Previous Message

How it was:
A US buyer ordered overseas. The item was under $800. There were no customs fees. The seller collected the cost of the item, and the shipping charge. He put it in the mail. His country's post handed it to the USPS, who handed it to customs for inspection, then handed it back for delivery. If the item was over $800 but under $2,500, customs were due. The seller still collected just the item cost and shipping, and gave it his country' post. They handed it to USPS, who handed it to customs. Customs calculated the fee, then handed it back to USPS with the indication a fee was required. The mail carrier collected the fee on delivery. Over $2,500, formal entry had to get arranged with brokers. OR, the seller had the option of using a common carrier. That common carrier could operate essentially the same way as the mail system just described. But, in the case of over $800 but under $2,500 where a tariff was due, the seller could offer--through the carrier service he was using--to collect all the fees up front so that the buyer did not have to deal with customs at their end. This is called DDP. It was seldom used, but it does have advantages. Here's a description:

https://www.easyship.com/blog/ddu-vs-ddp

This could only be done by using a common carrier. Postal services generally did not operate this way.

What's different:
A US buyer orders overseas. Customs are due. The seller tries to collect just shipping and item cost, and mail it. It arrives at the USPS requiring the customs to be paid. USPS rejects it. They will only take it if customs are not due. So, knowing this will happen, the seller turns to a common carrier service. That carrier service still offers the seller the ability to just collect shipping and item costs, they they will handle the rest (for a fee.) When it gets to the US, the common carrier pays US Customs, then takes the package within their network (not handing it to USPS at all) and delivers it to the customer, collecting all the customs and fees then. OR, the seller uses the common carrier's DDP service, and collects all the customs and fees up front, along with item cost and shipping. Then hands it to the carrier service who pays US Customs, but since they got the money for that from the seller, they can either now hand it off to USPS, who will take it because it's prepaid, or they can keep it within their network, but just drop it off at the buyer's door without having to collect anything. OR, "In the near future?" a US buyer orders overseas. The seller uses his country's postal service's DDP service (which currently does not exist) and puts it in the mail, instead of having to shop for and choose a common carrier service of some sort.