Why is my item being shipped from Shanghai?

[mpit7628]

Hello everyone.  I recently purchased and just received a new cord for a laptop.  I made the purchase from a seller from the U.S.  but the envelope shows that the item came from Shanghai.  Why would sellers be doing this?  I usually avoid buying items from China because of the high import fees that I get charged at the door when the item is delivered.  Luckily the mailman just needed my signature.  I made a purchase of a wedding veil recently for a costume.  The cost was $12.00 free shipping and when it was delivered I had to pay another $22.00.  I wouldn't have bought it if I had known the full cost but there doesn't seem to be a way of finding out the import fees until the delivery people are at your door asking for the fee.  Thank you in advance for any answers provided.

[reallynicestamps · Accepted solution]

The average IQ is 100. Which means that half the population is under than.

The seller is dropshipping He is supposed to put the location of the item in the listing, but many don't figure that out and instead put their own location. The result? Negative feedback  and trashed DSRs from unhappy buyers who, like you, have to pay duty, tax and a service fee.

If the seller had been shipping from the USA , your import costs under the Global Shipping Program would have been at least $5 less. If he had shipped by USPS you might have paid the same or it might have slipped under the radar.

You had one chance in three of not paying the import costs. You didn't win the lottery.

I wouldn't have bought it if I had known the full cost but there doesn't seem to be a way of finding out the import fees until the delivery people are at your door asking for the fee.

Actually if your US seller was shipping from the US and using the Global Shipping Program, you would have known.  Apparently, and this is a new twist on a highly exited discussion, this combination of shipper error/ sneakiness and overseas supplier would not be possible with the GSP.