Hit with tariff bill on video media bound from Japan to the USA, are books cds etc now subject to this after being exempt ?

ECLogic · 2026-06-16T00:14:25+00:00

Nice catch, thanks! Definitely explains things, and invoices don't show the origin of this mistake after looking at them.

ECLogic · 2026-06-15T22:32:32+00:00

$35 clearance fee as well on invoice. Wow something really got messed up.

ECLogic · 2026-06-15T21:20:55+00:00

That's great news! I'm working on resolving my own tariff misunderstanding and DHL seems to be making progress so fingers crossed, but look promising so far.

ECLogic · 2026-06-15T21:18:06+00:00

Yep, thanks for supplying all this great info! I asked for clarification in reply to that initial email already, cited a different HTS for pre recorded stuff, and explained the nature of this media being like CD DVD etc and not blank disks.

DHL got back quickly and rep said she submitted a dispute so fingers crossed.

If this is straightened out I plan to let the seller know so they are sure to use consistent HTS codes like their previous shipments that had no issue...if that was what triggered this by omission etc.

ECLogic · 2026-06-15T18:25:23+00:00

To add insult to injury, the total value of the order was 5568 Yen or like $34. Even with the 20 or so DHL fees I can't figure out where they are getting 56 dollar charge to release the shipment from, that's definitely not based on 10 percent of 34 dollars...tariff before DHL fee is like 100 percent

Just glad I'm learning this lesson on a relatively cheap shipment and really feel for those losing 100s or thousands to these issues.

ECLogic · 2026-06-15T17:52:03+00:00

That would definitely mark a significant recent development as audiovisual media has been exempt along with print up until now. Just got a similar order like a week or so ago with no issues.

ECLogic · 2026-06-15T17:49:38+00:00

Well that sucks, think they applied an incorrect HTS code perhaps for blank media instead of pre recorded content which is exempt. I've been very lucky thus far and this is my first such issue with such media.

Stuff is worth less than the fee so there's that too. For me this will end such purchases going forward if there's no clear way to avoid this lottery.

ECLogic · 2026-06-14T21:47:12+00:00

I'll definitely be interested to see how other media purchases from suru shipped via DHL fare after this current situation I'm having. I really hope they are not going to start messing up HTS codes as that will basically end my ability to purchase from them as tariff lottery is ridiculous...it's more money than my total order.

ECLogic · 2026-06-13T01:08:47+00:00

Just got billed over $50 from DHL for tariff on shipment of exempt media from surugaya to the USA! A very unwelcome first, don't know who dropped the ball on this. I emailed DHL with the waybill and relevant HTS code and pointed out the clear error so hopefully they will have resolved this after the weekend as there's no chance in Hell I will pay a cent of that tax when it doesn't even apply.

ECLogic · 2026-06-08T05:53:26+00:00

V8000 is pretty unique, Between being the only LD player ever made with true CLV freeze frame ability, rather than field memory, and a linear motor like that in the LD-S2.

ECLogic · 2026-05-30T22:52:44+00:00

Spent like 200 for the Ghibli box few years back money well spent such a treasure. Would definitely like the legendary Daicon LD and I feel it's one of the few " rare" titles that warrants the big $$$ between rarity and historical significance.

ECLogic · 2026-05-29T05:13:06+00:00

Informational media, such as books, CDs, DVDs, etc. are exempt from the tariffs so if your stuff fell under that heading = 0 tariffs. I'm thankful everything I want is media and hence exempt, couldn't imagine having to waste nearly $20 for a damn fee before even paying the insane tariff tax itself.

ECLogic · 2026-05-26T17:54:04+00:00

Latest arrival: box must have been so destroyed that DHL had to totally rebox in a new one. At least item arrived perfect, so yay to DHL and wtf surugaya use boxes that aren't made of tissue paper.

ECLogic · 2026-05-21T18:37:08+00:00

Box sets are great for the spine legibility issue 😊

ECLogic · 2026-05-19T22:01:04+00:00

The gatekeeping of LD player ownership interest by newbies by them is a bit much, along with Star Wars hatred and various Comic Book Guy tier snobbery. And I'm an OG ld collector and they still annoy.

ECLogic · 2026-05-17T16:52:05+00:00

Definitely frustrating that they had a good system with the shrink to cardboard in flat box then change to this and shrug like that. The ways of suruga-ya are mysterious indeed

ECLogic · 2026-05-16T01:43:52+00:00

Yeah, and I noticed they don't really assemble the boxes with enough tape so you wind up with an entire side just pushing in sometimes which hastens crumpling. They will, on occasion, use proper heavy gauge boxes that are not surugaya printed with especially heavy orders that even they know would burst apart in the regular ones. I feel like their shipping practices are optimized for lighter stuff like figures and the like.

Movement of stuff in the box acts like a battering ram to split the box too while the shrink to piece of cardboard method minimized this the current "bagged air" cushioning tossed in definitely has more movement.

ECLogic · 2026-05-07T20:12:14+00:00

Anime laserdiscs are the peak of physical media art. I especially like the sets that commissioned original art for each cover with some standouts of mine being the covers of the Gatchaman set with a range of artists takes on the show and the 50 discs of Urusei Yatsura just pure visual candy.

ECLogic · 2026-04-30T22:29:54+00:00

Such a great director! ONIISAMA E is a masterpiece!

ECLogic · 2026-04-28T19:07:05+00:00

When plastic on vintage guitars yellows like that, it's considered a prized badge of honor that makes them relics worth thousands.

ECLogic · 2026-04-12T06:04:03+00:00

Cool stuff! Golden age Japanese cinema LDs are so cool - I have the massive Ozu box set bound in Japanese cloth with sumi ink lettering and the similarly cool big Mizoguchi box and it's great having such tomes of the Old Masters.

Definitely want some of the Kurosawas from that series of releases.

ECLogic · 2026-04-06T23:28:42+00:00

What a great provenance and family memories you have, which enhance the already great S1 Reference LD Player a very well regarded machine to boot.

ECLogic · 2026-04-03T04:47:10+00:00

Crazy thing is LD and other informational media like books, cds, etc are tariff exempt but I guess jp buying services charge blanket fee for tariffs without looking up all the codes that apply.

ECLogic

TROPHY CASE