US customs holding/rejecting computer material. - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

11 Feb 2000

-----Original Message-----
From: CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com &lt;CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com&gt;
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org &lt;classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org&gt;
Date: Friday, February 11, 2000 2:01 PM
Subject: RE: US customs holding/rejecting computer material.

...
  US customs has
decided 
As with all bureacracies, trying to make a blanket statement is difficult
and usually wrong...

> that people/companies in the US are avoiding tariffs
>by "importing computer components through Canada" ... even if they are
over
...
  30 years old.

Do you have a particular source for this information?  I'm not saying
that you're wrong, I'm saying that I want to learn more.  If there's
some specific directive number that'll be particularly valuable.

My source 3 of my last few shipments have either been "rejected, held , or
not arrived yet due to customs delays". I received an email from two others
(one today) who said US customs felt they were trying to avoid US tarriffs
and had to speak to customs for awhile to have the items released. I do not
have a directive order other than I spoke to a broker friend of mine who
said truckers are getting increasingly P'od with US customs because they are
really slowing things up if they have any computer parts in the truck.

...
 >I (and others I know) in Canada have had quite a
few problems (just over the
...
  last two
months) shipping computer components and documentation to the US. 
Oh, absolutely.  I've had Canadian *government* customers with their
media turned back at the border because the US government couldn't make
head or tails of what it was.  (These were 8" floppies and paper tapes,
BTW.)  That particular governmental agency now flies the media down
in an employee's luggage.

Doesn't seem to be a problem with Canadian customs. Never had an item held
up or rejected yet.

...
 >I wanted every Canadian List member to know that if
you indicate the
>contents of the package to contain computer parts/manuals then, no mater how
...
  old, these
items could be held up in customs or rejected if you don't
provide contact info to customs. (customs doesn't seem to have a clue that
*old* computer parts fall outside their tariff issue). 
You're using the wrong language.  If you claim to US customs that what
you're doing falls outside their scope, you're only going to convince
them that what you're dong is something that they should be concerned with.
This isn't an attitude unique to US customs, it'll happen with most
any customs service.

I don't say that *to* customs.. I am saying that about them.

...
 In particular, to a customs officer "old"
often means "potentially antique
and valuable".

And I've had Canadian customs officials explain to me several times
that "zero value" is not possible.  If it had no value, you wouldn't
be trying to ship it.

I never ship anything with a "zero" value, ever! In fact, the last shipment
that was held up was valued at $400! And US customs felt the buyer was
trying to avoid tarriffs by buying from Canadians. Morons. These particular
DEC boards were manufactured in the states!

...
  Generally, make
sure both phone numbers
are on the parcel so US customs can contact the shipper/buyer immediately
with their concerns. 
Absolutely.  I despise customs brokers - and even more their charges - but
sometimes having someone there to expedite things is worth the bucks.

I have my own import/export number so I generally don't have to deal with
them as long as my paperwork is correct. My problem is when I mail things to
the US. Generally, when I send UPS I don't have a problem.

US customs have slowed down shipments alot because some guy in BC tried to
smuggle into the US a bunch of bomb material.

BTW: Canadian Customs do believe old computer parts are *worthless*. I
brought through two trucks filled to the top with old DEC stuff just last
month. Value : $400. I opened the back of one... customs pointed a
flashlight on an ASR-38.. said "God that's old".. and called the loads
scrap. Over the past 15 years of imports I have never had any problem
bringing in old minis... well, oher than Canadian customs wondering why
someone would waste gas and time to cart the *junk* here.

john

PDP-8 and other rare mini computers

http://www.pdp8.com

...
 --
 Tim Shoppa                        Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
 Trailing Edge Technology          WWW:   http://www.trailing-edge.com/
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