Btw, no fedx or ems order was through registered post.

Ordered few stuff from Hobbyking on 18th july Received on 23rd August by AirMail

Quote from: srivatsa on August 29, 2011, 05:59:21 PM
Hi All,

I ordered a complete heli from Hong Kong (including radios). It Got cleared from mumbai customs without any hitch nor any intervention required.  Radio frequency was legal in india and is WPC approved. Customs took about a week 7 days to be precise for clearance.

You have been more lucky than legally correct. Please don't speak about things you are not fully aware of. It may mislead people reading your claim. What do you think the below customs hand book means:
http://www.eximguru.com/hs-codes/85269200-Radio-remote-control-apparatus.aspx

Importing RF Transmitters does require WPC approval,  legal Frequency (27Mhz/2.4Ghz/5.8Ghz)  is just one item in the list of requirements, there are many other like out put power. Even for relaxed 2.4 Ghz, only 2 watts of RF output is allowed. You may not get a transmitter approved if it pumps more of power.

Your packet was lucky to pass unnoticed. Read about many people getting into trouble. I dont run a LHS nor affiliated to any.

Adding to what Ujjwal said... here is what needs to happen if you go through the fully legal / official route :

http://www.rcindia.org/rc-outlets-and-resellers/strict-rules-on-parcel-importing-!!!/msg22616/#msg22616

Hi ujjwal,

I said what my experience was. I don't know if i was lucky.

Quote from: ujjwaana on August 29, 2011, 08:49:33 PM

Importing RF Transmitters does require WPC approval,  legal Frequency (27Mhz/2.4Ghz/5.8Ghz)  is just one item in the list of requirements, there are many other like out put power.

If a device is WPC type approved that means all the technical parameters of that device are legal to be used in this country. Power, 1st harmonic emmission, 2nd harmonic etc.

Import restrictions, yes could be in force. But, If a radio is being sold in India by retailer, it has been imported which means its legal for import and it has to be WPC approved and ETA approval must have be sought already? correct me if i'm wrong.

In simple terms. If retail stores can sell. They must have imported. So isn't it legal for us to get them?

Regards

It is legal only for people who purchase from them.  The stores are supposed to track the details of customers of such purchases. 

A store getting WPC approval followed by import license does not mean the import license is for one and all.  The WPC approval is required only once, but the import license is required for each import (even if the store gets an additional batch, over the quantity in the initial import license). This is what I understood.

Quote from: anwar on August 30, 2011, 10:28:04 AM
It is legal only for people who purchase from them.  The stores are supposed to track the details of customers of such purchases. 

There is nexus between Customs & the so called WPC approved sellers. They bribe the customwallahs to make trouble for every person who imports radios for his personal use.

Well, i don't want to falsely accuse the retailers as i don't know how they do it.

Getting an item for personal use is treated a import ?!! import license is only for person who plans to get commodities from a foreign country and sell here. Let me know if this is wrong.

hi Guys why don't you people approach a Customs clearing agent and clarify your doubts about the differences between the personal Import and the commercial Import.IEC is common for all.

Actually anyone is not supposed to bring any kind of goods into INDIA with out a License,until it is a gift(there is a limit for this also). Thats why there is an IEC(Import Export Code)through this code they keep a track record the goods you Import.Thats why any person can apply for IEC. if the IEC applied on any firms name it is treated as commercial and any Individual name it will be for the personal use.A company can take an IEC for the in house use like buying machinery etc for the requirement of the in house use. If you are intended to sell it is treated as for trade and you have to show in the books by taking the sales tax no etc.

Srivatsa, there was this ominous reassurance in your reply, which I was concerned would make newcomer take your case for granted, only to come back to the forum with sad stories.

Quote from: CrazyPilot on August 30, 2011, 11:03:40 AM
There is nexus between Customs & the so called WPC approved sellers. They bribe the customwallahs to make trouble for every person who imports radios for his personal use.

Thats again the like Pot calling the Kettle black. I do agree that I have learnt some LHS in Delhi tipping Delhi PAD/FPO to trouble individual imports and I am myself feeling the heat for the past 3 months in Bangalore. But you cannot blame the officials when you are yourself on the wrong side of the law (Transmitters). I have advocated, and practise myself to fight if Customs harass on importing other non restricted items like BL/Servo/LiPo etc and luckily my local customs have conceded to my declaration and justification, without me paying even a single penny (and I stand on my words).

Quote from: chkalyan on August 30, 2011, 01:40:28 PM
hi Guys why don't you people approach a Customs clearing agent and clarify your doubts about the differences between the personal Import and the commercial Import.IEC is common for all.

Actually anyone is not supposed to bring any kind of goods into INDIA with out a License,until it is a gift(there is a limit for this also).

I would discourage people from approaching Clearing Agents 'Touts' (whose 'union' once put a dharna infront of my uncle's official residence when he threw them out on  misbehaving with old clerk of Jawahar Port  Trust office ). I dont think individual importers would need the 'Help' of such tout, and and any custom officier would look such people from a different angle. From most of people's feed back, the customs have been fair and gentle with RC flyers.

You are again wrong in your saying that one cannot 'Buy' items from outside and only 'Gift' is allowed.
There is 'Duty exemption' on certain value 'Gift'. You can always get sample, personal item (obviously in small number to be considered personal), and pay the appropriate duty/octri/cess. Not all personal import should be 'Gifts'. Import Licencee seldom use the 'Postal' route, and use Ports as entry points instead, where clearing agents make much of their business. Custom's over head in PAD is sometimes more than the revenue they generate and they are there to help people. So use it justifiably.

when you travel back from abroad, do you get 'Gift' stamped on all item you buy form there ? The $500/1 Laptop is like the exemption limit on Gift in Postal. For rest of item, you go through 'Red' Channel and pay the duty - you can even carry 1 Caror Swaroski , provided you pay the customs.

Hi ujjwaana, Can a Person having IEC code import hobby parts without any custom trouble?

Quote from: CrazyPilot on August 30, 2011, 11:03:40 AM
There is nexus between Customs & the so called WPC approved sellers. They bribe the customwallahs to make trouble for every person who imports radios for his personal use.

crazypilot... you need to think before you pen a generalising statement like this... i am a avid hobbyist myself and also a wpc approved seller and have taken the pains to wait for a year to get these approvals so that people like you dont have hassles with local authorities at your local flying clubs and now we get to hear this?... dont want to comment on how others operate but when people like us try to make this hobby accessible to the common its very discouraging to see these general comments that wpc resellers pay customs officials... imagine a new comer reading your comment without any background, iam sure he definitely will feel that we are taking people for a ride...

Hi RcBazaar every one think that they are right. You doing business in a right way. Let think others what ever they think.And any trader is not going to use the Postal route for trading.It is their bad luck that they are not utilizing the facilities provided by the trader in INDIA after so much of pain.Still in a view that the other website (Abroad) provides the goods very cheap.With out those calculations they will order and if they got stuck in the customs,these kind of threads will take birth.

i am not challenging this and its left to any individual to pick up the products where ever he likes to pick it from, its his prerogative (be it pricing or comfort levels etc)... my concern was only on the comment the local LHS's having WPC approvals creating problems to hobbyist who import tx/rx (not sure is this is actually feasible in the first place) in conjunction with the custom officials.. which i felt was a bit absurd statement.

Quote from: RcBazaar on August 31, 2011, 02:21:47 PM
...in conjunction with the custom officials.. which i felt was a bit absurd statement.

Anything is possible in this country !  Only the "blanket" allegation was the questionable part... not the possibility of this happening.

 

i just got a hk 450 from hobby king , only the basic kit without the radio or gyro , and the ENS guy tells me to get a NOC from some wireless dept at gorai ,

and as usual the guys did not cooperate , and showed us about a hundred heliccopters stacked from ground to celieng , which had been confiscated on issues of frequency ,

The guy there said that they would destroy them all .

Now i am planning to go to the custom guy and try and explain that the kit i have imported does not have a receiver or transmitter  so the question of frequency does not arise .

i advice that in order to save themselves from a harrowing experience they should avoid EMS and govt controlled postal depts
i have had a good experience with depx , so try and convince suppliers to go for it .

ultimately i have now contacted a agent to pay and get things done .

Our govt does not realize that engineers inventors and scientists are created due to exposure to technology and not by bullock cart and fiat ambasador  technology .

Prad

 

3
 

Quote from: Prad on September 20, 2011, 05:17:59 PM
i just got a hk 450 from hobby king , only the basic kit without the radio or gyro , and the ENS guy tells me to get a NOC from some wireless dept at gorai ,

and as usual the guys did not cooperate , and showed us about a hundred heliccopters stacked from ground to celieng , which had been confiscated on issues of frequency ,

File an RTI on where there is a BAN on static/flying Models when there is no Radio involved. DGCA is not an authority on models - they only certify planes which could be used to carry human or goods. I think it is only a trick to fleece money. And I where are the guys whose so many helis are rotting there !!!

+1 to ujjwaana...
i dont think they should be any issues with getting a kit into the country... pls do talk to them politely and also pls tell them there are a lot of LHS stocking these helis for commercial purposes and these are quite legal in india... however if you need any help in showing a WPC (wireless planning comission) ETA (equipment type approval) or special import licence pls pm me and i will scan and email it to u.. if this helps you getting the heli in your hands but pls note that these approval are in the name of RcBazaar... 

Thanks guys , I will try once more tomorrow  and then I will file a RTI
I have now been asked to get a clearance from the wireless dept ,and request the customs in a letter requesting them to send the heli to the wireless dept for a NOC .
This place is manned by some women staff ,and they are not conversant with technical matters ,
thanks RC bazar can you scan a copy and forward it to me at , so I have some weight in the ongoing matter .
One of the staff there said the customs in delhi and other places had no issues about clearing helis ,only Mumbai had issues due to security reasons .
  I also advice ,that do not get any other parts in one parcel as you may lose everything in case the heli is held up .
For example in my case I have added some of my plane items like servos and battery monitor and a lipo ,and now I may lose everything .

Thanks for your support , I am going to customs third day , and on encouragement from shushil I will try and meet the asst commissioner and keep you all posted so you know how to or not to deal with EMS.
My intention was to get my stuff smoother and faster so I payed the hefty EMS charges ,but the downside is that the cost of EMS gets added to the cost of the stuff and inflates the cif .
Apart from that the time taken is the same as the cheaper registered post parcel ,which is sent to the Old Customs House  , Ballard Estate office .
And they are better than the EMS guys .
Prad

Hi ,
  I have a question for you guys , if I fail in my endevour to get my parcel fro EMS , will it be sent back to HK or will it be confiscated ?
Prad

If u cant convince them somehow then write a request letter asking to send back the parcel to Hk and pay the return postage.

Also Please read

http://www.rcindia.org/rc-outlets-and-resellers/ordering-online/
http://www.rcindia.org/rc-outlets-and-resellers/anything-and-everything-hobby-king/msg70234/#msg70234

Thanks guys ,

The most frustrating tragedy of my story is that there is no radio componants involved ,as I have neither imported Tx or Rx.
I have been asked to get a wireless NOC for a parcel which does not contain a radio ,and no one seems to understand this fact at the customs office .
I have been asked to get a NOC From the wireless dept which is situated at least 40 Kms away ,without inpecting the parcel ,which is impossible ,as they need to inspect the contents to assertain that it does not have a wireless device .
They have been showing me some rule which is for Chinese toy having a blanket ban ,and applying it on this HK450 heli.
The rules can be bent to suit their ultimate motive , which is clear to all .
Prad

Hi , I am in the same situation as Kethap and if we could get together and pool our recources , maybe we can achieve something
prad