Wake Up Call US Customs Wants My Goods

[PineRidge]

We buy, sell, export, and import merchandise from around the world. Today we got a wake up call from our carrier for our brokerage service.

Just last Thursday we had a load of goods, over 166 cartons, delivered to us from Town Freight which we promptly unloaded, inventoried, and a very small portion of the goods have already actually been sent out.

Town Freight called 30 minutes ago to inform us that the goods had not yet cleared customs and that they would have to be returned so that US Customs could inspect them.

Town Freight implied that customs would levee a $200,000 fine on Town if the goods were not returned for inspection purposes

We basically told Town that US Customs was welcome to visit us personally for the check or that Town was welcome to come to our place of business to load the merchandise themselves, transport it both ways at their expense and then it was up to them to inventory and restock it to our shelves just as it is now. Seems US Customs doesn't make house calls.

I'm curious, have any other businesses had similar situations? How could Town have gained access to the product even before it was cleared through US Customs in the first place?

Call me MAD ! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[DaveNay]

SOmething sounds not quite right with this.....

I can't think of any way that your supplier would have had the ability to forward the items to you without them being inspected first. Were they direct shipped to you from overseas, or did the go to your supplier first, then re-shipped to you? Either way, thay would have been a portion of a larger container that would have been either inspected overseas, and then sealed for shippment, or inspected at the receiving facility here in the US.

I would ask for direct contact information from the customs department and verification of the request. Also let your supplier know that they will be back billed for any additional expenses you incurr.

Dave

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I used to import fruit flavored water from Australia (Walkabout Springs). When Customs wanted something it was simply held in port. We had product tied up in port for weeks at a time but we never had something called back.

I suspect that somehow Town Air Freight is at fault in your case, because there SHOULD be no way that they can move the freight without approval. I suspect that you will need to comply with US Customs no matter what, but I also suspect that you have plenty of leverage with Town as it appears that they are really the ones liable for the mess.

 

[PineRidge]

These particular goods came into the US at a NY port. They were cleared through US customs at that port from my present understanding. The goods were also supposed to be inspected by US Customs in Cleveland, Ohio which didn't happen.

I'm not sure why they have to be inspected in NY as well as Ohio but I understand that it is standard procedure.

Having our goods held up in NY for long periods of time, sometimes 4 weeks at a crack is understandable, it does happen. But to receive goods and then have them recalled 4 days later is unbelievable.

It's always been an argument of mine that even drug dealers get their goods through US Customs quicker than we do. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[DaveNay]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It's always been an argument of mine that even drug dealers get their goods through US Customs quicker than we do. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif )</font>

They pay a higher fee for their inspections. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Dave

 

[kevincook]

I recall a thread from a while back about a bunch of NH tractors being recalled by US Customs for the same reason. Those tractor owners weren't very happy.

Kevin

 

[JerryG]

If I remember right, it was Spencer200 that had to return tractors.

 

[PineRidge]

After we got our composure back we called our broker. The information that we were given is that Customs rarely ever imposes the $200,000 fine.

The majority of the time the fine is more like 100% of the shipment value. Still high in my opinion but a far cry from 200k. The broker also went on to say that most likely US Customs would now consider returning the items as a moot point since we have already opened sealed cartons since the delivery date.


Seems the "deed" has been done. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Somebody is going to pay for this unfortunate mistake and my feeling is Town will ultimately be the ones on the hook.

 

[Junkman]

Mike......... do you look good in stripes?????? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JASTN70D]

You international business types sure get in to some fine messes. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I think a new project would be just the thing get your mind off it.

Did I happen to mention to you I had a new idea for an item I would like for my tractor..........?????

And Junkman I was wondering about the stripes myself. I think if you look hard enough you just may find a post of him in a striped suite in front of his fireplace. Maybe practice??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif