Club Obi Wan

Hello!

I am thinking about sending one of my Westeds' back across the pond for some minor alterations/modifications.....Peter and I have been chatting, and I'll probably go for it!

Since I have never shipped a jacket, or anything, to England, would anyone have any tips...suggestions...do's....and don't's?

Any help or suggestions would be highly appreciated!

Sincerely,
Captain D

I havent done this myself, but i have read a post where they reccomend covering the box in labels saying... Purchased from England and Returned for Repair. So you dont get customs fees i think. Someone who can post the link to the thread?


Its the Need Some Help thread by Indiana Croft, scroll down youll see it

Captain D, basically as long as you clearly mark the package on both sides 'PURCHASED FROM ENGLAND AND RETURNING FOR REPAIR' or similar I think you should be OK. The customs will only hit Wested if it's a new item coming into the country.

Also, you could consider marking the value of the package down to $40 or so - this IS a used jacket so it's actual worth is purely a matter of speculation.

Although its more expensive, consider sending it by airmail, tracked if you can, to be sure it reaches its destination without a snag - surface mail can take up to 6 weeks and it's less reliable.

The best person to ask is actually Peter, in my opinion.

I concur, defiantly post being sent back for repair. Take it from one who put this notice on my package but only once and not very bold. Peter of course refused it but was evently brought back and the problem resolved, now it's just a matter of time before my jacket is returned to me along w/it's new room mate a Wested Auth. Goat.

Good luck. Croft

Thanx for the tips fellas!

But when you wrote on the box: "Purchased from England, and returning for repairs," where do you suggest I write it at? (someplace obvious, but not in the way of our addresses...) Where did you write your message on your box?

Thanks again for your time!
Captain D

When returning my jacket I just printed it out on a standard size paper in the largest font possible and then taped it on to the front of the box, right next to the address. That should do it, just don't tape OVER the text in case you have the brown kind of tape.

Regards,
Swindiana

On the Wested site, it tells ya what to do in regards to the return policy.
http://www.wested.com/page5.html

RETURN POLICY - Please Read before Returning

Dear Customer,

When returning a jacket, the package must have a customs declaration or be clearly marked:

'JACKET PURCHASED FROM ENGLAND BEING RETURNED FOR REPAIR / ALTERATION'

Otherwise we will be charged Import Duty and will not accept delivery. Neither will we accept delivery charges.

Enclose full details of your order and what alterations, problems, repairs or refunds are to be carried out.

Should the jacket have a problem, which is our fault, we will refund reasonable shipping costs.

Cheers,
Peter


Note: Please avoid using Fedex or UPS as they charge Customs Clearance. Better to us USPS or Airborne Express.

I made up labels with the aforementioned text and put one on every side of the box, 2 on the top, all in LARGE BOLD TYPE. It worked, but then I got hit for customs/duty tax when the jacket came back me, and I had to send in two letters explaining it to get a refund. The problem was the insured value (i.e. full replacement cost) was listed on the paper work, not the value of the repairs done.

I made up labels with the aforementioned text and put one on every side of the box, 2 on the top, all in LARGE BOLD TYPE.

Do this! Put your label stating that your package is a return for alterations
on EACH SIDE OF THE BOX! And put at least two of them on the top along
with your normal label.

Make sure that you put the two return labels facing opposite directions.
Meaning, make sure you can read them no matter what way the box may
get turned around by someone at customs.

This may sound like overkill, but believe us on this one. The people at
customs are not too sharp, and unless a package is VERY CLEARLY marked,
they will hit it with the highest duty fees they can.

Then, you have to write letters, and fight for your money, and then it
can take months to get it back.

Its always better to OVER state something, than to have someone not
be able to figure it out, and charge you.

Also, if you live in the United States, its best to send your packages from
your local Post office using EXPRESS MAIL. This way, you will have all
the proper paperwork and customs documents just incase you have to'
prove your point if you get hit with unfair customs.

That, and the fact that the United States Postal Service will stand by you
incase something happens. They track all their packages MUCH better
than all the other shipping companies do. They will have the names of
all the people who come in contact with your package, as it has to be
signed for at each exchange of hands.

Plus, it will get thru customs faster, and it will only take a few days to
get to England.

Be safe, and make sure your package is properly labeled, has all the
correct documents and papers attached, and put that return label on
EACH SIDE AND TWO ON THE TOP!

Flathead

Please follow Peter’s guidelines very carefully!!!!
I did not and sent my jacket back by FedEx.
I was hit for $88.00 in various duties, import, and other charges added by Federal Express. I had all the correct documentation to prove to FedEx that my jacket was not a new purchase, but they would not relent. I had to cough up the money.
So do as Peter instructs, or pay the price!!!
Regards,
Forrestal

I did not and sent my jacket back by FedEx.
I was hit for $88.00 in various duties, import, and other charges added by Federal Express. I had all the correct documentation to prove to FedEx that my jacket was not a new purchase, but they would not relent. I had to cough up the money.

If you have all the customs paperwork, with your signature on them,
stating very clearly that the item was returned for alterations/exchange,
then you should get in touch with United States Customs in JFK airport
in New York, and fill out the paperwork from them.

If you have all the proof that you have paid excess customs duties, they
will fix it for you, not FedEx. Its U.S. Customs that collected the duties
and any fees that are applicable on any imported items with a declared
value of more than 200 dollars american, and they will
refund any fees that were illegally collected by one of their collection
agencies.

Go to your local Post Office, and ask the clerk there for a customs
dispute form. On the back, there are several addresses and phone
numbers of contacts at the Customs department.

You can also go to the Customs website, and follow the proper guidelines
on how to file a dispute.

But be prepared to send copies of ALL the papers you have that must
be VERY CLEARLY marked that your package was sent back to England
for alerations/exchange. If its not, and you just marked the box, or
your paperwork is not very clear, then you are out any money, and they
will not fight for you.

If you have all the proper papers/signatures, then after your initial
contact, they may ask for a few other papers purtaining to the purchase,
such as the original receipt, and they will look over the evidence.

If you are entitled to a refund, they will send you a letter stating such,
and you will receive your refund in no more than 90 days.

You have to go to United States Customs, not the delivery service that
you used, to get any duties or import fees back from the federal
government.

Hope this helps you get some bucks back!

Flathead

Hello everyone and thank you for all of your responses!!

I have been taking notes of everything, so that when I do ship it back, it is done correctly....

However, it appears that I need a few car repairs, so I am "hoping" that I can still send it back. I'm sure I will scrape up the money ....but if everything goes well, I will shipping it back on next Thursday (payday!). I'll keep everyone updated on the jacket's progress.....

I'll be mailing it back to:

Wested Leather Company
Little Wested House
Wested Lane
Swanley
Kent, BR8 8EF
England

Take care and thank you everyone for your replies and suggestions!!

Highest Regards,
Captain D

Just a quick question I forgot to ask.....

At my local post office, when they ask to put down the "value" (as Michigan Smith had stated), I should list the "repair costs" only and not the ENTIRE value of the jacket + the repair costs?......Just to make sure everything is all good before she goes.....

Thanks again!
Captain D

Captain D - just a thought, but have you considered having the repairs done at a local sewing shop or tailor? Depending upon what you need done, this could work out a far cheaper alternative for you. I've had work done at a local shop on several occassions, and they have done a great - nay perfect - job for me.

BTW - with regard to the value - if you do send it back put down a low value and save yourself the walletache. This is a USED jacket so it's value is really only in the eye of the beholder. To an Indyfan, priceless, to a layman in all things Indy a used leather jacket. The last Wested I sent to the states was marked with a value of $40.

Hello there ob1al!

I agree with you on having some stuff taken care of at local tailors. For example, I had one of my Last Crusade jackets repaired with different press-studs, ect...However, one of the modifications that I am sending the jacket back to wested for, is to have the larger-2-piece under-arm gussets placed in one of my Westeds.' But, thank you for your help and suggestions....! And as for the "value" of the jacket, lol, you are right...to me its priceless, but to those Customs folk, I suppose I'd better mark the value down....

High Regards,
Captain D