Yikes!! $114 amount due on my order!!

[kl.SQUINT]

To start off with hello all!
So i made my very first order of Kava ever as i have heard it helps with anxiety and panic disorder(which i have) and i dont want to use beer to self medicate anymore.I ordered 2 lbs of Fiji1_kava from Rex and i had it shipped via USPS Express International to myself here in Canada.The cost for the Kava plus shipping came to $76 dollars and change.I came home now to a delivery notice tag of  $114 amount due!! Where does this extra charge come from?If its duty fees isnt that just a tad exorbent?Is it because i used Express instead of standard mail?Will i always recieve this charge or will it be hit and miss?Any info would be greatly appreciated.Im not gonna freak out over it.Im just gonna go pay it and try this stuff out and hope it helps me.Wish me luck and thanks for any info you may have on the subject

 

[Kojo Douglas]

I don't know how any of us would be able to answer this question. A question for the post office, I would assume.

 

[kl.Sartre]

You have to pay $114 to the post office? Didn't you already pay for the kava with PayPal/Visa? Tax should only be ~$6 and there should be very little duty, if any, plus a $6 brokerage fee. Check the itemized list of charges before you pay anything. What is the declared value on the package? Express or priority mail should make no differece.

 

[kl.SQUINT]

"I don't know how any of us would be able to answer this question"



Well a Canadian that had this happen to them might.That was the demographic i was aiming for



"You have to pay $114 to the post office? Didn't you already pay for the kava with PayPal/Visa?"



Yes i did.The total at Rex's came to $76 paid with Paypal.I called the post office and she said its hit or miss whether or not you get hit with duty charges.I still dont see how an additional $114 dollars can incur?That just sounds crazy to me,on a $76 item(well 2 items in 1 box)



"Check the itemized list of charges before you pay anything. What is the declared value on the package? "



Thank you.I will definitely ask these questions.If i have to bite the bullet and pay it,i will,just to try this stuff out.If it works for my anxiety then i have to say it will be worth it.How long should 2lbs of Kava last someone if they are not drinking it to get Krunked,but more so just to take lifes edge off?Vesuvio Cat your the resident Kava Guru,could you give me a guesstamation on how long 2lbs would last a person if they were to drink some everyday,at a reasonable potency.I read one post i think you said that its a waste to use more than 2tbps per 4 cups do i have that right?

 

[kl.rcoz]

That's outrageous. I would not pay $190 for 2lbs of kava. If they don't budge on the $114 and you refuse the shipment, does it go back to Rex? If so, perhaps he can reship it for an additional shipping fee and try your luck that it goes by w/o a duty charge? I wonder if this is why N@H stopped shipping to Canada?

 

[Kojo Douglas]

No need to get snarky, just pointing out that very little information was provided to work with. Krunk on, amigo.

 

[Vekta]

Well 1/4th of a pound will last me 2-3 months if I only use it when I think I'll need it. 2 pounds would probably last me an entire year, hehe.



I haven't bought kava in about 3-4 months and I still have a whole half pound left of some Hawaiian kava.

 

[kl.Sartre]

"You have to pay $114 to the post office? Didn't you already pay for the kava with PayPal/Visa?"



Yes i did.The total at Rex's came to $76 paid with Paypal.I called the post office and she said its hit or miss whether or not you get hit with duty charges.I still dont see how an additional $114 dollars can incur?That just sounds crazy to me,on a $76 item(well 2 items in 1 box)

Sounds like a clerical error. I'm not sure where you are or your HST rate but if it is 13%, that would be $6.50 + $5 fee = $11.50 which is a more reasonable charge and ~ a decimal point from what you are being charged.

 

[kl.SQUINT]

"No need to get snarky, just pointing out that very little information was provided to work with. Krunk on, amigo. "



Sorry if it came off that way.That was not my intention.Without vocal intonation alot of what gets typed can be read multiple ways.I hate text chatting for that very reason.I was just trying to narrow it down to the limited number of people who could help,that it may have happened to.



"I wonder if this is why N@H stopped shipping to Canada? "



I wouldnt doubt it.It can be a real bear to get anything through customs sometimes.My fiance orders nick-Knack type stuff from the web,and it can take over a month to receive it at times



Thx for the info everyone.I guess i will see what happens tomorrow.I will post the outcome.Maybe the info i gather will aid someone else down the road.

 

[kl.Sartre]

I believe N@H ships by UPS which has exhorbitant scaling brokerage fees for packages with a value over $40, so thats why people are getting burned. USPS/Canada Post will charge a flat $5 brokerage fee.

 

[kl.SQUINT]

As the Kava Turns



It seems that the person responsible for sending the kava out made the dollar sign look like an 8.So customs saw it as 876 instead of $76 and added the additional taxes on the 876.At my request,my kava has now gone to customs review,where they will fix the mistake.So i should have my package in a week or so im told.



Tune in next week to see if SQUINT did indeed acquire the kava as promised him

 

[kl.SQUINT]

Still no Kava "Its in Customs Review Limbo" but thankfully kavabyrex has extremely,efficient customer support.I wrote to them and explained my problem and why its occurring,and they are trusting me enough,to offer to ship me another 2lbs.They will incur the express shipping costs so i just have to refuse my initial order whenever it decides to arrive.My guess is it could be a month from now,if its sitting waiting to be reviewed.Big props to kavabyrex! Wish more companies were so hands-on and caring.So my new shipment should come by Tuesday im hoping! Definitely going to be ording more Kava from them though.

 

[kl.rcoz]

I second that, Rex is very responsive to his customers.

 

[kl.SQUINT]

Got my Kava today! Not really feeling any huge hit off of it as yet.Me and my buddy are on a second batch.Too early to give a sound opinion one way or the other so far.But hey at least i finally got it and there were no duty charges on it at all.Just the cost of the Kava and shipping and that was it

 

[kl.rcoz]

hmm, if this is your first time with kava, I recommend a week or two of just 4-8oz (1-2 shells) daily. Then try to drink as much as you can 4oz at a time, every 10-15 mins. on an empty stomach (don't eat 4-5 hrs before drinking). Straining is important, 10mins squeezing hard and remove all fibers. If you feel something, great, move on to Solomon, I know N@H doesn't ship to Canada, but find a way, perhaps a stateside friend can send it.

 

[kl.Sartre]

But hey at least i finally got it and there were no duty charges on it at all.Just the cost of the Kava and shipping and that was it

What was the declared value on the package? I asked him to value mine at $20 but maybe kava isn't even taxable.

 

[kl.voodoo]

Customs is a real bear. (here in US as well) For a long time I've ordered Swedish snus. Lots of customs problems with that recently, and crazy big taxes. In Canada, even more so. On topic, glad you got the stuff. Hope your experiences are all well.

 

[kl.SQUINT]

Declared value is listed as $50 (i got 2lbs) and this is funny as a detailed description it is listed as soap making supplies lol

I have been having 1-2 shells daily since i got it,except for the first night where i drank a boatload.thats 5 days now and i still dont feel much of anything when i drink them.Maybe its just because fiji1 is considered weak,added to my history of having a high tolerance to certain substances.My Isa/tudei should be here in a week or so.Im hoping that gives me the kick im looking for.