Guys i have asked my uncle to get me a parrot ar drone 2.0(300$=16500rs approx) from us. in india it is officially available for 31,000rs approx.

recently there was a Toi article stating 1000s of rc helicopters made in china, taiwan etc wer held in mumbai customs and later destroyed.

will there be any problems in getting the ar drone through the customs even though it is officially available in india. will i hav to pay any duty charges???

if you don't mind going in for a brand new second hand one,
then here is the link

http://www.rcindia.org/wanted/looking-for-used-parrot-ar-drone/

And welcome to RC India.

thanks alot saahil:)

but guys still i would like to know will there be any trouble at the customs?? its frankly cheaper getting it from us..

The only thing one can be sure about dealing with an agency like the customs is that *nothing is for sure*.  People have posted their experiences here, so you already know how it works in general.  I don't think people here can add much more to that.  Especially, if you are looking for assurances as to if there will be any trouble, or if you want to know for sure how much duties will be levied, NO ONE HERE can answer that with complete confidence

As suggested earlier, splitting it up would make it less obvious in the initial xray scans... that is pretty much the only thing you can do to help with your "destiny" !

PS:  Please do not write using SMS language on the forum.

sorry mate.. wasnt aware i coundnt use sms language.. wont happen again
really thanks for your input:)

I am returning to New Delhi after a three month stay in US and wish to bring with me a Quadcopter with R/C, fully assembeled. Will there be any issues at the airport ? That is the only electronics stuff I will be bringing. Does someone ave any experience in New Delhi ? Thanks.

Not an expert at Delhi Customs, but hey why cant you disassemble it and bring it safely? At least the propellers, motors and whatever that comes easily out? And keep the radio seperate on another baggage

Its a completely assembeled Quad(DJI Phantom). Only props and landing skid can be removed. The body will come as one. Ok. Good suggestion. Will put radio in another baggage, Thanks. I did the same thing many years ago with an RC system. Took out the guts and packed separately and the outer shell separately and it worked. But I was reading on this forum that they impound Quads and harass. This thing is kinda expensive at 700 USD so did not want to take a chance. Thanks again. Without its original packing is risky because it might get really shaken and stirred during the journey. And will not have the foam protection ! Appreciate the quick reply. Thanks.

if i want to order servo's, esc's, motor's and other assorted stuff...(excluding radios, recievers, and potentially large things)
from HK, will it be detained, or will it come through?

Since this question cannot be reliably answered, let us try to use history.

http://www.rcindia.org/search2?search=customs+will+detained

Hi guys,

so i am new to RC planes. after a whole months research i got the hang of it and ordered it from bananahobby.com

The parcel was couriered to the states only and my uncle brought it for me to india. The parcel was stopped by delhi customs and they gave a slip and said to take it back when he returns.

Any way to convince them or anyway other way to get it out of customs.

all i have now is the slip with me.

Very sad...I thought that bringing RC items along with them is easy...

Quote from: Wildgeezer on February 10, 2013, 11:45:08 PM
I am returning to New Delhi after a three month stay in US and wish to bring with me a Quadcopter with R/C, fully assembeled. Will there be any issues at the airport ? That is the only electronics stuff I will be bringing. Does someone ave any experience in New Delhi ? Thanks.

What happened with it?? Mine got stuck at the delhi airport.

Apart from Radio, I dont think Customs can legally stop a RC plane. There is a $500 item relaxation  per person. I dont think there is any restriction on Static or flying model when there is no Radio with it.
Airport customs have to be know to be very nasty, specially Mumbai one.

 I returned from Hongkong yesterday with two big boxes of planes. 4 planes packed in 2 big boxes. Customs was not a problem (although I had thought otherwise). I had got the receipts but did not have to use it as they passed it when I told them that they were rc planes.

Anyway I think if they are below the allowed limit of rs 35000 per person and as they are not banned in India they cannot block it. You can show the websites where similar planes are available in India so they cannot stop anyone.

I have previous experience and did the above with an undertaking that it is for hobby purpose and they allowed it.

Asutosh

Hello Team,

Need some advice on Airport customs issue. Have ordered a radio and two receivers from HK last month through Air Parcel. The Tracking number is like "CPXXXXXXXXHK". Now the status showing, "Retention reason : Awaiting presentation to customs commissioner". Not sure what to do?

I have gone through several topics in this forum related to this customs issues and I'm aware of the customs hassles. But also have seen many cases where these items got through without much difficulties. Also I have imported stuffs from HK previously without much trouble and no duty of course. So thought of taking the risk and went ahead. But my bad luck, I think it is stuck now. Not sure. The status showing is like this:

7/1/2013 3:54:00 PM, INDIA, KOLKATA FOREIGN PARCEL, Record item customs information (Inb), Retention reason : Awaiting presentation to customs commissioner
6/29/2013 3:33:00 PM, INDIA, DELHI FOREIGN POST OFFICE, Send item to customs (Inb)
6/29/2013 2:46:00 PM, INDIA, DELHI FOREIGN POST OFFICE, Receive item at office of exchange (Inb)
6/28/2013 5:37:00 PM, HONG KONG, HONG KONG AIR MAIL CENTRE, Insert item into bag (Otb)
6/27/2013 2:10:00 PM, HONG KONG, Receive item from customer (Otb)

Seniors, experts and experienced members please suggest what to do now?

Thanks,
Amit.

Wait for the Commissioner to respond

Thanks Sanjay for your reply. Ok I'm ready to wait but for how long? What happens if the commissioner doesn't respond back?

If you try a direct contact, they will spin you a long yarn and rip you off. That is why you wait. Unless, you know someone high up.

How long? Difficult to say. It is supposed to be time bound, they have to release your parcel, at worst with a customs charge if it doesn't fall in a banned list, in which case it will be confiscated.

Hello,
I am moving to the US to do my Masters.
Just wanted to know if I could carry my APM 2.5 (w/telemetry 915MHz) and Sanwa RDS8000 along, that I purchased from RCD 3 years back.
Should I declare it? Customs applicable?
Pls help....

2.4radio since its used it shouldnt be much problem but 900mhz is cellphone frequency so cant say.

pravesh, I read somewhere that frequencies around 900MHz are legal....
More worried about the customs for my Sanwa...
My primary question here is, Should i declare the TX?

I dont know much about these but considering this is 3 years old they probably wont find the price tag on ur tx declare the tx at a very low cost and not high cost. Its electronic and they will find it if you dont declare it and charge you more.
So its better to declare at much lower cost so the duty will be less, chances are they will accept. Another way to smuggle it is, if you have a laptop or sumthing then just put the boards of your tx behind it. And after you reach us reassemble it

Neil, Better to declare than smuggle! Do not want to jeopardize my Master's Program for a couple of $$$.
Liked your idea of declaring a lesser value  

Quote from: RCNeil21 on July 05, 2013, 03:02:20 PM
I dont know much about these but considering this is 3 years old they probably wont find the price tag on ur tx declare the tx at a very low cost and not high cost.

Price Tag? 

Finally I received my package today morning! The postman delivered it, and surprisingly no customs at all!! I don't understand then for what reason the customs kept the package in their custody for so long  ??
Anyway, a sigh of relief for me 
Thanks Sanjay for suggesting me not to take any action and wait. Patience is the key