Thank you for posting this. Yes, it certainly is confusing. I have read all sorts of things. This is why I have narrowed myself down to trying to understand what's happening with mailed items. I have read stuff contradictory to my (limited) understanding, then found it was applicable to other types of shipments, etc. It is a mess.

However, I am also reading that tariffs are being collected. I think the key to Hannant's confusion here lies in their statement that they have to charge and pay direct to the American authorities. That should not be. From how this looks to be set up, their shipping service (Royal Mail, DHL, whomever they use) are actually responsible for making the payments. So, if they will huddle with their shipping services, that might help them clear up some confusion faster. They can set their payment collections up based on what their shipping charges end up at. They'll wind up needing to set themselves up with a table that lists kit, country of origin and tariff rate. That can help them anticipate what their carrier service will be collecting, so they can charge accordingly. They will ultimately probably be setting themselves up with a brokerage service. They fill out forms, and help determine charges, etc. I don't know about the Royal Mail, but entities like DHL, etc. have brokerage services, and according to one poster below, UPS just used their broker service and put those charges into the shipping costs they billed a sender from the UK, without consulting him, nor allowing him his own broker choice, etc. The shipping services are being burdened by most of this for this category of importation method.

With these ebay sellers in China it is generally a little easier. Most sell only one type of product, thus having only one merchandise type, and their country of manufacture is their own country, so they've just the one tariff rate. Ebay in China is set up with one shipper...Orange Connex. So, they've each gotten set with them on shipping charges, and Orange Connex's brokerage. I am sure that made things a bit smoother for them. Yes, for an entity like Hannants, this is not going to be as smooth at all.