I recently purchased a few items from Blue Lug Japan to ship to the US (which I have done numerous times this year). This week, I received a phone call and an email from FedEx telling me that my shipment—containing 1 Nitto Technomic stem, 1 Blue Lug Happy frame pump, and 1 Blue Lug puff seat—is being held by the FedEx Logistics team because they needed additional information.
At first, I thought, oh man, the scammers are getting creative these days. Then I looked at the email; that was my tracking number and the attached commercial invoice was for my order. So, I called FedEx and found out that, due to the current international trade situation, I would need a steel import license. After some chatting with the FedEx agent, he mentioned that he would contact his colleagues in Japan to ask the seller (Blue Lug) for that information.
This is getting out of hand… I just want to enjoy my bikes… and I like Blue Lug products.
by Eatalamb
6 Comments
50% steel tariff now includes material handling equipment so… I guess the stem handles the handlebar material?
Isn’t the technomic stem aluminum?
Too bad, Donald Trump says you have to pay double and also fill out a bunch of forms if you want to buy it. This is a form of making life better understood only by Republicans.
You need to let them know its aluminum and not steel.
That’s a poor invoice, Blue Lug should be requested to provide a replacement.
They used the wrong harmonized codes, which may also be what triggered the “steel license” request. You don’t have frame parts in the shipment. They indicated one incorrect code for all 3 items.
“Harmonized System (HS) Code 871491 covers frames and forks, and parts thereof, for bicycles and other cycles (excluding those for motorcycles”
If you are indicated as a company (can’t see as it’s blacked out), rather than a private person, then this can trigger the steel license request. Is there a company name there?
On the airwaybill, is the company field blank, or has something been entered there?
Believe me, things in your country have been visibly out of hand for a long while now.