[ Post a Response | The SteelNavy.Com Message Board ]
Posted by Ralph Wood on August 20, 2025, 13:58:42, in reply to "Another e-mail re. US tarrifs, this time from an Irish model train manufacturer"
That is beautiful, Phil. Thank you. Clears up so many things.
I have but one puzzlement...
First, it states: "Taxes and tariffs remain your responsibility to pay, and the shipper will contact you to collect these costs prior to delivery." *Prior to delivery.*
Then, it states: "...and will collect any applicable import duties directly from the recipient upon delivery." *Upon delivery*
So, it sort of looks like the shipper will contact you about collection before delivery, then get the payment at delivery? In other words, when do I pay? Kind of looks like I pay at delivery, but could also be interpreted as having to pay the shipper beforehand and the wording was just a little garbled.
Other than that, you've solved pretty much all puzzlement I still had about how it all works.
A huge thank you! 
Previous Message
.
Another e-mail re. US tarrifs, this time from an Irish model train manufacturer.
VERY different. Please note the different approaches by some different delivery companies (!)
Important Update on Accurascale and IRM Shipments to the United States
We would like to inform you of an important change affecting shipments to the United States.
First and foremost, we fully understand that the current tariff situation with the U.S. remains fluid and subject to change. We want our U.S.-based customers to continue enjoying our models, and we encourage you to place and maintain pre-orders regardless of the current landscape. When your model comes into stock, you can assess the prevailing tariff conditions at that time and cancel your order if necessary.
For those who are not aware, the US government has suspended the ‘De Minimis’ tariff exemptions which covered many goods entering the US valued below $800 USD.
We do not collect any applicable taxes and tariffs when you place orders with us direct, and we do not intend to change this. Taxes and tariffs remain your responsibility to pay, and the shipper will contact you to collect these costs prior to delivery.
In the meantime, we have an important update regarding future shipping procedures:
Effective August 29, 2025, USPS will require all international shipments entering its network to have U.S. customs duties prepaid. Unfortunately, this new regulation places a significant administrative burden on both our team and our warehouse provider.
As a result, we will no longer be able to offer shipping via Royal Mail or FedEx International Connect (FIC), as both rely on the USPS network for final delivery.
Going forward, we will continue to ship to the United States using DHL and FedEx Express on a Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU)basis. These carriers are equipped to manage customs clearance and will collect any applicable import duties directly from the recipient upon delivery .
Please note that these courier services are more expensive than Royal Mail. Therefore, shortly before your pre-ordered item arrives at our warehouse, we will contact you to confirm whether you would like to:
Proceed with shipping via DHL or FedEx at an additional cost; or
Cancel your order for a full refund.
We understand that this situation may be frustrating and truly appreciate your patience and understanding. While this change may be inconvenient, we believe it is in our customers’ best interest to wait for further updates, as regulatory decisions may still evolve in the coming months.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our customer service team.
The tariffs are what they are, we will just have to deal with them.