purchased two AirSpy Mini SDRs from https://itead.cc/product/airspy-mini/ over a month ago, from the only USA importer of AirSpy electronics. He still hasn't received the SDRs but got an email from DHL shipping stating that he owes $107 in tariff fees.

I'm not an expert in calculating tariff fees, but I think Itead.cc or the AirSpy factory in China miscategorized the SDRs when shipping them. A software defined radio fits under the HTS 8527.19.50 code, which should not be subject to tariffs (See link below.)

Have any of you been charged a tariff fee to import your AirSpy SDR in recent times?

(Note: This is not a political post, nor should the politics be discussed here. I just want to know if a mistake was made, resulting in my friend having to pay a tariff fee when he should not have.)

The official government web site showing tariff fees by "Harmonized Tariff Schedule" code:

Harmonized Tariff Schedule

hts.usitc.gov

 

[KJ4DHF]

You have to pay DHL processing fee's for them filing the customs paperwork

 

[RugbyJunctionWI]

You have to pay DHL processing fee's for them filing the customs paperwork

I ordered 4 AirSpy Mini SDRs from Itead.cc in December and paid no fees. The email from DHL specifically states "import duty", not processing fee. Sorry for not including this detail in my original post.

 

[buddrousa]

I think DHL is playing a game of GOUGE THE CUSTOMER.

 

[K4EET]

I ordered 4 AirSpy Mini SDRs from Itead.cc in December and paid no fees. The email from DHL specifically states "import duty", not processing fee. Sorry for not including this detail in my original post.

What is the URL that the red “Pay Now” button points to? Are you positive that the notification is definitely from DHL and payable to DHL?

 

[RugbyJunctionWI]

What is the URL that the red “Pay Now” button points to? Are you positive that the notification is definitely from DHL and payable to DHL?

Yeah, as a software developer that's keenly aware of online scams, that was my first thought... that this was a scam. However, if you look at the URL, this is from a legit DHL sub-domain web site.

 

[K4EET]

Yeah, as a software developer that's keenly aware of online scams, that was my first thought... that this was a scam. However, if you look at the URL, this is from a legit DHL sub-domain web site.

Just to be sure, however, what is the URL of the red payment button?

 

[PDXh0b0]

Shouldn't be any tariff if ordered from the "USA" warehouse

 

[RugbyJunctionWI]

Shouldn't be any tariff if ordered from the "USA" warehouse

I totally agree... problem is that when you order from Itead.cc, it seems like they decide if the item is coming from their USA warehouse or getting ordered directly from China. I have multiple friends, as well as myself, that have ordered the AirSpy Mini and sometimes we getting shipping label notices from USA warehouses, other times international shipping label notices for direct from China (which take forever to arrive.)

 

[kc2asb]

I totally agree... problem is that when you order from Itead.cc, it seems like they decide if the item is coming from their USA warehouse or getting ordered directly from China. I have multiple friends, as well as myself, that have ordered the AirSpy Mini and sometimes we getting shipping label notices from USA warehouses, other times international shipping label notices for direct from China (which take forever to arrive.)

Since he hasn't received them yet, is cancelling the order an option? That import duty is outrageous.

 

[RugbyJunctionWI]

Since he hasn't received them yet, is cancelling the order an option?

I suggested he do that. Apparently he received an email from Itead.cc stating that the purchaser is responsible for all tariff fees and will not be reimbursed for them, even if the items are returned.

 

[abqscan]

Since this order is coming from China, any item priced under $800 used to be tariff free, but last year it changed to a minimum $50 tariff. DHL is applying a small processing fee.

 

[PDXh0b0]

I wonder if tariffs are an issue of ordered via the US site ITEAD US STORE ?
Regardless, if ordering from any of their sites, you would think US purchases would be transferred to the US warehouse. Looking now it appears that the US warehouse is out of stock still

 

[RugbyJunctionWI]

Since this order is coming from China, any item priced under $800 used to be tariff free, but last year it changed to a minimum $50 tariff. DHL is applying a small processing fee.

This US Gov web page explains that the $800 de minimis exemption was ended last year, however, as outlined in my original post, SDRs should still not be subject to tariff's according to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule web page.

I suspect you're right that DHL is the one adding the fees for whatever reason. What is annoying is that for those of us in the USA, we can only buy AirSpy equipment through Itead.cc and we have no control over if they ship an item from their USA warehouse or direct from China. If you get "unlucky", you get your SDR direct from China, along with a surprise bill from the courier that is more than the SDR costs.

 

[RugbyJunctionWI]

I wonder if tariffs are an issue of ordered via the US site ITEAD US STORE ?
Regardless, if ordering from any of their sites, you would think US purchases would be transferred to the US warehouse. Looking now it appears that the US warehouse is out of stock still

This is the problem... you don't have any control over where ITEAD decides to ship you the item from. If they have the item in-stock in a USA warehouse, you don't get a surprise tariff bill, but if they decide to direct-ship you your item from China, suddenly the price just doubled.

 

[mtindor]

This is the problem... you don't have any control over where ITEAD decides to ship you the item from. If they have the item in-stock in a USA warehouse, you don't get a surprise tariff bill, but if they decide to direct-ship you your item from China, suddenly the price just doubled.

If you actually order from ITEAD US STORE , it specifically states it is shipped from a US warehouse (and if not in stock it wouldn't allow you to order). If you ordered from www.itead.cc, I would not expect them to think about shipping from a US warehouse.

 

[RugbyJunctionWI]

If you actually order from ITEAD US STORE , it specifically states it is shipped from a US warehouse (and if not in stock it wouldn't allow you to order). If you ordered from www.itead.cc, I would not expect them to think about shipping from a US warehouse.

That's interesting... same web site, just /us in URL. Thank you for the tip!

 

[mtindor]

That's interesting... same web site, just /us in URL. Thank you for the tip!

No, it's more than that. it's a subdomain.

www.itead.cc - europe
us.itead.cc/us - US

And the US site looks different. And it appears that it may contain just a subset of what is available at www.itead.cc. Good thing is that Airspy stuff is listed on the US site (but not always in stock).

Mike

 

[RugbyJunctionWI]

No, it's more than that. it's a subdomain.

www.itead.cc - europe
us.itead.cc/us - US

Ah, I see it's prefixed with us. as well.

AirSpy's own website (Purchase - AIRSPY) doesn't point to the USA URL even though it's web page states that ITEAD.CC ships from a US warehouse, which clearly they don't with the URL they provide. I didn't even know the USA specific URL existed until now.