> I can wait a while for my seeds to arrive, but I wonder what's happening to > people who ordered live plants or bulbs... I'm sure I did it all wrong, because I couldn't understand the process, and I believed the $800 exemption was still in effect. My response is also about seeds, not plants/bulbs. I ordered Clivia seeds from SA, and they cleared customs just fine and very quickly in August, but then DHL held on to them, requiring a phyto from me. I told them a phyto was not necessary, that they should read my small seed lot permit. They insisted. I resent them the permit as a document, and cut-n-pasted the exemption. They then, after a couple of WEEKS, approved, but then sent me a new message about customs due, requiring me to pay $137.52 (about 44%) on a $314.35 (including shipping) order. I paid, because I was given no recourse, and they had already delayed perishable seeds a ridiculous amount of time. Remember, those seeds still had to go through an official plant import inspection station. I was very nervous the seeds would be no good anymore. Because I thought the $800 exemption was still in place, I contested the charge with CHASE. For now, my money has been returned, but I'm waiting for the possibility that I will be re-charged. I couldn't understand how the freight company had so much power over my order, considering it passed import inspection and still had to be approved for final delivery at USDA Aphis PPQ. I didn't even choose the freight company. I can maybe imagine the freight company as collector is the only "convenient" way for the government to avoid a "tariff fee office", but I'm also given no proof DHL actually sent that money to the government. I don't like to play the victim, but I sure felt like a victim. It also doesn't help to know that when I ordered the seeds in the spring, I believe the exemption was still in effect. -- Mr. Kelly M. Irvin 10850 Hodge Ln Gravette, AR 72736 USA USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 6a/b On 9/15/25 1:03 AM, Michael M. via pbs wrote: > Hi, gang. > > I do *not* want to start a discussion about the wisdom of some of the trade > changes the US has been making, because this isn't a forum for political > debate. But I do have a question about the methods for importing seeds to > the US in the new world order. > > I'm awaiting delivery of an order of seeds from South Africa. They have > cleared inspection by the USDA, but are now being held by customs. I > haven't been told the details yet, but I presume I'll eventually be billed > for tariffs. > > Has anyone else experienced this situation yet, and if so, were you able to > resolve it? Any advice on what to do? > > I can wait a while for my seeds to arrive, but I wonder what's happening to > people who ordered live plants or bulbs... > > Thanks, > > Mike > San Jose, CA > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe:<mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > PBS Forum https://… _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…