Alexander

Apr 9, 2024

beware of hidden costs

I wish I read the reviews earlier. Be warned, you may get a competitive quote but in the end you will pay far more!!! I am in a process of shipping my old motorcycle from US to UK and today I have been notified its due to come in a few days but there are further charges to unload the motorcycle and clear with customs. It didn't surprise me as having lived in the US for 5 years, I am used to hidden costs. But what did surprise me is the amount! So, the handling of the bike on the US side, storing it, loading it, strapping it, protecting it and then delivering it to the UK cost me $745. I may have missed their notice on the original quote (which is not on the invoice I’ve paid) that unloading was not included and here I assumed I'd get a call, they would roll my bike out of the container, wave my ToR letter at customs (allowing me to bring it on tax/duty free) and ride away home with nothing or something symbolic to pay. But no, apparently getting my bike out of the container cost…. (ready?)… just a modest £295. Daylight robbery I’d say. Oh wait, there is also a port congestion fee £50 and even an x-ray fee of £35. Anyone knows what’s that about? In other words, it was bad enough to find out there were extra costs, but £380 ($482)?!!! I don’t know may be I am expected too much from the customer services but if I knew that my customer had to pay almost the same fee at the other end. I would not just say unloading is not included but would actually say, be aware that you will be presented with another invoice almost as much I am charging you now. Believe me I would not bother shipping 14 year old bike if I knew the full cost involved and they well knew when we were discussing the quote on a number of occasion that I was trying to decide whether it would be a worthwhile. Now, one would hope it actually gets here ok and without any damage. In fact I may be shooting myself in a foot here, god knows what they gonna do it after reading yet another happy customer’s review.