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Hello

I am getting a new Apple laptop from USA and I was told that anything that costs 1000$+ will need special custom clearance handled by the shipping courier. DHL,Fedex, and UPS almost all take the same time and fees but which one is better for the custom clearance? Like to be able it get it ASAP because it's kind of an urgent gift and so which one do you think I should go for in terms of custom clearance in the airport?

Thanks
In my experience, DHL is by far the best courier in Lebanon. Their customs clearance crew is better and their rates are a bit cheaper than FedEx because they have a ground lot at the airport wherethe packages get stored while customs clearance is completed. FedEx is also good, but their charging rates are a bit higher and they have less outlets than DHL in case you want to save money and pick your package from the office instead of having it delivered to your house. UPS just plain sucks overall here (be it tracking the package online or the clearance crew all together).

Please note that this feedback is based on my personal feedback (been shipping items for my company for the past 5 years now).
mesa177 wroteIn my experience, DHL is by far the best courier in Lebanon. Their customs clearance crew is better and their rates are a bit cheaper than FedEx because they have a ground lot at the airport wherethe packages get stored while customs clearance is completed. FedEx is also good, but their charging rates are a bit higher and they have less outlets than DHL in case you want to save money and pick your package from the office instead of having it delivered to your house. UPS just plain sucks overall here (be it tracking the package online or the clearance crew all together).

Please note that this feedback is based on my personal feedback (been shipping items for my company for the past 5 years now).
Oh sounds good. How was your experience with the custom clearance with DHL? Like
How long were they taking usually?
mesa177 wroteIn my experience, DHL is by far the best courier in Lebanon. Their customs clearance crew is better and their rates are a bit cheaper than FedEx because they have a ground lot at the airport wherethe packages get stored while customs clearance is completed. FedEx is also good, but their charging rates are a bit higher and they have less outlets than DHL in case you want to save money and pick your package from the office instead of having it delivered to your house. UPS just plain sucks overall here (be it tracking the package online or the clearance crew all together).

Please note that this feedback is based on my personal feedback (been shipping items for my company for the past 5 years now).
I'll have to agree because I've used both DHL and FedEx, DHL are more professional and marginally less expensive in clearance and customer support.
mesa177 wrote I'll have to agree because I've used both DHL and FedEx, DHL are more professional and marginally less expensive in clearance and customer support.
But are they faster in custom clearance? Because I need the laptop before a the 30th and it arrives on the 28th so I want to know who may clear it from customs before the other regardless of which one is cheaper

So you think I should go for DHL if I want it fast?
Are you also aware that you will be paying around 20% of the item's price in customs?

Also, don't forget to order dongles otherwise nothing will go into the laptop.
user wroteAre you also aware that you will be paying around 20% of the item's price in customs?

Also, don't forget to order dongles otherwise nothing will go into the laptop.
Are you sure it's 20%? I was told it's 10% VAT only when I asked DHL
No I am not sure. I just vaguely remember someone mentioning to me as much.
Skynet has better prices, try them, ask for prices from both....
each item has VAT + customs tax, so for some it might be 20%, some even more. Some - 10% only.
But there is various clearance fees, which is usually significant
I bought a spare part for my car. Payed 50$ for price+shipping with UPS but once here had to pay 50000L.L to get it delivered. So expect the worse. Also big chance your laptop will be overestimated by custom regardless of the invoice.
Isa Al wrote
mesa177 wroteIn my experience, DHL is by far the best courier in Lebanon. Their customs clearance crew is better and their rates are a bit cheaper than FedEx because they have a ground lot at the airport wherethe packages get stored while customs clearance is completed. FedEx is also good, but their charging rates are a bit higher and they have less outlets than DHL in case you want to save money and pick your package from the office instead of having it delivered to your house. UPS just plain sucks overall here (be it tracking the package online or the clearance crew all together).

Please note that this feedback is based on my personal feedback (been shipping items for my company for the past 5 years now).
Oh sounds good. How was your experience with the custom clearance with DHL? Like
How long were they taking usually?
No more than 2 days to clear electronics from customs (longer for other forms of items like medical equipment because of the different regulations), and an additional day to deliver within Saida region.
Isa Al wrote
user wroteAre you also aware that you will be paying around 20% of the item's price in customs?

Also, don't forget to order dongles otherwise nothing will go into the laptop.
Are you sure it's 20%? I was told it's 10% VAT only when I asked DHL
No not 20%, there's a static government rate of 5% customs on electronics, the other 5% is clearance charges.
khanem wroteAlso big chance your laptop will be overestimated by custom regardless of the invoice.
Yeah this might happen if your clearance agent is not a pro; never happened with me with DHL.
4 days later
Ok so the laptop will arrive today. I will do the custom clearance by my self so anyone knows how long does that take or what should I do?

DHL will give me a paper tom morning and then I go to clear it but I am afraid it will take days or long waiting and paper work so what do you think? It's just a laptop for personal use not a company
Isa Al wroteOk so the laptop will arrive today. I will do the custom clearance by my self so anyone knows how long does that take or what should I do?

DHL will give me a paper tom morning and then I go to clear it but I am afraid it will take days or long waiting and paper work so what do you think? It's just a laptop for personal use not a company
You need there some"nepotism" to speed up the clearance process. Or pay some cash here & there.
Tech Guru wrote
Isa Al wroteOk so the laptop will arrive today. I will do the custom clearance by my self so anyone knows how long does that take or what should I do?

DHL will give me a paper tom morning and then I go to clear it but I am afraid it will take days or long waiting and paper work so what do you think? It's just a laptop for personal use not a company
You need there some"nepotism" to speed up the clearance process. Or pay some cash here & there.

That's what I am afraid of. I want to clear it my self because DHL takes 2-3 days and also it's cheaper to clear it my self but I don't wanna get into "bribing" or begging to get my papers done. There as a nice DHL guy he advised me to do it my self and save 240$ but I never did clearance before especially in lebanon
Isa Al wrote That's what I am afraid of. I want to clear it my self because DHL takes 2-3 days and also it's cheaper to clear it my self but I don't wanna get into "bribing" or begging to get my papers done. There as a nice DHL guy he advised me to do it my self and save 240$ but I never did clearance before especially in lebanon
I can only wish you good luck. I never did it too but I can imagine what to expect...
It went smoother than expected. In like 15 minutes I got it out :D

I went to DHL airport to collect the delivery order paper and paid 70,000LBP, then went to the customs next door gave the paper and a woman there photocopied my ID and filled a paper with few stamps and signatures from few people. I had to pay 10% customs for it but there was around 20$ more not sure why but I didn't argue about it not to get into delays. I wasn't believing it was that easy...

And then before leaving they asked to open the DHL box to inspect the shipment. Not sure why they didn't do that once it arrived to Lebanon but anyways it wasn't hard at all. It was easier than expected and I would do it again if I get such shipments instead of paying 240$ for DHL brokers for such easy thing and wait 2-3 days

I still don't get the 70,000LBP delivery order fees for DHL what are they for though