anyone using fedex before?

Im buying stuff from Japan and the supplier bear the freight charges. Fine. and they using fedex.

and this morning fedex sms me saying that my items are cleared with duty and custom with total amount of RM138.82. 

what the heck? my total value of the parcel is only RM640 (not include shipping) and the duty and custom is about 22% out of my parcel value? not possible right?

fyi, my items are all those plasticware .. bento tools...i check custom import duty rate is only 5% nia leh... 

i called fedex to ask for calculation and the rate and he asked me email pulak..really kns.. 

anyone know if i able to reduce the duty and custom ? the amount is too much for the value I bought. 

What should I do now?   

This is based on my recent experience.

Shipping method - Fedex
From - Japan
Items - Music CD
Tariff code - 8523.40.120
Tax rate - 10%
Insured value - 1%

When you want to calculate the taxable amount from your shipments, do take a note that your final tax does not only count a certain percentage of your item value, it also take into account freight value, referred as freight tones (FRT). I forgot the FRT rate though, but the calculation is based on weight or volumetric weight times the rate (whichever is bigger in value).

Total tax = [item value (based on custom exchange rate of the day) + insured value 1% of item value + FRT] x 10%

My example:
item value - RM639.57 (xxxxx yen x 0.0404 exchange rate)
insurance - RM6.40 (1% of item value)
FRT - RM314.50 (forgot the calculation)
total shipment value - RM960.47
customs tax (10%) - RM96.05
This is shipping via Fedex. If your shipment is delivered via EMS, usually it is more lenient that you only have to deal with your local post office customs department. EMS normally don't count insured value. Sometimes the local customs just let off taxable shipments if you're 'convincing enough'. For bigger forwarder/courier names like Fedex, DHL, UPS, usually it's the customs in Sepang mail centre who did all the pre-calculations before local delivery is made and normally you have no choice but to pay.

I was also told by Fedex customer service (customs department) that tax exemption can be applied to shipment value of a total of less than RM500, even if it is a taxable item.
I always recommend EMS for international shipments if available.

hi...can i check with you if you know how to apply for tax exemption for shipment value less than RM500, even it is a taxable item?

hmm.... i don't know about such procedure (if any). in this case we don't have the power or rights to be exempted from tax. it all depends on the kastam whether they think it is taxable or not. the last time i got exempted from tax (taxable item) i didn't have to do anything besides letting them inspect my package. 

i used to order some small car parts (taxable, but value is only around RM200 something)... kastam didn't charge me anything. stuff shipped directly to my house.

EMS is definitely cheaper.
But for smaller items, you can get even cheaper with priority mails with tracking options... if there's no urgency of course.

EMS is definitely cheaper.
But for smaller items, you can get even cheaper with priority mails with tracking options... if there's no urgency of course.

i never buy things from oversea. Is there any simple guide for me if i want to buy something like electrical guitar