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ArcticMyst Security by Avery

Arctic seized by UK border agency

zeppo

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May 7, 2011
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A few months ago I ordered a Spyder Arctic from Wicked Lasers and received a notification of seizure at the UK border about six weeks later.

I contacted WL by their forum and email, which was responded to in a helpful manner. Was told they would ship another one. This was beginning of June and now I haven't heard anything since. Email to WL was not answered.

Will report on progress...
 





Fenzir

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Jan 25, 2011
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Hmm, I think some countries are becoming more aware of WickedLasers. Not that long ago, a fellow LPM member from Canada had his confiscated because of customs.
 

zeppo

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Got an email from WL with a tracking no. for the second laser they sent - turns out it had arrived and was stuck at the delivery depot for a week.

Received it today, so all was in order eventually.
 
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Jul 22, 2011
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You have to wonder how much money Wicked Lasers are losing to Customs around the world due to confiscations. They may be a bunch of greasy weasels, but +1 for their policy of shipping a replacement in the case of Customs seizure.

I had a yobresal laser delivered a few days ago here in the UK, and the package had a sticker on it saying Customs had opened it to examine the contents, fortunately they had resealed it and sent it on its way. I figure they probably thought it was a flashlight, or were simply impressed by the awesome quality of the laser.
 
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Jul 18, 2011
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Whoa...I thought US Customs was bad. Of course, bad meaning tough to ship through. It was a short-lived thought, however. I mean, people ship stuff here all the time that they shouldn't, (weapons, drugs, lasers, other people). The news eventually finds out about something and runs a special report tellng us all about the stuff is getting here, who's sending it, how it's done, and how understaffed Customs Checkpoints are. Basically, if ypu watch enough TV, you can learn any useful trade: How to Run a Money Laundering Operation; How to Run a Shady Garage; How to Make WMD's; How to Con Old People; How those doing the above got caught so you don't.

Back on topic though, that really cracked me up when Wingman man said that customs was perhaps just "impressed by the awesome quality of the laser." I can see it now: "Sir! Look, sir! Crime in action. We should confiscate it. <wink wink> Know what I mean? <nudge nudge>". "No, we won't. Jenkins, this is by far the most awesome laser I have ever seen in my life. Whoever ordered this must be far beyond us in intelligence and simple awesomeness. We must, I repeat MUST send this through."
 
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Jul 22, 2011
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:crackup:

To be fair the props go to yobresal. The UK Customs probably feared reprisals, they are armed with a whistle and a pen, yobresal has lasers, in a game of top trumps lasers trump both pen and whistle. :)
 
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
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Hah! Good point. Was it shipped with a battery? I read that o-like ships sans battery to skip anyone at Customs either turning the laser on (and figuring out what it is or blinding themselves or someone else) or, putting the battery in backwards and killing the diode. Brief flash of light, maybe a slight whisp of smoke, then Jenkins the customs agent looks around to see if anyone is watching, whistles a non-descript tune, and quickly stuffs the now dead laser back in the package, muttering about low-quality imports. (Jenkins is a fictitious character, and any resemblance to a real person, living or dead is a coincidence. A sad, tragic coincidence if someone like Customs Agent Jenkins really exists. Note: to anyone with the last name Jenkins, no offense meant. I've always liked the name since it was used in a Far Side Cartoon by Gary Larson.)
 
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Jul 22, 2011
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I'm starting to like Jenkins, sure he probably fried my laser but hey we've all broke something at work and then whistled nonchalantly as we slinked away, so its hard to hold that against Jenkins.

In this case the laser was not only shipped with the batteries, but it arrived with the batteries in the laser, not sure if it was sent that way, but it also has a lens cap which would likely have been enough to fool the average Jenkins. :)
 




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