Holy Trainer additional costs

[mr_slave]

I wasn't sure if I should tag on to one of the other HT2 posts. But I think this could warrant it's own posting.
So about a week and a half after receiving my HT2. I got a letter from TNT delivery service. They are saying I owe duty on the product I bought, which comes out to $35 dollars.
I immediately contacted Novamedia thinking there was some sort of mistake. They said that they are not responsible for customs duty charges, and I should take it up with TNT if I think I was mischarged. Sure enough after checking Novamedia's website with a fine tooth comb and reading over details of their FAQ, I see where they say there could be additional customs fees. I wish they had been clearer about this on the purchase page itself and not had it buried in the FAQ.
So now my overall cost for buying this is $243. For just a bit more I could have had a custom stainless steel device made.
I am curious if any other members have had these costs passed on?

[slave d]

The manufacturers never pay customs costs as they vary from country to country and are only assessed at the border well after they've left the manufacturer. We're lucky here in NZ, up to $400 worth they don't even bother to consider any duty or taxes, not even GST which is our equivalent of the British VAT. So, it's not something that the manufacturer can ever pay or know about. Sorry but you haven't been duped at all, it's YOUR customs service thats clobbered you !!

d

[Dannyboy]

I had to pay duty to get my jailbird delivered. If you didn't do that then people would just import every thing and never pay tax

[belocked]

I had to pay duty to get my jailbird delivered.

I also had to pay duty to get JB delivered. But the 2nd time (after resizing) I didn't, even though it's exactly the same packaging and labels. I gave up trying to understand a long time ago.

[LockedUp24]

Its kind of random as ive had expensive items delivered and paid no tax and then Poof one day i had too on a delivery.
The kicker here is i had to take a day off work as they sent the item back to the sorting office that morning and its 5 hours away from my residence instead of leaving in the local postal office for payment and collection within a certain amount of days.....IDIOTS.