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FrozenGate by Avery

Lasers arrived after Customs checked it?!

Perhaps it depends on the agent. Maybe he likes lasers and felt you should still have yours (not like it's drugs or explosives which is their primary focus). Or maybe he's a fool and doesn't know what they are didn't connect any dots. I know DX always call my packages "Led flash lights" and if your no expert in flashlights or lasers 200mW labels seem legit. However, your other package might not be as lucky. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Good luck man.
 





There were customs documents with it but depending on the shipper a copy may not reach you. It's not something the end user deals with so you may not see it. But generally three copies of a customs declaration or commercial invoice is included with the shipment and various agencies take a copy at each process in the shipping process. What is placed on the customs document can make a big difference.

Customs inspectors check thousands of different kinds of products being imported. They have no particular expertise in any of those products. There's no reason to believe that an inspector has any clue what a laser pointer is or what they may look like. When a shipment is pulled it may be truly a random inspection or they want to verify the contents against the customs declaration because the documents may be vague. If, for example the description mentions laser as part of the product name because the product has a logo etched by a laser but the harmonized tariff code says it's a cellular phone, it may be opened to verify what is exactly in the package.

Most Chinese pointer companies know that customs will flag and inspect anything with a harmonized tariff code for laser pointers so they call them light pens or flashlights and include the tariff codes for those products. This minimizes the inspection process except for random inspections. When they do get inspected if the product looks like a light pen then they get passed. If the inspector realizes what it really is they may seize it. They really have no recourse against the Chinese company because China will not allow any legal action against their companies so the company gets put on a watch list.

My company imports hundreds of lasers each year but none have ever been seized. Since we do not sell high powered pointers, our import documents and FDA 2877s (U.S.) are all legitimate.
 
FrothyChimp said:
There were customs documents with it but depending on the shipper a copy may not reach you. It's not something the end user deals with so you may not see it. But generally three copies of a customs declaration or commercial invoice is included with the shipment and various agencies take a copy at each process in the shipping process. What is placed on the customs document can make a big difference.

Customs inspectors check thousands of different kinds of products being imported. They have no particular expertise in any of those products. There's no reason to believe that an inspector has any clue what a laser pointer is or what they may look like. When a shipment is pulled it may be truly a random inspection or they want to verify the contents against the customs declaration because the documents may be vague. If, for example the description mentions laser as part of the product name because the product has a logo etched by a laser but the harmonized tariff code says it's a cellular phone, it may be opened to verify what is exactly in the package.

Most Chinese pointer companies know that customs will flag and inspect anything with a harmonized tariff code for laser pointers so they call them light pens or flashlights and include the tariff codes for those products. This minimizes the inspection process except for random inspections. When they do get inspected if the product looks like a light pen then they get passed. If the inspector realizes what it really is they may seize it. They really have no recourse against the Chinese company because China will not allow any legal action against their companies so the company gets put on a watch list.

My company imports hundreds of lasers each year but none have ever been seized. Since we do not sell high powered pointers, our import documents and FDA 2877s (U.S.) are all legitimate.
Click to expand...

Interesting,
I spose the customs officer is an idiot.

The inside of the case he opened clearly states Laser Pointer
 
nikokapo said:
good luck passing 28 lasers thru customs without any.....:wink: fee ;)
Click to expand...

I don't know about other countries,
but Australian customs is one of the tightest,
most unforgiving in the world!

I'd gladly pay that fee,
but it'll probably come in the form of a fine sans lasers.

Not as bad as the U.A.E. thankfully who will jail you indefinitely for having a poppy seed on you.
 
FrothyChimp seems to have the most knowledge of this subject. I'm just speculating which might be useless. All I can say is good luck on your other package!
 
Same day, 180 degrees around the world. My DX50 came in.

I know for a fact that Dutch Customs inspects each package, yet mine was unharmed and unmarked. I guess they have not yet discovered x-ray in Australia? :-X (no offence ;)) Technically any laser above class IIIA falls under the ammunition laws here and as such may not be commercially traded to unlicensed people.
 
Zom-B said:
Same day, 180 degrees around the world. My DX50 came in.

I know for a fact that Dutch Customs inspects each package, yet mine was unharmed and unmarked. I guess they have not yet discovered x-ray in Australia? :-X (no offence ;)) Technically any laser above class IIIA falls under the ammunition laws here and as such may not be commercially traded to unlicensed people.
Click to expand...

X-rays don't work when looking for lasers.
 
Perhaps the Customs agent took into consideration that your import included two variants of products implying that you have knowledge and a designed plan for the application of the items involved. (A kind of assumed "You seem to know what you are doing"thing.)
Maybe even he supports the cause and feels that some people should be allowed to experiment with the latest in light technology.
Maybe he is very experienced and knows that there are too many problems with the knee-jerk law and it's application.

No matter how you look at it, if you are lucky the same person will be responsible for your next delivery too ! You better start hoping...:rolleyes:
 
@ShortyInCanada

You are aware that this is a thread on which the last post was in 05-11-2008... before Apptrack posted?
 
wow thats lucky ive heard its hard for that to happen, but 28 lasers.. cmon man i doubt it that its gonna get through.. if so then cheers to you
 
Oops. Missed the necroposting. My bad !

But now I wonder if the others ever got through too ?
Should have noticed the new guy posting three times would necropost.

I'm a baaaaaad boy.
:spank:
 
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