> [email protected] wrote: >> I'm on the list now. I don't know how much this topic is appropriate to >> this >> list, so please pardon me in advance. > > Everybody loves customs horror stories, particularly when they > happen to others :-) > >> It is also possible to use a help of some broker company to let it >> deal with FSB. > > I don't know about Russia, but in Argentina, when they suggest to > involve a broker, that usually means that they expect a bribe. > > The role of the broker is to interact with customs on your behalf, > for which he can perfectly legally charge, and to hand some of > that money to the customs official, who already knows the broker, > and thus doesn't have to worry about you being some policeman.
Well, they didn't suggested me involving the broker but I understand what you are talking about :-) > Since several Bens have made it to Russia without such problems, > this either means that this was a random incident, that UPS have > particularly nasty customs, or that customs recently have become > increasingly vigilant. That would be good to hear from those people. BTW you're not the first telling me that UPS may be a source of problems at customs. > One possibility would be to just try to send it again, preferably > by some other means, e.g., FedEx, EMS, or regular registered mail. > > In Argentina, couriers like FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc., are treated > differently from EMS or regular mail, both in terms of customs > fees and in terms of pickiness. EMS and regular mail are what > common people use for non-commercial imports, so you get higher > taxes but they're more lenient when it comes to obscure > regulations. > > In Argentina, with couriers, you're treated like a business, the > taxes are a bit lower, but customs are more pedantic. > >> But I doubt this is reliable because it is a >> customer who'll need to prove it each time at customs.) > > The Russians on the #qi-hardware IRC channel didn't consider it > likely that travelers would be asked to provide such documentation > when they cross the border. Customs officials checking travelers > are probably a lot more interested in expensive electronics, > drugs, and other valuables. It's one more reason to visit Spain one day :-) > Parcels are a different story. There, customs have all the time in > the world to look for problems. > > Just my 2 centavos. > > - Werner Thank you very much! -- I'm an FSF member -- Help us support software freedom! <http://www.fsf.org/jf?referrer=7253> _______________________________________________ Qi Hardware Discussion List Mail to list (members only): [email protected] Subscribe or Unsubscribe: http://lists.en.qi-hardware.com/mailman/listinfo/discussion
