Shipping and customs charges

[RRH]

Hi all, we're often asked to ship sales samples of a product that we manufacture on behalf of our customer.

On this occasion, its a small parcel going to Belarus.

My customer has asked us to pay the customs charges for when the parcel arrives in destination country, so that their prospective customer can receive the parcel without any charge to themselves.

To be honest, I'm struggling with it. Countries seem to want to have their customs charges paid in country, so any help would be appreciated.

The best option at this point is to ask my customer to reimburse any customs charges, but I'd rather provide a solution that makes their lives easier.

Thanks

[bashman]

Couriers like DHL / Fedex usually have a DDP option for most countries where the duties and taxes can be paid by shipper

[RRH]

Thanks. We've been able to do that with some destinations (although complete pain in the arse!) but no such options for Belarus, as far as I can ascertain

[Simpo Two]

RRH said:

My customer has asked us to pay the customs charges for when the parcel arrives in destination country, so that their prospective customer can receive the parcel without any charge to themselves.

As your customer (middle-man) would be making a sale and therefore profit, why won't they stump up? It's only a small parcel.

[RRH]

It’s not a sale, I’m sending samples. They’re quite happy to pay, they just don’t want the client that they’re trying to engage with to get the customs bill!

[Simpo Two]

RRH said:

It’s not a sale, I’m sending samples. They’re quite happy to pay, they just don’t want the client that they’re trying to engage with to get the customs bill!

Ah so I deduce they're in the UK but you're sending it direct to Belarus.

Doesn't marking something 'Sample, value £0.00' avoid duty?

Note that Belarus is not very fond of the UK at present.

[RRH]

Yup, just trying to make everyone’s life easier as sales for them = production for us.. they’re an important customer to us (all of them are!) - and we’re social enterprise, so highly collaborative.

[Nickyboy]

Simpo Two said:

Ah so I deduce they're in the UK but you're sending it direct to Belarus.

Doesn't marking something 'Sample, value £0.00' avoid duty?

Note that Belarus is not very fond of the UK at present.

You have to declare a value on customs forms, there's nothing stopping you putting a value of £1 however, especially as it's a sample