Bought a Mayones Duvell... DHL Delivered a Nightmare

[cardinal]

That's wild. I've recently used DHL for imports from Japan and they at least cleared customs quickly and arrived.

But they are not getting the tariffs correct. One thing I got was a Les Paul, which should not incur duties re-entering the US. The other was a small thing and the charges ended up over 30% I think after their broker fee on top.

I pushed back on the LP duty but the threat was that the Japanese seller would need to provide documentation blah blah so I just paid it.

 

[FourT6and2]

That's wild. I've recently used DHL for imports from Japan and they at least cleared customs quickly and arrived.

But they are not getting the tariffs correct. One thing I got was a Les Paul, which should not incur duties re-entering the US. The other was a small thing and the charges ended up over 30% I think after their broker fee on top.

I pushed back on the LP duty but the threat was that the Japanese seller would need to provide documentation blah blah so I just paid it.

I know all about that. There is a specific HTS/HS code that US Customs uses for US-made goods re-entering the country. If you supply that code, they will waive the tariffs...

 

[FourT6and2]

UPDATE

I went to my local DHL hub, where shipments come into before going out for delivery. After a shipment clears customs, the package continues to move to the final destination facility—even if you don't pay any tariffs or duties or fees. Then it goes out for delivery after you pay.

I brought them donuts and they gave me the guitar.

DHL billing is still telling me the guitar is at LAX waiting for me to pay $869 for storage fees and extra tariffs that don't actually exist.

The guitar plays great! They've made some design changes since my other ones were built:

Arm contour on the top
Back is contoured more to fit your body
The fret ends are blind, so they don't poke out through the fretboard wood. They're hidden inside the board.
Fretboard has a very slight cantilever where the neck meets the body.
Instead of 6 individual string ferrules in the back, they use a solid metal plate.

So far, I'm happy with the guitar. DHL... not so much.

 

[NinjaRaf]

What a mess. Glad it worked out. I've owned 5 Duvells. They are absolutely great guitars!

 

[cardinal]

That's just insane.

Many years ago I imported an amp (Bluefaced VH4) and for the import company to release, I had to go to company to pick up documents, bring them to customs, then take documents from customs back to the import company.

Wish I'd thought of just starting with doughnuts haha.

 

[mnemonic]

Good idea with the donuts, glad that worked out. Decided not to bother with a 7?

Also what pickups are in that one?

 

[FourT6and2]

That's just insane.

Many years ago I imported an amp (Bluefaced VH4) and for the import company to release, I had to go to company to pick up documents, bring them to customs, then take documents from customs back to the import company.

Wish I'd thought of just starting with doughnuts haha.

Well you usually need a customs broker to do all that for you. DHL does that stuff, but they're horrible at it. I could have hired my own broker, but it's expensive. You can self-clear but you need to be local to the port-of-entry, which I'm not.

 

[FourT6and2]

Good idea with the donuts, glad that worked out. Decided not to bother with a 7?

Also what pickups are in that one?

No, I still want a 7. I wanted that other one I found on FB, but the guy flaked after I paid. Got my money back though.

This one has Bareknuckle TKO pickups. They aren't bad actually. But I have a Juggernaut, M6, and Black Heaven I want to try.

The fretwork on this thing is immaculate. Best I've ever personally seen.

 

[LeftOurEyes]

That is a nice looking guitar.

 

[cardinal]

No, I still want a 7. I wanted that other one I found on FB, but the guy flaked after I paid. Got my money back though.

This one has Bareknuckle TKO pickups. They aren't bad actually. But I have a Juggernaut, M6, and Black Heaven I want to try.

The fretwork on this thing is immaculate. Best I've ever personally seen.

Looks great. I kinda what a Hydra, which imho seems the best implementation of a headless guitar. I normally play LPs, but a Hydra would be kinda nice to bring out when I'm afraid an LPC could get damaged (the Hydra has no headstock to break!).

 

[jeff5]

I'm glad it all worked out for you, what a s*** show! That looks like an awesome guitar.

 

[FourT6and2]

Looks great. I kinda what a Hydra, which imho seems the best implementation of a headless guitar. I normally play LPs, but a Hydra would be kinda nice to bring out when I'm afraid an LPC could get damaged (the Hydra has no headstock to break!).

Hydras look pretty cool too. I tried a few headless guitars in shops before but never got into them. Maybe as a travel guitar?

 

[PlayAndersons]

Happy you finally got the guitar! Looks like a ripper!!!

 

[Dale B]

DHL was always THE WORST to deal with when I was receiving things from them.

 

[FourT6and2]

DHL was always THE WORST to deal with when I was receiving things from them.

Looks like there are a number of class action lawsuits in progress against them for overcharging people...

 

[bierbuddy]

Importing is the worst but is what it is now. Not a lot of Mayones floating around. Their fretwork really is top notch, as are their necks in general. I'm a neck profile guy, and theirs feel amazing. The TKOs are custom to Mayones, and do sound really good. I've also played the Nailbomb Ceramic, Ragnarok and Lundgren M6s in them - all stellar. Don't think you'll have complaints with any of them, and they all sound different enough. Nailbomb's are more hard rock/organic, Ragnarok bassier/punchier and M6s much tighter/metal. All good in their own way.

 

[FourT6and2]

Importing is the worst but is what it is now. Not a lot of Mayones floating around. Their fretwork really is top notch, as are their necks in general. I'm a neck profile guy, and theirs feel amazing. The TKOs are custom to Mayones, and do sound really good. I've also played the Nailbomb Ceramic, Ragnarok and Lundgren M6s in them - all stellar. Don't think you'll have complaints with any of them, and they all sound different enough. Nailbomb's are more hard rock/organic, Ragnarok bassier/punchier and M6s much tighter/metal. All good in their own way.

The tariff issue isn't with the government though. DHL seems to be intentionally defrauding people.

The Ragnarock seems cool. Bareknuckles are so freakin' expensive though. Two sets and you're almost at $1,000 after shipping and tax... for pickups lol

 

[rsm]

I had a similar customs issue buying a USA made guitar from Canada from an authorized dealer.

First time they shipped it, it was stuck in Canadian customs; they kept asking him for information; I spoke with the UPS International broker in Canada who said the shipment was missing information from the seller, that I know he sent because he copied me on the email he sent to Canadian customs. After a few days, the package was returned to sender.

The second time he shipped it, he used shipping nerd who used UPS; shipping nerd checked the information Canadian customs needed was provided. Again, stuck in Canadian customs; I contacted the seller, and the UPS International Broker in Canada again, saying information was missing again; and again the seller emailed the information to UPS Brokerage in Canada and to Canadian customs, and copied me. After a few days, the package was returned to sender.

UPS confirmed both times that the package never left Canadian customs, so they didn't need any information or customs payments from me, as that would come once US Customs had the package...which never happened.

I told the seller that I'd like the guitar but at this point I was concerned about possible damage, and it seems like we can't get it through Canadian customs, and I asked for a refund which he provided. I used the money to buy a new EBMM Majesty 6 from a US company; not the guitar I tried to buy from Canada.

 

[FourT6and2]

I had a similar customs issue buying a USA made guitar from Canada from an authorized dealer.

First time they shipped it, it was stuck in Canadian customs; they kept asking him for information; I spoke with the UPS International broker in Canada who said the shipment was missing information from the seller, that I know he sent because he copied me on the email he sent to Canadian customs. After a few days, the package was returned to sender.

The second time he shipped it, he used shipping nerd who used UPS; shipping nerd checked the information Canadian customs needed was provided. Again, stuck in Canadian customs; I contacted the seller, and the UPS International Broker in Canada again, saying information was missing again; and again the seller emailed the information to UPS Brokerage in Canada and to Canadian customs, and copied me. After a few days, the package was returned to sender.

UPS confirmed both times that the package never left Canadian customs, so they didn't need any information or customs payments from me, as that would come once US Customs had the package...which never happened.

I told the seller that I'd like the guitar but at this point I was concerned about possible damage, and it seems like we can't get it through Canadian customs, and I asked for a refund which he provided. I used the money to buy a new EBMM Majesty 6 from a US company; not the guitar I tried to buy from Canada.

Weird as hell.

So Canadian Customs wouldn't let it out of Canada?

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I was looking at those for this guitar. But I've got a few others to try out first. Lundgren M6, Black Heaven, and BKP Juggernaut and ceramic Nailbomb.

The Black Heavens in my Skervesen are some of my fav tones from a pickup, in this guitar anyway. I'm gonna grab an M6 to try in my Duvelle Qatsi next.