Customs thinks my Transformer is worth $2600!

sletia · Post by **sletia** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:40 am

I need help. I bought a Transformer (you know, the little toys) for about $100. Today I get a card saying on customs I owe $350!!!! When I asked at the post office they said customs had opened it and declared the value of my Masterpiece Megatron to be $2600!! I can't afford this! What are my options?

Startyde · Post by **Startyde** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:01 pm

Was it in Walther P-38 mode? If so, that's a no no.

sletia · Post by **sletia** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:07 pm

It's new in box, so I don't know.
However it comes in brand new.
Oh, I'm in Canada, too, if that changes anything.

beatrush · Post by **beatrush** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:45 pm

Did your megatron have an orange cap?

If not, customs is probably thinking it is a real gun and declaring it's value as such.

Are they holding it or is it at the post office?

If they are holding it in customs, what I would recommend doing is appealing it by sending in all information about it such as a recipt of purchase, screenshots of the toy in box and out of box, screenshot of site you bought it from, screenshots of other sites selling it. The more info you can give them, the better.

I had to do this myself once for my own MP Megatron which didn't have the orange cap.

sletia · Post by **sletia** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:52 pm

It's at the post office. They told me I'd have to pay for it first and THEN contest it.
I can't afford that much right now, geez..
Could you tell me how you sent all that info in?

beatrush · Post by **beatrush** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:02 pm

There should be a thing you can check off to send the package back for assesment on the customs form. Once it gets back to customs is when you can submit info to dispute the charge.

From Canada Post's website:

http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manua ... sp#1382755

Appealing Duty and Tax Assessments

If you believe an error has been made with respect to the amount of duties and taxes indicated on the E14 Invoice, the CBSA provides two options:

Both commercial and individuals may request a reassessment before paying the amount indicated on the E14 Invoice. In this case the return to customs box on the E14 Invoice must be checked and a telephone number provided. The item is returned to the CBSA for a review of the duties and taxes indicated on the E14 Invoice. The CBSA will contact the addressee to discuss the reasons for the review.

http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm- ... -1-eng.pdf

graymouser · Post by **graymouser** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:14 pm

No solutions, but eeeeeeeep!

How can they mistake a toy for anything so much more expensive? It should be even more obvious if its still in the package.

I once had US customs stop a package from Rinkya because they thought its contents (cels/ backgrounds) were toxic. They called me and I was able to get it straightened out within a few minutes. In contrast, it seems like they are making it really hard for you to fix their mistake. How can they justify making you pay first then file a complaint? Maybe its just the person you have been talking too. Maybe you should talk to a supervisor.

Sugarflower · Post by **Sugarflower** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:34 pm

Is there a way to have it returned to sender? Then have it reshipped back to you by having the sender change information on the customs form, etc? Did you use a deputy? I'm sorry to hear about this frustration.

Grico · Post by **Grico** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:50 pm

Wow that is pretty absurd, good luck with all that.

darksuzaku · Post by **darksuzaku** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:51 pm

I ussually ask Mandarake or other japanese stores to specify the package's price in USD. When they mark it in yens, like 2600 Yens, many customs workers misunderstand it for $2600.

I once had to tell them to return the package to origin and then have them send it again.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:52 pm

I think that happens quite often.

Killua · Post by **Killua** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:36 pm

Canada sucks.

majinuub · Post by **majinuub** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:49 pm

Wow that's crazy and absurd

. I'd personally go with beatrush's solution and I hope you get this settled soon.

miz ducky · Post by **miz ducky** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:39 am

Maybe Angelic-Lair can help you they are in Canada.

Drac of the Sharp Smiles · Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:53 am

My husband collects Transformers heavily and, if your customs DOES think it's a real gun, this is a common problem. I don't know if this will help you, but when my husband had his Masterpiece Megatron shipped to him, he had the shipper take it out of the box and transform it before shipping it. I forget who he ordered from, I think it was Hobbylink Japan, but they had no problem doing this for him.