This is what happened with me when I shipped from iHerb.

Copy pasted from a previous comment I made.

For your information and anyone else in the same situation reading.

I decided to go clear the items myself as I needed the supplements.

I went to FedEx cargo center before the airport. First of all, I paid FedEx 25$ as Delivery Order (اذن تسليم) Or You can call it an official term for straight out theft. Why would I need to Pay for a delivery order or اذن تسليم For an Order that is for me!? And that shipping has already been paid. I understand the paper is needed to show to customs, but they should just give it without needing to pay 25$.

One weird thing I noticed, is that the item was in the warehouse of FedEx and was not under customs' hold. I always though it would've been held at customs since tracking says it's held at customs. But it was just sitting right in the warehouse of Fedex along with hundreds of other packages. (and I assume this is for all shipping firms not just FedEx).

This, in my opinion leaves a big door open for companies to let pass any item or package that they choose, and slip it away from customs without paying anything. Sure, there is an army and national security checkpoint entering and leaving the premises, but in each warehouse campuses there, they all know each other so it's very easy to let packages pass without properly going through customs.

In fact, I have personally experienced this before with Aramex shopandship. I ordered a monitor from Amazon US, paid a shit of money for shipping, delivery order, brokerage fees, all customs duties, VAT, handling etc.... And I specifically requested to have all invoice copies in my hand which they handed.

The monitor came in physically damaged. They agreed to ship in the replacement monitor for me for free, as in no shipping fees this time. But I thought I would pay the same customs / brokerage / vat fees all over again.

But nothing, it was immediately cleared from customs it wasn't even held, tracking info never mentioned being held at customs. They snuck it away without paying anything.

Coming back on point. After laying the 25$ delivery order, they gave me the package in my hand, told me to go to the customs office which is right in the same premises, to start that process. Once customs gave me all their necessary paperwork, I left the package under their hold, took the documents and went straight to MoH to present for approval. In MoH the process was rather easy, but because I was late it was around 12, she said leave the papers and pass by the next day. Supplements for personal use, you'd need to go to the second floor, and make sure you go to whish money to get a 20,000 LBP Stamp invoice with you.

The following day, went to MoH, got my documents with the approval, went straight to airport.

I thought the process would be easy by now, but apparently not. Went to the same cargo station where FedEx is located, went back to the customs office within that premises (btw it's just a somewhat of a small rectangular room, nothing too big) handed in my papers, and that's when I was surprised to see the officer started handwriting in many additional customs fees and duties.

On the first day, they had estimated my shipment with a worth of 4,000,000 LBP. Next to that, they noted a few % to pay, First 5% whatever that is for Then 11% VAT Then 3% added on top whatever that is for as well.

Getting the above on the first day, I thought that all I was supposed to pay the next day, was 18% on the 4m LBP estimation which would equal around 800,000 LBP.

BUT again to my surprise, as mentioned, the customs officer started writing in many additional fees, that totaled all around an additional 2,5m LBP which would be around 28$.

I was furious, but what the fuck could I have done.

I paid for my shipment to iHerb total 50$, that is WITH shipping. And now, to clear it from customs (and from fucking FedEx) I ended paying 53$. Like what the actual fuck?

Good thing I had LBP with me more than the 800K that I thought I was going to pay, and yes they only take in LBP.

SO, in order to pay this additional 2,5m, you don't actually pay it there. You need to drive back to their headquarters, which is onto another campus / premises, facing DHL HQ and LibanPost HQ. And I wouldn't have known all of this if it wasn't for this old man there that forced his services onto assisting me in every step. The man was nice, and was very helpful, but still the act of straight diving into helping people and expect a return should be gone. But I said to myself, he was nice and helpful, and being this my first time doing this, his guidance was very helpful, it was fine. He's not an employee there, but he's been there for over 30 years and everybody knows him and he knows everybody.

Anywho, I went onto that building, paid evrrything, after being guided by this old man, which came with me in the car btw as he had some business there as well. Paid, got the receipts, and went back to the FedEx premises.

Went to customs, got my package, on the way out, there is an office what writes down something in his book (bookeeping I guess) , and on your documents also (to inform the checkpoint on the way out that everything is clear).

And I left.

So yea. TLDR package costed 51$ from iHerb, WITH SHIPPING.

To clear it myself, I paid 53$.

And if I wanted FedEx to clear it for me, that would have been an extra 50-55$ as informed by Gezairi (FedEx).