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FrozenGate by Avery

FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Yes, batch #2 is huge, and the first batch #2 shippments were other models, and those Romisen orders that didn't need batteries. That's when i said "all is done and most is shipped except Romisen orders with battery request" - that was actually a reply to certain emails....

Then some more people canceled battery requests immediatelly after i first mentioned the problem (just before my computer died), and those orders were also shipped..

But you canceled the battery only a day or two ago IIRC (yes, i just checked - Feb 13th you wrote, i received your battery calcelation and answered yesterday - Feb 12th), so i thought it would still be faster if i ship with second multipack!

Problem is, when i ship with Registered Priority (which is the only trackable option here in Slovenia), it arrives in US almost overnight. But once it is there, US treats Registered differently, they lock it in cages, and drag it around in the cage, and the cage is only opened with signature under supervision of an inspector.. It makes shipments take twice as long! It's the "within US part", that takes long with my packages usually!

But if i get a "second multipack" with the fastest express option to the US by next Thursday, and Glenn re-ships them with Priority the same day, they are trackable, but MUCH faster than if they were Registered. Get it?

You will get it faster, than if i shipped with Registered Priority! I shipped some packages with unregistered Priority a few times, they arrived MUCH faster, but then two were lost, and i had to make replacement lasers, as i guarantee delivery.. :( So i have no choice but to use Registered. The only other option is Express. And that requires multiple packages at once, to make it worth it.


Another multipack will go out on Monday regardless of the battery situation. If it is not resolved, then there will be a third multipack for those who absolutelly need batteries with their order! But i am going to Ljubljana early in the morning, to go to the customs post office personally, get the batteries out. (There are three different packages with different numbers of batteries inside. I will try to get all out or at least the largest one.)


I should have split batch #2 into three batches, then this confusion wouldn't happen... :(

I'm sorry if i confused anyone, i am confused myself from all the stress. But everything i am doing is to get things sorted out FASTER. Had i shipped your order yesterday, after i received your battery request cancelation, it would take longer to arrive, than it will now with the express package.

But regardless of how and when your package goes out, it is still important for me to know who NEEDS batteries and who not, just in case i can't get all three battery packages out of the customs on time. So your battery needs do matter, even if your package goes out with the multipack, you see?

In the unlikelly event that i don't get the batteries out on time, i will rip them out of all my devices, and ship as many battery requests as i can. So it matters, who needs them and who not. But there will be no further waiting for those who canceled the battery request in the past few days, regardless of what happens with the customs.


Again, i apologise for any confusion, i am just trying to solve everything in the best possible way for everyone.
 





Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Got it and I am with you 1000%! You won't hear anything else from me! :-X

The distinction came when I realized there was multiple Batch #2 batches - the shipping makes total sense as well! Just thought the realization might help others following this thread and possibly even keep a few emails out of your INBOX!

Have fun at customs, give 'em hell!

**And on a side thought .... what does customs get out of treating it's customers like criminals? Makes you wonder why people choose "Public Service" in government work when they clearly dislike the "public"? Same in the USA... simple actions like registering your car take all day and seriously put you within 2 inches of the looney bin.
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Oh, i must have misunderstood you.. Sorry.. You were just explaining things.....

I am a little paranoid, from all the problems, and all the work. I am under way too much stress right now, and a little too sensitive.. Sorry... :(


Want to know the size of batch #2? It's 20 orders for 23 lasers total. Batch #1 was 12 orders for 14 lasers total. Some of the laser money goes into purchasing more parts, most goes into the "lens fund"...

Then there are 11 lasers i have to make, which are not even paid for (counterfavors or simply favors)! Then there is batch #3! :o
I am very happy my drivers will be factory made soon, cos i don't know how much longer i could keep this up otherwise...





Our customs do treat us as criminals, even when you do everything right, even when you want to pay everything correctly and according to law! I have had so many problems with them, when importing things for my company!


Problem is, many years ago, people were discovering MANY different ways of tricking our customs into not charging custom fees and taxes.

But our customs caught on, and they became horribly strict and anal about everything all of a sudden. Almost overnight! Suddenly, if one little thing doesn't match (like customs declaration and invoice, or invoice missing, or invoice not matching online prices), you go into their little black book, and they torture you, until you bleed credit card receipts.

Credit card receipts are the only thing that calms them down! Problem is, i am often ordering with PP balance..


There have been numerous occasions, where i had to for## a cr#### c##d r####pt. to proove the price i really paid with PP balance! I had to create ###geries of ##edit #ar# #ecei##s, to pay correct custom fees and taxes on what i really paid!!!! All because our customs didn't understand, that i, as a dealer, get wholesale prices, and don't pay resale prices, when ordering stuff for resale! It's sick and bizzare! And it drives me nuts!  >:(  :'(

I had to do something that could be considered breaking the law, in order to be allowed to pay what i should pay according to the law! Do you see the absurdness of it? I mean, just the thought of it makes me want to scream!


Worst of all is when i get something for free. They just don't understand that. I had to create "invoices" for presents, people wanted to send me!
Once it would get here, our customs would want a web page link, where i bought it, the invoice and a credit card statement as proof of price on the invoice... But how, when i have none of it?



EDIT: Oh, and want to know the max non-taxable import value? $28... $28!!!!

If the value of a package is under $28 (and you have a way of prooving that), then you don't have to pay.

But if it is $29, or any other number, just barelly above $28, i have to pay custom fees and taxes on both it AND the shipping cost! And then i have to pay a fixed fee for the notice they send that i have to pay. And then another fixed fee for a notice, that i did pay, and then 4% on everything goes to the post office, for bringing the money back to the customs!

So the smaller the value of a package is (but still above $28), the higher the percentage you pay, due to those fixed once-per-package fees..  :'(


If something has to be custom fee'd and taxed, it is best to have it all in one large package. But now they are holding multiple small packages, and those once per package fees will make it all so much more hurtful.
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Clear as mud for me   ::)    :o


I had to make myself a brew after trying to figure out whether or not  I'm part of
2B or not 2B ?
That is the question, whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune   . .   .  Not again !



jriga,
I'm learning with an electric heli [but not at this time of the year!]
I race 1/8 scale offroad almost every weekend at UK racetracks. Presently, I drive a Mugen MBX5-Prospec truggy, which runs on nitro. I am awaiting a full conversion kit that'll change my backup car (also an MBX5-T) to run a brushless electric setup .  .  . when the postman arrives   >:(
So, you see, I'm more anxious to see him than just about anyone else is !! (Not including Igor)

What R/C stuff are you into ?
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Hehe, i am waiting on a brushless Fixed Pitch sub-micro heli... The latest version of the Walkera 4#3 with Alu head parts, brushless motor and 2.4GHz RC.....

I have two first versions of it, and some coaxials, and some modified PicooZ's, which i converted to three channel controll, currently adding fourth channel, for full cyclic control.


Slightly over a year ago, i was working on a similar project with a guy from Australia, trying to get his PCBs done cheaply in Slovenia. He made a full 4Ch mod of the PicooZ but IR controlled. Then i somehow fell into lasers, my helis were gathering dust ever since..  :-[  ::)

The one i'm making now is 2.4GHz, and will have full 4Ch control as well as gyro tail stabilisation! All this in under 13g! ;) But the parts for it won't come till end of this month, so no worries there (it won't come until long after batch #3 is done)..  ;D





Anyway, i need to wake up early tomorrow, to go to the customs post office before the meeting. So good night for now.

I'll be back on Sunday.... I'm not sure, if i can check my emails tomorrow, so please no one get paranoid, i will answer everyone on Sunday evening..


Talk to you soon!
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Try your best to have fun on your trip ;). My customs officers are usually very friendly, and I often talk my way out of fines.

Best of luck!
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

WizardKing said:
jriga,
I'm learning with an electric heli [but not at this time of the year!]
I race 1/8 scale offroad almost every weekend at UK racetracks. Presently, I drive a Mugen MBX5-Prospec truggy, which runs on nitro. I am awaiting a full conversion kit that'll change my backup car (also an MBX5-T) to run a brushless electric setup .  .  . when the postman arrives   >:(
So, you see, I'm more anxious to see him than just about anyone else is !! (Not including Igor)

What R/C stuff are you into ?
Click to expand...
Wow, another RC fans :) Check out my gal of my T-rex 450: http://mangospt.sourceforge.net/index_en.php
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Ok, i just had to get online to say this....


Thanks god i have three chargers! They'll be working overtime tomorrow!  ;)

I got two packages out, one with 10 packs and one with 6 packs and a charger...  :D


That's the good news. The bad news is, i had to pay 20% taxes, but due to the fixed once-per-package handlind and notice charges, i actually paid 37.4%!  :'(

It's just ridiculous. They charge taxes on anything above $28, and in some cases, the fixed charges for them asking you for the invoice and them telling you how much to pay, can actually exceed the actual tax you're paying. Here, it practically doubled it!  >:(


I order small packages, to avoid this crap, but they caught on, cos there were so many. Had i known i'd have to pay, i would make one huge order instead, so the fixed charges would only be charged once, and the percentage would be closer to 20...

It's just absurd. The 20% tax is understandable, and i can accept that, but... 37%!?!?  >:(


Anyway, this is why i can not possibly provide chargers and why my batteries are meant for emergencies only (hence the name "emergency battery pack"). It's much easier for you to order directly.. Your customs are not nearly as anal as ours..


But at least the battery situation is resolved! I can ship all orders now! :)

Unfortunatelly, they are still hodling a large number of hosts i ordered... Getting those out will require trickery or a lot of money, which is why i went for the batteries first.


Anyway, i'm off, i'll be back tomorrow, i'll answer any emails then.
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

IgorT said:
Ok, i just had to get online to say this....


Thanks god i have three chargers! They'll be working overtime tomorrow!  ;)

I got two packages out, one with 10 packs and one with 6 packs and a charger...  :D


That's the good news. The bad news is, i had to pay 20% taxes, but due to the fixed once-per-package handlind and notice charges, i actually paid 37.4%!  :'(

It's just ridiculous. They charge taxes on anything above $28, and in some cases, the fixed charges for them asking you for the invoice and them telling you how much to pay, can actually exceed the actual tax you're paying. Here, it practically doubled it!  >:(


I order small packages, to avoid this crap, but they caught on, cos there were so many. Had i known i'd have to pay, i would make one huge order instead, so the fixed charges would only be charged once, and the percentage would be closer to 20...

It's just absurd. The 20% tax is understandable, and i can accept that, but... 37%!?!?  >:(


Anyway, this is why i can not possibly provide chargers and why my batteries are meant for emergencies only (hence the name "emergency battery pack"). It's much easier for you to order directly.. Your customs are not nearly as anal as ours..


But at least the battery situation is resolved! I can ship all orders now! :)

Unfortunatelly, they are still hodling a large number of hosts i ordered... Getting those out will require trickery or a lot of money, which is why i went for the batteries first.


Anyway, i'm off, i'll be back tomorrow, i'll answer any emails then.
Click to expand...
My emotions in order.
:D
:)
:-/
:o


Good luck with the hosts, we're all rooting for you ;).
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Chargers are starting to smoke... ;)


To make it all go even faster, i rigged up a multi charger of sorts. 10 AA battery holders wired in parallel, hooked up to my PSU, set to 4.2V, with current limiting fully opened to 3A. Since the current spreads among the 10 in parallel, it's only 300mA per battery, which is actually a slow charge for them - 1/3C..


This i can leave on overnight, and my normal chargers have less work to do... They will all be charged in time. ;)
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Th0ughts said:
:D
:)
:-/
:o


Good luck with the hosts, we're all rooting for you ;).
Click to expand...

Thanks man! I really need them released. Problem is, i ordered 10 of the same hosts from Kaidomain, when DX was out.. That may have been a mistake, since KaiDomain sometimes includes a slip with the price.. :-/


Usually, when customs stop a package of 6 of my hosts, i give them this link: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3760

This was my prototype host (before the model was changed - it's now completelly different and useless), and in photos, it looks similar enough, to be convincing. But if they find the slip in the KD package, i'm screwed! :'(



Otherwise, look at this calculation (about our stupid customs system):

I got two packages with batteries out. One with the ten battery packs, and one with 6 and a charger. I'm just looking at the paperwork...


The first package was $41.90, which is 32.46€
On this i had to pay 20% tax, which is 6.49€...

The second package was $40.96, which is 31.73€
On this the tax was 6.35€... Again 20%..

It makes sense up until here. I should have paid a total of 12.84€, right?


But then there is a fixed charge of 3.0045€ on both packages for something like "handling" (don't know how to translate it better), and a 1.2519€ fixed charge for the notice that i have to pay. They round it up to 4.26€ together, per package. Times two it's 8.52€!

So at this point it becomes 21.36€ for both packages. Almost double the actual taxes!


But then the post office charges a percentage on the total plus a fixed fee for handling the money (taking it back to the customs). It came to just under 24€, practically double the taxes i was supposed to pay!


So when importing, i have to pay a 20% tax. But due to all those fixed once-per-package fees, i actually ended up paying almost 40%!


It's just ridiculous!


If the value of the package is larger, the fixed fees don't make a big impact.. But when the value of the package is small, the result is almost doubling what i have to pay, to import the freaking package... :(


The minimum untaxable import value should be higher, cos this is just sad. No wonder people try to trick the customs, and lie about the prices! If they charged the actual 20%, maybe more people would be willing to follow the rules. But there simply isn't any way to pay the taxes and only the taxes.. You can make a larger order and the fixed fees will spread out, bringing you closer to 20%, but still above it.

Only then, the post money handling fee becomes higher, and again, you pay a lot more than just the tax.


Our customs system is trully pathetic!
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

IgorT said:
Oh, i must have misunderstood you.. Sorry.. You were just explaining things.....

I am a little paranoid, from all the problems, and all the work. I am under way too much stress right now, and a little too sensitive.. Sorry... :(


Want to know the size of batch #2? It's 20 orders for 23 lasers total. Batch #1 was 12 orders for 14 lasers total. Some of the laser money goes into purchasing more parts, most goes into the "lens fund"...

Then there are 11 lasers i have to make, which are not even paid for (counterfavors or simply favors)! Then there is batch #3! :o
I am very happy my drivers will be factory made soon, cos i don't know how much longer i could keep this up otherwise...





Our customs do treat us as criminals, even when you do everything right, even when you want to pay everything correctly and according to law! I have had so many problems with them, when importing things for my company!


Problem is, many years ago, people were discovering MANY different ways of tricking our customs into not charging custom fees and taxes.

But our customs caught on, and they became horribly strict and anal about everything all of a sudden. Almost overnight! Suddenly, if one little thing doesn't match (like customs declaration and invoice, or invoice missing, or invoice not matching online prices), you go into their little black book, and they torture you, until you bleed credit card receipts.

Credit card receipts are the only thing that calms them down! Problem is, i am often ordering with PP balance..


There have been numerous occasions, where i had to for## a cr#### c##d r####pt. to proove the price i really paid with PP balance! I had to create ###geries of ##edit #ar# #ecei##s, to pay correct custom fees and taxes on what i really paid!!!! All because our customs didn't understand, that i, as a dealer, get wholesale prices, and don't pay resale prices, when ordering stuff for resale! It's sick and bizzare! And it drives me nuts!  >:(  :'(

I had to do something that could be considered breaking the law, in order to be allowed to pay what i should pay according to the law! Do you see the absurdness of it? I mean, just the thought of it makes me want to scream!


Worst of all is when i get something for free. They just don't understand that. I had to create "invoices" for presents, people wanted to send me!
Once it would get here, our customs would want a web page link, where i bought it, the invoice and a credit card statement as proof of price on the invoice... But how, when i have none of it?



EDIT: Oh, and want to know the max non-taxable import value? $28... $28!!!!

If the value of a package is under $28 (and you have a way of prooving that), then you don't have to pay.

But if it is $29, or any other number, just barelly above $28, i have to pay custom fees and taxes on both it AND the shipping cost! And then i have to pay a fixed fee for the notice they send that i have to pay. And then another fixed fee for a notice, that i did pay, and then 4% on everything goes to the post office, for bringing the money back to the customs!

So the smaller the value of a package is (but still above $28), the higher the percentage you pay, due to those fixed once-per-package fees..  :'(


If something has to be custom fee'd and taxed, it is best to have it all in one large package. But now they are holding multiple small packages, and those once per package fees will make it all so much more hurtful.
Click to expand...

Wow, I have been reading your customs horror stories, they are truly insane.  But it brings up a interesting point, that in the EU, businesses and people trying to make a honest buck (or Euro in your case right? :)) are treated like criminals.  And they basically teach you the ideal that you must cheat and lie (like lying about packages and their costs etc) just to get things done without being taxed to death and harassed for meaningless reasons.   That is just truly sad, and what saddens me even more is that the US is heading in this very same direction...and VERY quickly too.  Where corrupt officials and dirty politicians are rewarded for doing wrong, dishonest, greedy and outrageous things. While honest, respectful and hard working individuals are abused and over taxed because of the rules and laws set in place by the very same corrupt and dirty politicians who only think of themselves and how much money they can fit in their pockets by robbing the hard working, honest person.

This just frustrates me to no end...sorry for going political here and swerving WAY off topic, but I just couldn't help myself after reading about all the abuse you have, and are going through with your customs.
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

I stand ready to help any way I can Igor! ;)
 
Re: FS: >110mW PHR, >140mW 4x & >170mW 6x Blu-Rays

Yeah, our customs trully are abusive - can't find another word for it - even when you WANT to do everything right and by the book.


This one time, in the past, i ordered a dozen cheap sunglasses from the US, for use as holders for electronics. I was given a good price, cos they were the last in stock, and so it didn't match the online price.

But worse than that, the customs told me, i am allowed to import stuff for personal use, that a dozen sunglasses seems like commercial use to them, unless i can proove to them, that my family has 12 members!


I've been through this so many times.. You get used to it. I know methods to avoid it, and if someone follows my instructions to the letter, when sending me stuff, all is usually good. I can get diodes for thousands of dollars imported without paying, by being a little creative, but i can't import 10 battery packs without paying 37%!



Our customs really like online links. Best thing to do would be to make a fake web-store, with the products i import, but with lower prices. Then when they would ask, i would give them a link to that fake webpage.  ;D




P.S. None of this really matters for my buyers. If someone ever needs a diode replacement or wants an upgrade, all you'd have to do is follow my instructions and all this crap will be avoided. Afterall, you'd only need to send the tiny module from the head.

All these problems only occur, when i have no way of controlling HOW a package is sent to me. Like when buying at online stores. I can tell one person not to do this but do that instead, but a fifth person will do the packaging, and it will be forgotten...

If i have control about how a package is prepared (if you follow my simple shipping instructions to the letter), the package just slides through...


For example, Glenn has by now become an expert in avoiding our customs. Even when the he sends a big box, it just slides through. When i buy something from the US, i have it shipped to him first, and then he can repackage it accordingly, so i don't get into trouble.. ;)
 
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