UNITED STATES IMPORT EXPORT DEVELOPMENTS

[Yeohelmetguy]

At the behest of a couple of prominent forum members who agreed they thought the following new developments regarding the import and export of vintage/antique militaria into and out of the United States significant enough that Forum members should be made aware. This is my most recent experience with evolving import and export policy in the United States as of this morning 21 April 2025.

I have an inbound package containing a Victorian British Army helmet plate. The shipment originated in Windsor, Great Britian; the seller paid for FedEx overnight shipping with the package leaving the UK on 14 April 2025 and arriving at the FedEx hub in Memphis, Tennessee in the very early hours of 16 April 2025 when the package was immediately put on a customs dely. FedEx informed me that I had to provide two documents to get the package released by customs, the first document an Antiques Declaration that FedEx provided me almost immediately and the second form, CPB 5106 or Customs and Boarder Protection Form 5106, Customs and Border Protection being part of the US Department of Homeland Security. After five days of constant assurance through my many phone calls to FedEx that form 5106 would arrive in my e-mail inbox almost immediately the form did not arrive until this morning, 21 April 2025 and only after another call to FedEx. Via form CPB 5106 I and I assume all other collectors in the US that rely on external US sellers to help build their collections will need to complete this form which essentially registers me/we as occasional importers and exporters with the Department of Homeland Security. FedEx informed me that my package would only be released after the form was completed and submitted and reviewed by US Customs personnel... all done electronically. I am still waiting to see the package out of its customs dely. Apparently, this form will be necessary regardless of who the shipper is or if it is a private party to private party sale or made from a dealer. I think all part of Trump's unnecessary and misguided tariff policy.

As I am sure most already know DHL has suspended all import traffic to the US regardless of country of origin over the minimum US customs import threshold of $800.00 the limit at which antiques, and other goods could clear customs without incurring an import fee or duty, or inspection. There has been some discussion of lowering that threshold or eliminating it altogether making every import regardless of value subject to customs import fees and duties and Trumps ever shifting tariff turmoil

Sorry to be the barer of a bad experience ... US buyer should be on notice...

Cheers,

David

 

[cptbob]

That happened to me in 2023 and 2024. These procedures were in place before Trump got into office. They may be enforcing them more now, or there is a lower threshold to trigger it. May depend on what the sender lists the value as.

 

[ww1czechlegion]

I never, ever use FedEx, or UPS to import anything from outside of the USA. Never.

I have also never been threatened with having to fill out any "importer" or "occasional importer" paperwork. That is likely due to me never using FedEx to have something shipped to me from outside the U.S.

I have never, ever had any interest in using FedEx to have something shipped to me from outside of the USA. Never! I see zero reason to use them. I've had zero problems using the Postal Service with inbound purchases, over the past 30+ years when buying from sellers in Europe.

 

[ccj]

Ive had this happen several times with Fedex and DHL over the last several years.

 

[Yeohelmetguy]

I never, ever use FedEx, or UPS to import anything from outside of the USA. Never.

I have also never been threatened with having to fill out any "importer" or "occasional importer" paperwork. That is likely due to me never using FedEx to have something shipped to me from outside the U.S.

I have never, ever had any interest in using FedEx to have something shipped to me from outside of the USA. Never! I see zero reason to use them. I've had zero problems using the Postal Service with inbound purchases, over the past 30+ years when buying from sellers in Europe.

That happened to me in 2023 and 2024. These procedures were in place before Trump got into office. They may be enforcing them more now, or there is a lower threshold to trigger it. May depend on what the sender lists the value as.

... I would NEVER use FedEx as my shipper of choice either! The services they provide are horrible... chaotic and extremely unreliable. In this particular case the seller made a unilateral decision to use a "courier service" as he termed it and trusted FedEx with this shipment because of the value of the item over my objection to continue to use the Royal Mail/US Postal system, which like you, I have NEVER had an issue with, things like clockwork arriving in an average six days Heathrow WDC to my front door! I have, over the years, only had a few things shipped from the UK via FedEx and in each instance, there was some problem, some issue with the deliver, but I have never been confronted with the requirement to register with Customs and Border Protection as an "occasional importer" to get my item out of customs. The seller I think did provide to true value of the item, but the other items that were shipped via FedEx were of a significantly greater value. UPS is significantly better in my area, but interestingly I live less than about 200 miles from the FedEx hub in Memphis, TN (where my package continues to be held captive) and about 125 miles south of the UPS hub in Louisville KY and yet the US Postal service can move a package 1000 miles in less time than it takes FedEx to move 200 miles! I wouldn't trust FedEx to pick-up a package at my home and walk it across the street to my neighbor's house without screwing it up!

Most, if not all of FedExes' failing stem from their commitment to using outsourced third-party non-FedEx personnel on their delivery routes, customer service call centers (none of which are in the US) and in their outlying distribution centers and significant understaffing. Several hundred FedEx related employees were let go in the Nashville and Chattanooga facilities last month, nothing here that bodes well for a moth and efficient operation.

I will leave this issue on this note, if I can be mildly crude... with both hands and a six-man search party FedEx can't find its rearend!

Cheers all,

David

 

[Doug B]

CCJ and I had a pretty crazy experience with FedEx recently. Otherwise they’ve been bulletproof for me.

 

[Yeohelmetguy]

Ive had this happen several times with Fedex and DHL over the last several years.

... I think you can discern my opinion of FedEx in my reply to cptbob and czechlegion... DHL has taken the decisive step of pulling the plug on US delivery operations for packages with a value over the current $800.00 duty free/fee free threshold. from all countries outside the US shipping to the US. I do know a current seller in UK that insists on using DHL for deliver and provides the service at no cost... I would get my purchased helmets in a very short three days with never a problem... but I guess now I am living in the past!!! LOL, LOL!!!

Cheers,

David

 

[Yeohelmetguy]

CCJ and I had a pretty crazy experience with FedEx recently. Otherwise they’ve been bulletproof for me.

I wish I could share that sentiment, Doug, but not so much... I have found FedEx packages dropped by the roadside in not close proximity to their delivery addresses.... the four-hour delivery window is a joke... in my area and I live just fairly rurally outside of a major metro area,, packages will be delivered six, seven or even eight hours after the four-hour window closed... the window is always between 10:00AM and 2:00PM for my deliveries, or they make no effort to deliver on the scheduled day opting for the next day. I have watched the FedEx rented Budget rental truck drive right past my house and not stop even thought I had a deliver scheduled for that day... as I said, not my package delivery provider of choice... I'm going to stick with my six-man search party analogy!!!

Cheers,

David

 

[ussguppy]

Lost 3 packages in 2 years, both UPS. You should do a FOIA request. It will force Customs to give you info about what happened. PM if you need any assistance with that.

 

[JustinG]

Well, this is my first time hearing about bad experiences with FedEX. I am grateful to hear from other members who have had unfortunate experiences with this shipper.

For International shipping, I have found FedEx to be the most speedy and deliberate in their service. Customs forms are provided. They are going from the same shipping across the international boarders which helps with continuity and audit trail.
FedEx can directly contact if an item or an additional form is needed. This happened to me recently, where I was required to list the specific construction of material used for my description of woven cloth. They wanted to know country of origin, and was this printed, embroidered, Dimensions, etc.... Well, FedEx contacted me and stated that they needed this form and provided the link. I filled it out, submitted to the agent who reached out to me, the package cleared, and was delivered the next day. Had I sent this via USPS, or it was sent from say Deutsche Post or Royal Mail, I would have never been notified. It just would have ended up in limbo.

I am sure every member has had an issue like this: Both countries postal systems stating that they are not in possession of your parcel. The shipper country stated that they delivered the item to the receiving country, so they are not liable for any insurance claim if it was insured. The receiving country stating that the package was not handed over, so it isn't officially in their charge. This item was probably held at a customs point and there is no-one, in either country or any circumstance, that will try to either return to sender or notify the recipient that there is an issue.

FedEx is a pricier option typically, but if available, I would take them over other mail service just for the reasons explained.
FedEx also has lower prices if the seller has used them frequently. I purchased my Tellermütze from Helmut Weitze and only paid €40.
There are probably nightmare stories from any and all courier companies. I have lost some pretty rare items in the mail too. It sucks.
I will say that I have experienced where FedEx was shipper origin and then was delivered to me by USPS. This was a bit unnerving to me as they took the high fees and then passed it off to the USPS here in the states. But, at that point, it had made it's way through the customs process and into the USA. The only downside would be a much longer time getting it to my doorstep.

These tariffs being imposed by the USA are extremely volatile. They are being changed on a whim almost daily it seems. Personally, I am requesting from sellers that they allow me to purchase, but to hold my item(s) until we get more clarity on possible duties or taxes due.

"That's all I have to say about that."


Best Regards,
JustinG

 

[KAGGR#1]

Well, this is my first time hearing about bad experiences with FedEX. I am grateful to hear from other members who have had unfortunate experiences with this shipper.

For International shipping, I have found FedEx to be the most speedy and deliberate in their service. Customs forms are provided. They are going from the same shipping across the international boarders which helps with continuity and audit trail.
FedEx can directly contact if an item or an additional form is needed. This happened to me recently, where I was required to list the specific construction of material used for my description of woven cloth. They wanted to know country of origin, and was this printed, embroidered, Dimensions, etc.... Well, FedEx contacted me and stated that they needed this form and provided the link. I filled it out, submitted to the agent who reached out to me, the package cleared, and was delivered the next day. Had I sent this via USPS, or it was sent from say Deutsche Post or Royal Mail, I would have never been notified. It just would have ended up in limbo.

I am sure every member has had an issue like this: Both countries postal systems stating that they are not in possession of your parcel. The shipper country stated that they delivered the item to the receiving country, so they are not liable for any insurance claim if it was insured. The receiving country stating that the package was not handed over, so it isn't officially in their charge. This item was probably held at a customs point and there is no-one, in either country or any circumstance, that will try to either return to sender or notify the recipient that there is an issue.

FedEx is a pricier option typically, but if available, I would take them over other mail service just for the reasons explained.
FedEx also has lower prices if the seller has used them frequently. I purchased my Tellermütze from Helmut Weitze and only paid €40.
There are probably nightmare stories from any and all courier companies. I have lost some pretty rare items in the mail too. It sucks.
I will say that I have experienced where FedEx was shipper origin and then was delivered to me by USPS. This was a bit unnerving to me as they took the high fees and then passed it off to the USPS here in the states. But, at that point, it had made it's way through the customs process and into the USA. The only downside would be a much longer time getting it to my doorstep.

These tariffs being imposed by the USA are extremely volatile. They are being changed on a whim almost daily it seems. Personally, I am requesting from sellers that they allow me to purchase, but to hold my item(s) until we get more clarity on possible duties or taxes due.

"That's all I have to say about that."

View attachment 59382
Best Regards,
JustinG

Weitze must have a special contract with Fed- X
I have things from his firm as small as pairs of shoulder straps
and Epaulettes
They ship Fed-X with a charge of 30 to 40 Euro
sometimes no charge on bigger deals
and they always arrive PDQ
Steve

 

[JustinG]

I do know that for FedEx clients, it's volume (# of packages shipped in a certain time) that get them a better pricing. The more you ship, the better your pricing options. For Weitze, they ship exclusively with FedEX, hence the more reasonable shipping fees.

Regards,
JustinG