Import tax on dress ordered from the USA

ArbitraryRandom

Officechick said:

Thanks again all. Yes this has been a huge learning curve for her and she is very upset!

I have managed to get more detail from DHL today. The good news is the item was returned to sender 3 weeks ago and DHL confirmed there is no import cost to us. So now just praying I can get a refund from the retailer, if they ever answer my emails!! 

Thanks again everyone xx

Just be aware that could be because DHL international have charged the sender... and the sender will be able to deduct that cost from your refund or come to you to cover the cost (depending on the terms of sale - which likely said the customer was responsible for any duty). 

Alderbank

Officechick said:

The good news is the item was returned to sender 3 weeks ago and DHL confirmed there is no import cost to us. So now just praying I can get a refund from the retailer...

Prayer suggests you are seeking an ethical or moral solution.

The shop packaged the dress and sent it to the UK in good faith. DHL shipped it half way round the world then shipped it all the way back to California.

Who do you think, ethically or morally, should pay DHL's bill?

The shop does not accept returns and I suspect they now consider the deal closed.
I think your best chance of recovering something is to write (email) them, apologise and offer to pay their wasted shipping costs.

Hoenir

Alderbank said:

Officechick said:

The good news is the item was returned to sender 3 weeks ago and DHL confirmed there is no import cost to us. So now just praying I can get a refund from the retailer...

The shop does not accept returns and I suspect they now consider the deal closed.
I think your best chance of recovering something is to write (email) them, apologise and offer to pay their wasted shipping costs.

The shop does accept returns. They only give credit notes against future purchases though not make cash refunds. 

Officechick

Hi there - thought I would just give an update. After finally getting communication through to the shop (all my emails to their 4 different addresses were going to junk but i managed to speak to them on their "chat" service), they recognised that the item had been returned to them by DHL and signed for by one of their employees. They have given a full refund, minus the original DHL cost! So excellent news. Thanks for all your help. xx