MyUs.com - Amex promotion - Free Premium membership

[Pushka]

I just ordered a shipment yesterday. Even with the declining dollar and ship costs the goods I bought were still much cheaper than we can buy in Oz.

 

[knasty]

FYI my Amex expired and I just got an email from myus saying the $60 debit had failed. I asked for my account to be closed and they offered free renewal plus a 20% off shipping coupon.

 

[Prof Henry]

My MyUS.com saga has reached the point of complete silliness (perhaps on both sides?). I thought I'd long since parted company with this organisation - hadn't used their services, asked to UNSUBSCRIBE ages go; but then I noticed two surprising $USD7 deductions in December and January.
I asked to be completely discontinued and indicated that I wasn't happy with unrequested/unadvised/unauthorised direct debits, so they offered to refund me the 2 monthly deductions they had made from my AMEX: the deducted amount of $USD14 had been pro-rated to $3.33.

Six minutes later, I received a transaction failed notice (my AMEX card number had changed since my 2012 signup with MyUS.com) and asked me to login and update my card details to receive my refund. In the 6 minutes between the 2 emails from them, that refund dwindled to 17 US cents. Nevertheless, I tried to help by logging in only to find that my password was no longer recognised; clicked on the "Forgot Password - Please remind me" button, and am still waiting for the promised Password Update email.

I've now written to them suggesting that we simply agree to have no further contact. I'm completely unimpressed.

By contrast, my subsequent contact with AMEX couldn't have been bettered! Within minutes, they reversed both transactions and also indicated their surprise that the AMEX – MyUS.com arrangement was limited to 2 years. It appears that that was not AMEX's understanding.

AMEX 10: MyUS.com 0.

 

[Cynicor]

FYI my Amex expired and I just got an email from myus saying the $60 debit had failed. I asked for my account to be closed and they offered free renewal plus a 20% off shipping coupon.

The old premium promotion was for 30% off and a free account, so you're getting dudded already.

 

[knasty]

The old premium promotion was for 30% off and a free account, so you're getting dudded already.

Agreed, but if it's true weight rather than volumetric it may still be an option.

 

[Cynicor]

Agreed, but if it's true weight rather than volumetric it may still be an option.

Last time it still worked out more expensive for me (6 weeks ago, with 20% off allegedly). I've ditched them because no matter what they spruik they seem to only be getting pricier.

But YMMV and good luck!

 

[zzyss]

MyUS.com - TruePrice

What do you guys make of this? Supposedly "TruePrice" eliminates volumetric weight and goes purely by the actual weight... marketing spiel too good to be true?

 

[Cynicor]

MyUS.com - TruePrice

What do you guys make of this? Supposedly "TruePrice" eliminates volumetric weight and goes purely by the actual weight... marketing spiel too good to be true?

My last "trueprice" shipment miraculously worked out just as expensive as every other shipment I've done with them, so I've gone off them forever.

 

[WeeWillyWonka]

My last "trueprice" shipment miraculously worked out just as expensive as every other shipment I've done with them, so I've gone off them forever.

I have found that their Trueprice offer is just as expensive as any other shipment offer.

Haven't had any issues with their service; in fact, I find it much better than a lot of other US forwarding services.

 

[Flashback]

Have an interesting one here - family member purchased something (note: paid for) when the exchange rate was better and the product fell under the amount that attracts GST. On arrival to Aus (about 1-2 months later) UPS have charged duty, etc. because it's over the GST free amount based on the day it arrived (there's quite a delta in the exchange rate).

Is this correct? I would have thought it'd surely be based on how much it was worth when purchased.

 

[Pushka]

Have an interesting one here - family member purchased something (note: paid for) when the exchange rate was better and the product fell under the amount that attracts GST. On arrival to Aus (about 1-2 months later) UPS have charged duty, etc. because it's over the GST free amount based on the day it arrived (there's quite a delta in the exchange rate).

Is this correct? I would have thought it'd surely be based on how much it was worth when purchased.

It should be based on the invoice at purchase time. And amount charged to credit card.

 

[Flashback]

It should be based on the invoice at purchase time. And amount charged to credit card.

That was my impression too. Said family member has already caved in and paid so probably nowt that can be done now.

 

[Danger UXB]

It should be based on the invoice at purchase time. And amount charged to credit card.

That was my impression too. Said family member has already caved in and paid so probably nowt that can be done now.

Hi guys. I ran into this problem with a package a few months ago when I went over the import limit by $8...big mistake. After lengthy discussion with the customs people it is charged at the declared exchange rate on the day it is processed at customs not purchase date. And they included the postage charge from retail shop to MYUS !!! That's what put me over . $200+ mistake

 

[Pushka]

Hi guys. I ran into this problem with a package a few months ago when I went over the import limit by $8...big mistake. After lengthy discussion with the customs people it is charged at the declared exchange rate on the day it is processed at customs not purchase date. And they included the postage charge from retail shop to MYUS !!! That's what put me over . $200+ mistake

That is nonsensical. If you are away for 6 months and the currency fluctuates in that time then they would be using the $ amount on the day you arrive back - but they don't - they use the receipt.
Clearly they are interpreting it differently for packages versus personal import. And I wonder if that is legally correct.

 

[zzyss]

Customs website couldn't be any clearer on this:
Exchange rates

Foreign currency must be converted into Australian currency at the rate of exchange prevailing on the “day of export” of the goods (i.e. not on the day the goods arrive in Australia).

However, in my experience they do include the cost of shipping.
DutyGST

Good and Services Tax (GST) is also payable on most goods. GST is calculated at:

• 10% of the value of the taxable importation (which is the customs value of the goods - also known as the invoiced value);
• plus the duty;
• plus the cost of freight (and insurance, if any) to ship the goods to Australia.

(Emphasis mine)

 

[knasty]

It's an import tax. It's the value at time of import that matters. Where that value is in Fx it will be converted at the prevailing rate.

 

[dsotm]

I've been with MyUS for a few years but thinking it's time to move on. The $1.00 a day storage fee on each magazine after 30 days really irks me and the shipping prices are getting astronomical. What are the options out there? I was with US Global Mail for many years but they just started getting too expensive. And because MyUS is based in Florida, all Amazon-supplied goods attract FL state sales tax. I should add that their service and shipments have generally been very good; just curious about what other people are doing.

 

[marki]

I use Shipito. They have an address in Oregon Tualatin. It's basically tax free shopping! Some times you get the problem being ...... That some online shops don't ship to freight forwarders.

 

[zzyss]

Well that's the end of that. Membership finally came up for renewal and rep was adamant that the Amex promo only runs for 2 years now. Got a refund and had account downgraded to "Standard" (fee free) but I likely won't ever use it again. Oh well, it was good for a while.

 

[zig]

I cancelled my membership last week before the fee was due. I have had the membership for many years and they have continued to comp the fee. It took about 3 emails to them requesting the cancellation before they finally believed me that I wanted out! I think they would have comped the fee again, but I haven't used them in over 12 months and with the plummeting AUD and their shipping costs I don't think I will be using them anytime soon.