Forwarder holding my shipment hostage and requiring extra fees— advice on how to compell her to release my shipment ?
My situation:
I purchased a medical ultrasound machine (DUS60) from a manufacturer in Xuzhou, China. Before shipping, I sent Ms. Minnie Yang from Shenzhen Qcyt Freight Forwarder Co., Ltd a pdf description of an equivalent device (in the description it clearly stated that the product has a rechargeable lithium battery) and I put her in direct contact with the manufacturer so she could ask all necessary questions about the product, packaging, electricity, battery, etc.
After speaking with the supplier, she confirmed a shipping price and I proceeded with the shipment. The machine was delivered by my supplier to the address she provided, which is her company's warehouse in Shenzhen.
Problem:
Two days after receiving the machine, she suddenly claimed there was a problem ("the product is electrified") and started increasing the shipping cost.
I demanded that she sends my product to another forwarder whose address I gave her: she refused to pay the return delivery fee even though she's responsible for changing the terms of our agreement, she refused to create an invoice on Alibaba so that I pay for it.
I created an SF Express return order (Waybill: SF0229794611374) to send the machine back to the original supplier. However, she claimed she was that according to her company's policy, she is the one who has to apply for a pickup order and my supplier has to pay for it.
I told my supplier I would pay him so he could make the payment, he called her but she required some extra fee (about 100 rmb, not much but not right).
She is currently holding my machine hostage in her warehouse in Shenzhen, even though I have not yet paid the shipping fee and I am willing to have the machine returned to the supplier.
This situation is causing me serious financial loss and delay.
I would like to know:
What legal options or other action I can do, to make her release or return of my goods. Please go into details.
Thanks for your assistance.