Very valid concern. I have been holding off on purchasing anything shipped from China if they aren't transparent on how that is handled. Apparently there is the Tariff charges, which I'm generally OK with as they serve some purpose (such as driving manufacturing back to USA, (maybe) lowering our national debt, etc.). This is a political issue so if you don't agree, that's all good -- it's still, at least for the time being, a free country. Mostly.
However, on top of the actual tariffs, there are additional fees to process the tariffs. AI suggests that this could range from $25-$50 fee per parcel and UPS/Fedex may charge from $35 - $60 per parcel. This is the additional handling fee over and on top of tariffs to process them. In other words, tariffs + tariff handling fee = total fee to import items. This is a deal killer for me, especially for small items. The fixed fee can be multiple orders exceeding the products value. There is some suggestion that this fee has increased for USPS since May to $100-$200.
HOWEVER, on eBay, you will see imported products will have a disclaimer either that (additional fees will be required to import this item), or (import fees are included -- there are no additional fees). How does that work? Apparently, the shippers can pre-pay the tariffs up front. This will eliminate the extra handling by the shipping companies and charge extra tariff related handling fees. Those sellers that prepay these tariffs can mark up their products slightly whereas the sellers that do not or can not prepay the tariffs will ship it in the regular manner. Since each such parcel will have to be intercepted by customs and then payment will have to be arranged before delivery, this extra step is what triggers the fixed handling fee. Since this fee is so high, and not really transparent, it's obviously not practical to purchase anything from China unless the seller prepays the tariff which is the smart thing to do.
How do chinese sellers can sell their products with slightly elevated fees and be imported directly? Apparently this handling fee is for each parcel, or (set of parcels on each import declaration form). Basically, the fee doesn't change, but on the declaration form, you can list a bunch of parcels in bulk. In this way, the handling fee is distributed between all the parcels they are shipping. If the fee was $25, and you have 1 parcel, then it's an extra $25 fee. But if 25 parcels were included in that same declaration form, then the fee can be amortized to only $1 extra per parcel. So again, smart sellers will prepay the tariffs and just jack up the price a bit, and absorb some. The sellers incapable or unwilling to do this loses sales. Those unwitting buyers that purchased anyways will either pay through the nose or the parcel is not accepted and customs trashes the shipment.
China and greater Asia (or the rest of the world). I have noticed that many DVDs sold from China will have these fees prepaid. However, the same DVDs from other Asian countries such as Malaysia will have disclaimers stating additional import fees will be required before the items can be delivered. I'm not sure if the this is a special deal or accomodation for China, but the situation continues to be fluid. For the time being, I suggest if you need to buy from China, only buy the goods that states all import fees are included.
The BB-777.... I have no idea on this particular situation. Maybe Mellymlsr can chime in about that, if he knows. However, I do know that USA companies that sell Chinese made goods, and there are many, has the option to import the goods themselves, prepay the tariffs (and the fees in bulk to distribute the fee among the entire shipment), and then sell the products here in the USA without any additional fees. I suspect this is the likely situation.
