Also I'm a bit worried about custom duty with large orders : aren't those Fedex boxes liable to be intercepted by Customs and have a hefty duty imposed? I'd be interested in the experience of other Uk talkers in that regard.

I've used Five Stars Global Priority Mail envelope just once, for a two DVD order and it was intercepted by customs and duty added.

Never had any problems on the numerous times I have ordered through Lasersedge ($1.99 flat rate, previously $4 or $5).

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Unless things have changed since then I will not use a courier service ever again.

Fedex used to pay any duty upfront and I would then be invoiced by Fedex for duty on the FULL value plus their handling charge on top. These were quite hefty but it was in the dim and distant days of hard to get porn.

I even had a few orders confiscated by Customs using this shipping method so that was the last nail in the coffin for me.

I assume that Fedex is insured, then the retailer must specify the true value of the goods in case of loss and a subsequent claim. A bit difficult claiming $100 for lost dvd's when the value had been declared at $20 to avoid UK Customs.

Like Joey I have never had a problem with a Lasersedge order before. Their shipping is cheap enough to order single dvds if you are not in a hurry.

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Every FedEx package is checked for value of contents.

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Deep down I knew I'd regret it.

It's been 3 days now and still this order is pending . Meaning it ain't been sent yet!

I should have ordered from DVDEMPIRE because they would have shipped the disc within 24 hours and even using ordinary post it would have arrived before this FIVESTAR package.

I guess I'm just fed up with waiting because you really don't expect to have to wait for instock items to be sent.

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Many international customers are not aware that July 4 is a national holiday in the US. Most businesses including UPS, FedEx and the Postal Service are closed. Other than the holiday we have not had any delays and all orders placed by 3:00 pm have shipped on the same day. We put a great deal of effort into making sure all packages are shipped within 24 hours and a 3 day delay is practically unheard of. Also I checked and we have plenty of copies of Flesh Hunter 2 in stock and we don’t have an orders holding for it.

Our development team is currently integrating Fed Ex tracking into out site and this feature should be available very shortly. In the meantime please contact us with your order information and we will update you with your package status.

Ken Graham
Five Star DVD

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Based on reports from our customers, UK customs is very successful in adding customs charges to FedEx packages. The tradeoff is that FedEx provides very fast delivery, tracking and insured delivery. For many customers the benefits are worth the extra expense.

We have explained in the past that it is against our company policy to falsify customs documents to avoid customs fees. Having said that, UK customs is very inconsistent about which shipping methods they tend to add fees to. We have found that our International Mail option has the best chance of avoiding extra fees. Our International Mail flies to Denmark where it’s injected into the local postal system. Because these packages have a postmark from Denmark they may receive less scrutiny than packages postmarked from the US.

Ken Graham
Five Star DVD

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Recent orders by airmail from a rival supplier of yours have arrived with me via Frankfurt.

As to the international post method you refer to, this is the international mail option, the last one on the list, not the global priority options? Thanks again.

Other readers - it'd be good if you keep this thread updated with your experience if you use Fed Ex. Cheers.

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Not to speak on Fivestar's behalf, but I'd imagine that the mail option via Demnark is indeed the "international mail" option, as Global Priority is a USPS shipping method (with a USPS eagle on the prepaid envelope, and USPS printed all over it)

cheers,

scipio

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I missed your question the first time. Scipio is correct. International Mail goes through Denmark and Global Priority is via the US Postal Service.

Ken Graham
Five Star DVD

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For the record " I TOLD YOU SO !!! "

Fivestar.com's value declaration is a huge pain in the ass.

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scipio

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£ 30.90 !!!!!!!!

That's $ 48.75 .

Now add the $18 shipping cost at FiveStar, this order cost me a grand total of .....

$ 66.75

And if anybody is confused, thats over sixty six US dollars for shipping only

I just hope all you readers who live in the US appreciate that YOU don't have to put up with this crap !

It will be a cold day in hell before I use www.fivestardvd.com again.

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Just to clarify things you paid $18 for shipping. Any other charges were imposed by your government not by Five Star DVD.

Ken Graham
Five Star DVD

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Don't get me wrong, Fivestar is a fine company, but their value declaration puts international shoppers at a huge disadvantage.

Why should we have to pay TAX TWICE ??????????

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Besides i'm pretty sure Fivestar has no legal and direct way to lower how much tax you pay on things you import into your country of residence. I mean it's not Fivestar that are charging you the tax, it's probably your government and customs that are charging you.
(Again people who live in the UK feel free to correct me if i'm wrong).

Yes, it's a shit that you have to pay a huge import tax (or whatever taxes your government chooses to tax you when you import stuff) but i'm sure that Fivestar are not the ones to blame for it. It's also certainly not their fault for doing things legally. If you don't like it write to your local politician and complain to them about import taxes on dvds.

I'm sorry if i annoyed anyone with this but i don't think it's fair for you to whinge about being hit with a huge tax bill when it''s your responsibility to check up on import taxes you will incurr when you import stuff. Fivestar has a whopping big paragraph on Customs Information on ther shipping page
( http://www.fivestardvd.com/shipping.asp) that specifically states You may be subject to import duties and taxes for any orders placed through Five Star DVD. You are responsible for any additional customs clearance fees and taxes. Five Star DVD will indicate the contents of the package as DVD Software and state the full cost of the invoice on the shipping documents. Five Star DVD has no control over these additional charges and cannot predict what they may be. You should contact your local customs office for additional information. .

The only thing that fivestar is responsible for charging you is US$18, the rest was charged by Fedex for charges imposed by your govenment.

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Edited by - Drew Black on Aug 1 2002

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Fivestar are only offering different levels of service to customers that suit their individual shopping requirements. If you you are in a hurry to get hold of your porn, would like an insured order with tracking, have deep pockets then Fedex will be for you. Fivestar has to declare the full value of goods for insurance purposes. If the value was declared at $30 say to avoid UK Duty and the package goes awol Fivestar can't go slapping a $100 claim on Fedex for the lost goods.

As Drew pointed international customers should not have to pay US sales tax.

As a guide to the type of UK Duty and Tax charges you will be liable for on orders over £18 here is a good clear example .

Duty @3.5% is levied on the sum total of (Value of goods + Shipping costs)

Tax @17.5% is then levied on the sum total of(Value of goods + Shipping costs + Duty)

So you pay the Government the sum total of (Duty + Tax)

Fedex then charge £4.50 on top for handling.

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