At a Glance
- A Boston grandmother faced an $802 tariff bill after buying a $22 Barbie from Canada
- The charge stemmed from a FedEx clerical error that inflated the doll’s value to $2,200
- President Trump’s new 35% tariff on all imports triggered the massive fee
- Why it matters: The story highlights how paperwork mistakes can trigger crushing new import fees under tightened trade rules
A Boston grandmother who ordered a $22 Barbie from Canada as a Christmas gift for her 4-year-old granddaughter instead received an $802 tariff bill after a FedEx employee mis-entered the toy’s value. The error-combined with President Trump’s new 35% tariff on all imported goods-left Bonnie O’Connell fighting red tape weeks before the holiday.
The $2,200 Typo
Bonnie O’Connell spotted the special Barbie online: a doll dressed in a Professional Women’s Hockey League jersey. The item was only sold in Canada, so she asked her cousin in Nova Scotia to buy one and ship it via FedEx.
The package arrived safely. Weeks later, an $802 customs invoice landed in O’Connell’s mailbox.
> “I just got a pain in the pit of my stomach,” O’Connell told WCVB. “I didn’t even know what to do or what to say.”
A FedEx clerk had typed $2,200 instead of $22 on the shipping paperwork. Because every import now faces a 35% tariff under the administration’s revised policy, the mistaken valuation generated the eye-popping fee.
New Rules, New Problems
Previously, most items valued under $800 entered the U.S. duty-free. The updated regulations remove that exemption and require formal assessment on all imports, regardless of value.
Key changes:
- All goods from foreign countries now incur tariffs
- The $800 duty-free threshold has been eliminated
- Paperwork errors automatically trigger charges based on the inflated figure
O’Connell’s cousin signed the shipping slip without noticing the typo, locking in the erroneous valuation.
Fighting the Fee
O’Connell contacted FedEx and U.S. Customs. After supplying receipts and proof of the toy’s actual retail price, the $802 charge was reversed.
The victory came after weeks of stress.
> “I love my granddaughter dearly, but none of my grandchildren get that kind of money spent. The budget for Christmas isn’t even close,” she said.
FedEx did not respond to News Of Losangeles‘s request for comment.
Key Takeaways
- Double-check shipping paperwork before signing; clerical mistakes can be costly
- The removal of the $800 duty-free threshold means even inexpensive gifts may face tariffs
- Keep receipts and online listings to contest incorrect customs valuations quickly
Ethan R. Coleman reported this story for News Of Losangeles on January 17, 2026.
