>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.
>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.
>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.
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.
>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.
--
Tim Shoppa Email: shoppa_at_trailing-edge.com
Trailing Edge Technology WWW: http://www.trailing-edge.com/
7328 Bradley Blvd Voice: 301-767-5917
Bethesda, MD, USA 20817 Fax: 301-767-5927
Received on Fri Feb 11 2000 - 12:57:52 GMT