I believe there is very little the manufacturer can do wrt DHL charges / hold ups other than to supply original copies of the invoice and any required declaration forms regarding suitability of materials in any of the crating / packaging, for export into the destination country. DHL knows (by virtue of them being the freighter) the consignment charges involved, and with the invoice and declarations, works out the rest. If they get it wrong, it will be up to the importer to work that out with them. The Customs Department is a law unto its own and you usually dont win any argument you have with them. I realise there are always some that will big note about how they won some argument or other with Customs, AQIS and whoever else, but experienced importers will just have a quiet chuckle to themselves about that. You either want to argue, or you want the goods, but you usually cant have both. Also of course, if you used an agent, you argue with them not direct with Customs. What I am saying, is if an importer thinks there is a problem with something the consignment company or Clearance Agent has done, it is unlikely the manufacturer of the machine will be able to help because they have already done all they can (supply goods to consigner with documents). The rest is up to the freight company and customs clearance agents and (separately) Customs, and the amount of patience the importer (you) is blessed with, and a certain resignation that sometimes you have to take the good with the bad. As an aside, and I guess this should have been stated earlier in this reply, the supplier usually supplies the goods on FOB basis = "Free On Board" = which means at the back door of their warehouse (in europe or wherever) onto the consigners pick up truck. Its your problem from there. When someone imports goods to a value above the duty free threshhold, welcome to the real world of importing.
