shipping suggestions?

[Catdaddy]

I am having a laser shipped from overseas to me in the USA and don't want customs problems.

Any suggestions on shipping methods?

 

[drpepper1024]

This is a very good question because technically lasers over 5mW sold to individuals can be seized and then destroyed even if it is supposed to be OEM or to be used in a larger apparatus. It could prove tricky to get it past customs with all the hype about idiots shining lasers into cockpits. Has anyone else had trouble with customs, especially after these recent unfortuneate events?

 

[Catdaddy]

Is any carrier better than the others?

 

[LitFuse]

You want it to be delivered by the USPS. Don't use UPS, FedEX, DHL, etc.

Peter

 

[Catdaddy]

LitFuse,
Can you give me a brief reason why? I was thinking the same thing due to volume.

 

[bootleg2go]

It makes no difference who you ship the package with, it will be examined by customs and you will pay duties on that import. Packages coming into the USA do not just slip in due to large quantities, they go through customs and each package has paperwork that is filled out and classified and then a duty fee is determined and charged. If you have not placed an order yet, your best bet is to buy a laser that has an FDA accession number (FDA approved) or buy from a relatively unknown company, I would be very careful ordering from wickedlaser; after the latest news stories they are becoming very infamous and if customs has not been told by the FBI or FDA to closely examine shipments from them for units that are either >5mw or not FDA approved, they soon will.

Jack

 

[Shiftlock]

The best way to keep it from being held up by customs is to call it something other than "laser". have it described as "light amplifier" or "electronics" or even "flashlight". Technically those descriptions are legitimate. I don't know how specific your description has to be in order to be legal, but I know it will sail through customs without delay if it isn't labeled "laser". Also, if the country it's being shipped from is served by a shippinug company called TNT (www.tnt.com) then you should have it shipped by them. They seem to slip packages into the US without customs inspections somehow. TNT packages never have the customs sticker that I see on international packages delivered by the major carriers. They're also fast.

 

[Catdaddy]

shiftlock
That's what I am looking for. I will have to try to find out about TNT though.

 

[Kiessling]

Sorry guys, but trying to slip an illegal laser in the USA isn't the best thing to discuss in the open forum right now /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Please take it to PM or e-mail, thread closed.
bernhard