US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
DHL resumes shipping packages over $800 to U.S. customers https://www.npr.org/2025/04/28/nx-s1-5379560/dhl-global-shipments-resume
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
I wish it wasn't so much more expensive than FedEx. It's like 2x the cost. I've had good luck with DHL in the past, and the recent events with others and FedEx has me worried.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
Well, I would assume that Fedex will now benefit from the newly agreed simplified handling of imports in the $800 to $2500 price range as well. It just seems that DHL took an active role re-negotiating the rules with CBP, while Fedex simply dumped all the burden onto their customers.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
On Monday, following its dialogue with federal officials, DHL said shipments valued between $800 and $2,500 can once again enter the U.S. through Customs and Border Patrol's "informal" entry process.
Under the formal entry process, CBP says shippers may have to complete "extensive paperwork" and file a bond, while informal entry is a "less arduous" process in which CBP prepares the paperwork and calculates customs duties.
I saw in one of the other forums someone had to fill out paperwork stating the mount of steel and aluminum (aluminium if you prefer) included in the product and such... I am hoping this means US customers will be clear of that headache?
Post in reference: https://forum.prusa3d.com/forum/postid/747649/
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
Yeah, that's my post. I posted an update in the other thread, but Prusa doesn't (yet) have answers to the questions Customs is asking. I'm told they're aware of the issue and working on getting answers, but there's no ETA. In the meantime, FedEx says they'll ship my package back to Prusa later today. Pretty disappointing end to a multi-month wait.
Maybe people will have better luck with DHL? I don't know.
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This is making me seriously consider swapping to DHL instead of FedEx. I still have some lead time (batch 6). On one hand I don't want my printer to be sent back to Prusa because I don't know the metal composition utilized but I'm also concerned that DHL may suspend shipments again if something happens.
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Received a message from FedEx that indicated are aware of the guidance changes but haven’t received a formal communication about what they should do yet. They confirmed my 5106 was filed so I’m officially an importer now, and Customs is gated only by the materials information, which may not be required in the new process. They’re also unsure if the process will only apply to new packages arriving or all those awaiting clearance.
Lots of uncertainty.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
Mine arrived in Memphis mid- morning today. Currently, they are still requiring the 5106 and additional information to include a detailed breakdown of items and materials included in shipment. Fedex brokerage was very quick with notification and replies. Without knowing every part in the kit and what it was made of, I was very general with my description. Hopefully, it will be enough to get it through and released. Prusa is also a recipient via the group email, however I have not seen them respond to the emailed question so I'm hoping my guessing is good enough.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
Gizmotoy,
Did yours get released today or have any luck having them not returning it? Mine was released this evening. Hopefully, your's was or will be as well.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
Mine arrived in Memphis mid- morning today. Currently, they are still requiring the 5106 and additional information to include a detailed breakdown of items and materials included in shipment. Fedex brokerage was very quick with notification and replies. Without knowing every part in the kit and what it was made of, I was very general with my description. Hopefully, it will be enough to get it through and released. Prusa is also a recipient via the group email, however I have not seen them respond to the emailed question so I'm hoping my guessing is good enough.
Would you mind sharing what you put so that others might be able to put something similar?
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I was asked for a description of the items, what it is used for, the end use, and a detailed breakdown of the kit.
"Item is a disassembled 3D printer for end user assembly. Included are all materials needed to assemble a Prusa Core One printer for individual, private home use."
For the composition of materials, since I didn't know detailed composition of parts, I answered very generically.
"Item is made of metal, plastic"
They also wanted to know the manufacturer's name and address, which was actually in the customs forms that Prusa had provided already. I simply copied them over.
Mostly, I was hoping that any answer that was truthful was better than nothing. I was hoping that anything honest and truthful was better than no answer, and that maybe they just needed a simple answer. When the broker accepted this, I was encouraged, as I assume they are familiar with what type responses are acceptable. Not sure if it will work again, but it worked at least once in Memphis.
Between these answers and the importer registration, it still took 2 more days with no indication of anything happening. I did stay in contact with the Fedex broker and emailed him every morning, mostly just so I knew someone was actually checking. This morning, he had told me someone else at Fedex was handling my case and cc'd her in the email. I got a tracking update this evening that it was released and scheduled for delivery tomorrow. I really hope this helps as the past few days have been stressful and I was pretty resigned to them returning the printer to Prusa today. I'm also assuming that I had anything to do with this. Prusa may be addressing these in ways outside of our visibility, or customs may be easing up on the hard line they were taking. Whatever it was, I'm thankful.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
Such varied experiences! My printer hit Memphis and was held waiting on the 5106 on the 30th. It took me 3 phone calls for them to email the form properly (they didn't want the form I'd filled already, and I also prefer DocuSign given the data required). Released not terribly long after (total 31 hours from hold to release) and supposedly will be delivered today but this is FedEx so I fully expect them to lose the package. I did not have to provide detailed contents information.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
Also, I was finally contacted by Prusa today asking me to get in contact with FedEx and provide the answers.
This is exactly what was in the email on how to respond, and closely mirrors what I found to be successful...
"Prusa CORE One kit
Description: 3D printer kit made of steel, plastic and electronics, end-use printing objects from plastic
https://www.prusa3d.com/product/prusa-core-one-kit/ 84852000
These products are of the EU (Czech Republic) preferential origin.
Country of origin: Czech Republic (EU)"
Yeah, our customs system is kinda nuts at the moment. I am happy that Prusa did finally get in touch and provide this info. My hope is that now that they have this info to share, they are able to quickly respond if it continues to be an issue with US customers.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
I can confirm the notice above got my package through customs. I’m surprised because it effectively doesn’t answer the question that was asked at all, but it worked.
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Can anyone who has had to pay the US Customs fee please share what that came up to for just the Core One Kit?
I've seen articles that it should be a 10% tariff for the next 90 days(starting April.2).
Many thanks.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
I've been looking for this from someone as well - I even started a thread on it in the General forum (General Forum Thread) but no one has shared yet. The customs process is such a mystery! I just want to know how much I'm going to pay lol. My kit is batch 7 and at least one batch 7 person has posted their kit shipped, so I might be able to respond to my own thread before too long..... 🙄
Can anyone who has had to pay the US Customs fee please share what that came up to for just the Core One Kit?
I've seen articles that it should be a 10% tariff for the next 90 days(starting April.2).Many thanks.
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@kingc
@cbald
Finally, had the Fedex customs charges hit my account today. Total for customs was $124.32 on the kit. Hope this helps.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
Thank you @gotdesl for checking in with your results! If you don't mind posting this in the other thread as well it might help others looking for this info. Enjoy your build!
@kingc
@cbald
Finally, had the Fedex customs charges hit my account today. Total for customs was $124.32 on the kit. Hope this helps.
RE: US Customs Policy Change - Good News!
Thank you @gotdesl, that aligns with the 13.1% that my company import/export person came up with.
What did FedEx charge as a US Customs Broker fee?