US Customs hassles with Prusa Order  

Never seen this

I have never seen this.  Customs has only charged me the import fee once out of a dozen or so orders.  

No fees yet...

I haven't gotten a customs charge yet, but I don't have my printer either so time will tell.  Just delays and paperwork so far.  I ordered a piece of equipment from China once and I got a big bill from Fedex for the customs fees after delivery.  All of the savings of buying direct was eaten up by those fees.  Hopefully this won't be a repeat of that.

RE: Please keep us posted

How very frustrating, Roger. I placed an order for a new SL1S/CW1S bundle last week which has not shipped yet. Now I am wondering if I will have to go through the same thing. Let us know what happens. 

Time

Posted by: @roger-f3

I haven't gotten a customs charge yet, but I don't have my printer either so time will tell.  Just delays and paperwork so far.  I ordered a piece of equipment from China once and I got a big bill from Fedex for the customs fees after delivery.  All of the savings of buying direct was eaten up by those fees.  Hopefully this won't be a repeat of that.

It is only a matter of time.  

When I got my MK3S, there was a note that if you were in the US and wanted the textured sheet as well, to order the sheet as a separate order, because if the cost of the sheet was added to the cost of the printer, it was enough to trigger the US import duties.

Printer finally arrived with an Invoice from Fedex

This will likely be my last Prusa Printer.  Got hit with $122.77 duty fee invoice from Fedex.   Prusa needs to notify it's customers that all of this paperwork and fees will be required.  I had no idea to expect this.  Let's hope this printer works really well.

order

It is on the website, but you have to read it.  What did you order?

Posted by: @roger-f3

This will likely be my last Prusa Printer.  Got hit with $122.77 duty fee invoice from Fedex.   Prusa needs to notify it's customers that all of this paperwork and fees will be required.  I had no idea to expect this.  Let's hope this printer works really well.

Sl1 Speed

I got the SL1 Speed kit with the washing curing station.  I'm about to try to print something now, but my Prusa Slicer only has a SL1, not a SL1S.  Do I slice as a Sl1?

tariff

I under stand you frustration above, but it is clear on the order from when you go to check out:

No taxes included for orders outside the EU (with the exception of orders to UK under 135 GBP). Import taxes may be applied upon arrival, based on country laws. Customers with shipping addresses outside the EU are responsible for all duties, import taxes and brokerage fees. You can check the list of common customs charges on our Knowledge Base. Keep in mind, that charges in the table are only estimates - real charges may differ.

Posted by: @roger-f3

I got the SL1 Speed kit with the washing curing station.  I'm about to try to print something now, but my Prusa Slicer only has a SL1, not a SL1S.  Do I slice as a Sl1?

RE:

WARNING to future US buyers: DON'T BUY the SL1S + CW1S bundle.  Purchase them separately if you wish - perhaps on different days so Prusa does not consolidate the shipment to you.  Any potential savings offered by the bundle will be eaten up in time/expense/frustration.

2022 February - I have encountered the same issues as the OP:  After ordering a SL1S + CW1S bundle, FedEx is now forcing me to supply a TSCA declaration (in spite of the quite obvious "Non-Hazardous" statement on their waybill itself).  FedEx also wants me to fill out US Customs form 5106, although they have not used the correct form; instead, FedEx substituted their own in-house version which is missing some critical parts like the OMB number and date - rendering it invalid.

I wish Prusa had handled this differently. The bundle consists of three individual FedEx tracking numbers, so presumably, the SL1S, CW1S, and 1Kg resin sample are all boxed separately.  If true, it would have been easy to break this into individual FedEx shipments, each with their own valuation and customs declaration.  Instead, Prusa sent them all as one collective shipment with a total valuation (> $2000) that triggered the FedEx processes which have now delayed my shipment by over 10 days (and counting) - at a cost as yet unknown to me, because FedEx has not yet responded to my emails. 

RE: US Customs hassles with Prusa Order

 My printer has been delayed by customs as well and I need to fill out the TSCA form. Really dumb question time, do I check the box for Postive or Negative Certification? Just confused on some of the legalese, and I presume the printer in not toxic in the first place. Thanks

RE: US Customs hassles with Prusa Order

This might help:

https://www.epa.gov/tsca-import-export-requirements/basic-information-tsca-import-export-requirements

Posted by: @mikebrink

 My printer has been delayed by customs as well and I need to fill out the TSCA form. Really dumb question time, do I check the box for Postive or Negative Certification? Just confused on some of the legalese, and I presume the printer in not toxic in the first place. Thanks

RE:

"I better not get a bill for import duties!"

Are you really threatening Prusa because of taxes and duties imposed by the U.S. government on a U.S. resident for the import of goods from a foreign (sic!) country?

RE: US Customs hassles with Prusa Order

From my understanding anything over $800 can trigger the duties fee's at least if you go on a cruise and buy some things you can only bring so much into the country ((booze is one (Rum)). I know back in 2020 we purchased are MK3 and MMU which was over the $800 and we had to pay around $200 in duties fee's. The duties fee's change so not sure how much you will have the pay. My complaint would be the hazard material forms.

RE: US Customs hassles with Prusa Order

The primary concern (for me, at least) is how FedEx is handling my shipment.   This (an auto-response to an FedEx official support email address) says it all:

[email protected] 4:54 PM (10 minutes ago)to me

Delivery has failed to these recipients or groups:

[email protected]

The recipient's mailbox is full and can't accept messages now. Please try resending your message later, or contact the recipient directly.

cwbullet, I appreciate the help, however I found that link myself...

Following the official EPA TSCA guidance involves downloading either an Access database (LOLWUT?) or a pair of CSV files, then searching that dataset for chemical components that may be used in the imported substance.  Based on the indicated "flags" for each component, you need to review the applicable EPA rules, federal law, and case law to ensure each article and precedent are being adhered to. Ideally, this work would be completed by your materials scientist and your attorney ... assuming "you" are a corporation employing such professionals, of course. If that sounds too complicated, there is a "hotline" offered at the EPA website; each time I call, it yields no (human) answer after considerable waiting.

Conclusion: TSCA declarations are a substantial burden for an ordinary consumer making infrequent or one-time purchases for personal use.  The EPA recognizes that, so they provide a way for the SHIPPER to make this declaration ... however Prusa did not include such a declaration with the shipment (at least according to FedEx).

Having purchased multiple items from foreign manufacturers or resellers that exceeded the import limits (triggering the same shipper processes), I can say in comparison, this is definitely not a smooth buying experience.  Maybe a bit of attention from Prusa can fix that for future buyers?

RE: US Customs hassles with Prusa Order

Can someone please just tell me how to fill out this form?

TSCA form Instructions:

1.         Please write in dark ink only if filling out by hand.

2.         Date the form at the top left of the page

3.         Please choose either a positive or negative certification.

4.         Enter the product name and a description

5.         Enter importing company’s name.

6.         Enter full company address with city, state, and zip code

7.         Please print certifier name (must match certifier signature).

8.         Please enter certifier title.

9.         Complete phone number.

10.        Full email address of certifier.

11.        Signature (this must match certifier name).

RE: US Customs hassles with Prusa Order

@mike @pg is this a positive or a negative certification?  I honestly have no idea what is in the stuff prusa is sending me, I'd rather not fill this out wrong and end up down a rabbit hole.

RE: US Customs hassles with Prusa Order

I just found out.  Use the negative certification.  For product description use "Prusament Resin"

RE: US Customs hassles with Prusa Order

This is slightly on topic, Fedex once tried to charge me $35 import fees for a pair of $200 sunglasses I bought from Australia. I told them to kick rocks. That was 3-4 years ago and I still get deliveries from them. Fedex is NOT the federal government.