Nissan 370Z Forum - View Single Post

SmoothZ · 02-13-2010, 01:34 PM

I used to work for Customs so I can help you out by explaining it.

First of all, you are importing on behalf of several other people. This almost classifies you as a business, but I know you're not. Not a big deal really since people do this type of activity all the time for legitimate reasons. You probably had the supplier use China Express Mail services, which is the cheapest way to ship from there. If you use UPS or Fedex or DHL, those companies are licensed brokers that can enter goods on your behalf. Unscrupulous Chinese suppliers avoid those big names because they know it's harder to pass Customs.

Secondly, I can guarantee you that almost everything from China is counterfeit or cheaply made. If Customs found your package to contain articles that have a copyright or trademark protection in the form of an official registration, then they checked the database and found out more than likely that the P90X packet probably is not authorized from China. They probably called legal counsel and was told that it was not legit.

If they seize it, then technically you're going to be liable for it. The seizure of the shipment is going to generate an automatic letter sent to your shipping address, which I'm assuming you got. The form probably outlines the statutes and allows you to either petition for a mitigated penalty or not at all.

Buying from China via ebay or paypal or whatever is no guarantee for making the purchase legit. Ultimately, you as the consumer have no idea of the source of that product. Now if you go to a legit store here in the US, chances are really good that the product you're buying is legally marked, imported, manufactured, etc. That's why you pay the prices you pay here.

Customs is charged with protecting the American public from unsafe products AND to protect the American economy from being flooded with cheap knockoffs from such places as China or India.

I would not worry about you getting prosecuted for 10 dvds. The govt has much more important things to worry about. Trust me on that one.

02-13-2010, 01:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
SmoothZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arrakis Posts: 7,952 Drives: giant sandworm Rep Power: 36	I used to work for Customs so I can help you out by explaining it. First of all, you are importing on behalf of several other people. This almost classifies you as a business, but I know you're not. Not a big deal really since people do this type of activity all the time for legitimate reasons. You probably had the supplier use China Express Mail services, which is the cheapest way to ship from there. If you use UPS or Fedex or DHL, those companies are licensed brokers that can enter goods on your behalf. Unscrupulous Chinese suppliers avoid those big names because they know it's harder to pass Customs. Secondly, I can guarantee you that almost everything from China is counterfeit or cheaply made. If Customs found your package to contain articles that have a copyright or trademark protection in the form of an official registration, then they checked the database and found out more than likely that the P90X packet probably is not authorized from China. They probably called legal counsel and was told that it was not legit. If they seize it, then technically you're going to be liable for it. The seizure of the shipment is going to generate an automatic letter sent to your shipping address, which I'm assuming you got. The form probably outlines the statutes and allows you to either petition for a mitigated penalty or not at all. Buying from China via ebay or paypal or whatever is no guarantee for making the purchase legit. Ultimately, you as the consumer have no idea of the source of that product. Now if you go to a legit store here in the US, chances are really good that the product you're buying is legally marked, imported, manufactured, etc. That's why you pay the prices you pay here. Customs is charged with protecting the American public from unsafe products AND to protect the American economy from being flooded with cheap knockoffs from such places as China or India. I would not worry about you getting prosecuted for 10 dvds. The govt has much more important things to worry about. Trust me on that one. __________________ "Once you go Asian, you never go Caucasian." "I talk to myself, and when I do that, I know I'm talking to an intelligent person."