Customs SUCKS

Well I wouldn't have thought that even IIIa lasers required a full set of paperwork - although in retrospect it doesn't surprise me in the least. I appreciate the information Steve.

It has become very apparent that you sir are a volume of knowledge on this subject. I just wish I would have met you before I started importing all my laser products. I appreciate all the info that you have provided me as I am in this situation. I apologize if I seem ungrateful or rude, it just seems like you get off on pointing out the legalities that I am faced with that I was unaware of. I am new to importing lasers. These rules and regulations aren't exactly common knowledge. I guess this is how I learn though. By paying thousands of dollars. I am glad that you find this just.

yobresal said:

It has become very apparent that you sir are a volume of knowledge on this subject. I just wish I would have met you before I started importing all my laser products. I appreciate all the info that you have provided me as I am in this situation. I apologize if I seem ungrateful or rude, it just seems like you get off on pointing out the legalities that I am faced with that I was unaware of. I am new to importing lasers. These rules and regulations aren't exactly common knowledge. I guess this is how I learn though. By paying thousands of dollars. I am glad that you find this just.

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OK, I do not like to see anybody get fined. I do however think it about time that laws get enforced before someone gets hurt. There is a third part of the equation, and that is if the government is going to start enforcing the rules, they need to spell them out with more care and educate people.

Read 21 CFR 104o and get all of our advisory letters is NOT education.
As its obvious from reading this forum that most people don't know where to find 21 CFR 1040.1 subchapter J.



BTW< part of the paperwork needed to be done by whomever shipped the box, so ask them what was on the customs declaration. If it was not exactly what was shipped, then whom owes whom the thousands???? I'm no lawyer, but if they shipped you 100 plus power supplies, not 100 lasers, I'd say your owed a refund.

BTW< customs never pays for delays, that is the rules.

Have you received any communications other then customs hold?


Also, have you talked to the broker that receives the shipments? Almost everything goes through a customs broker, unless the shipper is big enough to be their own broker.

Do some digging, and find out what exactly is going on. A phone call now can save headaches later. The trick is to bite your tongue , make the call, be forceful, but very courteous, and that can be a test of personal discipline.
Expect to have to worship at "Our Lady of Perpetual Hold" when you call.


For the record I'm a downsized professional laser specialist, and I do have a chip on my shoulder, but not with you.

Steve

Tech_Junkie said:

Niko you cant compare the customs agents in your country to the agents in the US. Although they may share some similar traits they are not the same. You don't live here so you opinion on our customs tactics is null. On the other side of the coin I could not comment on your customs office either. So don't take it as an attack on your character.

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Oh man, how can you say that?



I'm telling you my view on customs officers from the country I live in. You can't just say my opinion is not important here?

Customs are PERFECTLY FINE if they do there job right and take bombs, cocaine ect.

But when they start taking stuff they are not allowed to, then they are not perfectly fine.

But you can't blame them for stopping a shipment of that many lasers, I would too.
You can blame the complete ******* stupid people pointing lasers at planes, cars, ect!!!

nikokapo said:

Oh man, how can you say that?



I'm telling you my view on customs officers from the country I live in. You can't just say my opinion is not important here?

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I didnt say that...

laze_doctor said:

That sucks Niko, but I presume they at least allow lasers in? Be thankful you don't live in Australia ;-)

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Oh yeah, that's the good thing. Lasers aren't even considered dangerous here

For what they are, the customs here are pretty decent in my opinion. I have some Canadian friends who tell me that importing stuff often means paying double the price of the product, and that's for stuff that's < $100 or so. The packages are also delayed for weeks on end if you use normal post.

It's too bad about the box of lasers, but 150+ lasers being imported would definitely arouse suspicion, even if just because the hardware probably looks like it's worth more than its claimed value. Let us know if it ever does arrive.

question, if something is shippped from for example from china, do i have to pay for U.S Custom duties?

Eku said:

Customs are PERFECTLY FINE if they do there job right and take bombs, cocaine ect.

But when they start taking stuff they are not allowed to, then they are not perfectly fine.

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I don't know if you've bothered reading the rest of this thread, or any threads to do with the new laws, but lasers ARE NOT allowed (Unless you have all the paperwork and numbers, as Steve said). Customs have full authority to take them if they consider them dangerous, they aren't gonna care if a single laserist looses their laser.

yobresal, I feel your pain man, but I don't know how a thread with cussing towards customs is gonna help. For all you know, they could be reading this right now.

Oh you know they are reading it. Plus he admitted on a public forum to possibly committing felonious activity by importing all those lasers.

bennycast said:

question, if something is shippped from for example from china, do i have to pay for U.S Custom duties?

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Yes, you can end up paying duties. Gifts and valid commercial samples valued under 50$ usually come in duty free, to a point. Some things are just too small to bother with. A lot depends on the paperwork submitted.
The rules are complex, but are available online.

Steve

Tech_Junkie said:

Oh you know they are reading it. Plus he admitted on a public forum to possibly committing felonious activity by importing all those lasers.

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Felonious????? Really????? Jesus man I thought it was a lot harder to get a felony than simply buying a box full of cheap electronics from China. I hope for all our sakes that you are wrong about that.

We have this law called "intent" in the US. If you knowingly try to import lasers without the proper paperwork, you are breaking a federal law...thus committing a felony. If you get charged with that is up to customs/FDA. You have a big pile of undocumented lasers, so they could break your balls.

1. Never put all your eggs in the same basket.
2. Never air your dirty laundry in public places.
3. Never underestimate the government's power to bring your life crashing down around you just because they feel like it.

Tech_Junkie said:

Steve please dont get mad at some of these kids remarks. Its good to have you around to advise us what is fact and what is fiction. There is so much hoopla around here, we need a person like you.

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Why attack "kids." I dare say most of them on this forum know a lot more than you about lasers, and have actually contributed. [/off topic]

I wish you luck Yobresal. Have you actually had a letter yet, or are they just stuck there for the time being?

Rob

Well as of now they are under customs examination. I have not received any contact from anyone regarding this matter. I have only been anticipating the seemilngly inevitable outcome of their customs examination. Thanks for your positive support. I too hope that luck is with me in this matter.