FedEx Clearance Charge

[caradee]

I have ordered for the zillionth time, whey protein from Bodybuilding.com with no problems at all. This time however I get a phone call from FedEx saying MAF have opened my package as it contains dairy and there is a $41.78 clearance charge on this.

I asked if MAF check EVERY package that arrives in the country and the guy said yes, then when I told him that this wasn't the first time that I had ordered this particular product, then he told me that when it was a dairy product MAF check it EVERY time, so I explained again that I have ordered this product many times before with no extra charges, his reply was 'I don't know why you are being charged then'.

Has anyone else had this experience?? My package is still sitting with FedEx and I don't know if I should just pay the extra fee even though no one can explain to my why I have only just now been charged this fee, or is there a way around this??

[ama]

Hmmmm.......

Sounds like sum1 doesnt know what theyre doing ova there.

I work in the freight industry and do alot of work with both fedex and MAF....as long as your protein is still sealed ( which it obviously would be) and looks legit they shouldnt be charging you anything. If they are suspicious about your shipment and wish to check it/ clear it ... they can go ahead and do so but not at your expense.

[hrdcor]

MAF are clamping down heavily on Dairy products, my company has been effected by this and they have told us it is across all aspects of importation, your lucky they didnt ask for original certification of dairy origin and a full certifacte of the complete dairy breakdown !!!!

Dont be surprised if this happens though--- and if you cant produce them , good by product.

They are a bunch of tossers to be honest , they keep changeing the rules to suit themselfs and you cant do nothing about it !!!

Talking about FEDEX I was there yesterday getting a quote to send a product to Singapore( a bottle of thermogenics RRP$99-95) and the cost they quoted me was $77-00!!! now thats F@#ked up, dont use FEDEX in NZ.

[deegee]

I also import a lot of things, bodybuilding supps for personal use is one of them sometimes I just get sent a bill and money demanded for them. I have tried fighting it before and wasted 2 days of time other expenses.

If they bill you youve either got to tell them you dont want it or take the fee It is criminal and really makes me angry at times

[caradee]

My saga has finally ended. After getting no answers from MAF, I then phoned FedEx again and eventually got put through to someone who knew what they were talking about.

She basically told me that in the past FedEx have been quite slack with oncharging the importer of goods when MAF have checked the package. MAF charge FedEx and FedEx then try to recover those costs back. She also told me that MAF don't always check every package and its basically just one of those things if you get charged - luck of the draw I guess.

And as deegee said, I wasted alot of time and energy for nothing as I was told if I didn't pay the fee, I wouldn't get my goods - you really have no choice. I paid the inspection fee and received my goods the next day!!

Heres what $41.78 buys you - A highly skilled and technical person uses a precision cutting blade to cut open the tape on the package, they then use thier laser eyes and scan over the products, they don't even have to touch the goods to approve them. Then, specially designed tape with 'Inspected' written on it (which must be written in pure gold - surely!!) is used to tape up the package again, this takes great skill and experience. The package is then sent to FedEx, and with fingers crossed, you may get it with no hassels.

Anyone looking for a new career path - become a 'Package Inspecter' - theres money to be made in it!!