What do you do when you get a Call Memo from the Postal Appraising dept. Do we simply register post them the invoice for the purchase? I have a parcel from HobbyKing stuck with the Bangalore customs.

If the tracking shows two weeks in customs, you should take action.  Some people call and then send in required documents.

I have several experiences of this kind in Chennai. They write you a letter asking for docs, but forget to post it. Carry all docs and go to the PO customs office. Will have to give a letter. Unless the item is banned or of restricted nature, you can clear immediately.

EDIT: this was a mobile? Very risky to send via PO. Someone can easily pocket it. RC stuff, not many can use.

hello guys i'm new to rc world and this is my 1st HK order my shipping status is:

6/14/2012 3:53:00 PM    HONG KONG       Receive item from customer (Otb)    
6/16/2012 4:01:00 PM    HONG KONG    HONG KONG AIR MAIL CENTRE    Insert item into bag (Otb)    
6/17/2012 3:58:00 PM    INDIA    MUMBAI AIR    Receive item at office of exchange (Inb)    
6/17/2012 5:00:00 PM    INDIA    MUMBAI AIR    Send item to domestic location (Inb)    

so i just want to know what's next??
also i'm gonna order my next package of about 1kg so i need ur help in knowing abt changing the invoice and some respected members tips..

Dont worry .. it will come. It is normal to take 4-5 days once it reaches India.

http://www.rcindia.org/wiki/What_are_important_issues_to_consider_while_ordering_from_international_stores_like_HobbyKing_%28customs_costs/issues_etc%29_%3F#More_Info

   
   
     
ITEM n° RB491632765HK    new search
Local Date and Time    Country    Location    Event Type    Extra Information
6/14/2012 3:53:00 PM    HONG KONG       Receive item from customer (Otb)    
6/16/2012 4:01:00 PM    HONG KONG    HONG KONG AIR MAIL CENTRE    Insert item into bag (Otb)    
6/17/2012 3:58:00 PM    INDIA    MUMBAI AIR    Receive item at office of exchange (Inb)    
6/17/2012 5:00:00 PM    INDIA    MUMBAI AIR    Send item to domestic location (Inb)    
6/19/2012 2:06:00 PM    INDIA    MUMBAI FOREIGN POST OFFICE    Update item (Inb)    
6/23/2012 1:45:00 PM    INDIA    MUMBAI FOREIGN POST OFFICE    Send item to customs (Inb)    
6/23/2012 1:57:00 PM    INDIA    MUMBAI FOREIGN POST OFFICE    Record item customs information (Inb)
   
Retention reason : Articles importation subject to restrictions import- license

6/23/2012 2:12:00 PM    INDIA    MUMBAI FOREIGN POST OFFICE    Return item from customs (Inb)    
6/23/2012 3:38:00 PM    INDIA    MUMBAI FOREIGN POST OFFICE    Send item to domestic location (Inb)

does it mean i hav to pay customs?
but it was just 91g packet with KK board in it

nopes it means custom got hold of your parcel, played with it, and then when got fed up they released it

jokes apart you dont need to worry about it, parcel has been sent to you address and will reach you in 2-3 days..

yeah no customs thanx man...

 

Wow that one was weird, parcel going back and forth btw customs

Hi all...

Just a follow up on this old thread as I believe I don't have to create a new one...

My girlfriend sent me a cheap Chinese android phone [Cosmo Smart A180] from Australia as she wants me to start like the android and throw away my blackberry [YEAH RIGHT  ]..and she sent it via normal "Australia post" and after one month she sent the parcel, I got a letter from "Foreign Post Office"...stating I have committed an "offence" that I tried to import electronic item without the license to do that 

I was asked to submit the invoice or the purchase bill as they wanted to calculate the price of the phone...and also informed that sending electronics goods via post is a crime and that any electronic item costing more that 2000INR that comes via post will attract a duty of 36.5%...I asked my girl to send me the bill and since she was acting lazy I showed her the letter from "Indian Customs" and told that the cops gonna arrest me because of what she did [yea i like to have fun  ]...and I get the scanned copy of bill in my email within couple of minutes and I see that the phone costs only 36.88AUD from Ebay...thats like 2065 INR !!!!! an excess of 65INR  which I have to pay the duty [36.5% of 2065INR = ~750INR]... Anyways I am good citizen and a honest man and I agreed to pay the amount...So I am waiting for the post man to bring it ....dont know when that will happen now  ...I believe if the word "GIFT" was written on it...then it would have come out smooth ? 

I also asked the "Dy. Commissioner of Customs" that if I order toy helicopter parts from abroad and that if it comes via forieng post, do I have to pay duty...he said yes...and showed me a big book that has all the tariff...and i found "aircraft parts" which has a duty of 10%...but I couldnt find any information regarding "duty free" limit...also most of the items...including pets to processed foods to tea powder has 10% duty...

just for your information about my experience.

I hope you waited for two weeks before contacting customs, because they tend to make life difficult if you appear in person.  Once you have appeared in person, you will have to work either your negotiation skills or your contacts.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/1-200plus-and-counting-seized-toy-planes-pile-up-at-mumbai-airport/976934/

QuoteThere were also security concerns — that the toys could carry small improvised explosive devices for terror attacks," a senior Customs officer told The Indian Express

Talk about BS. Terrorists have exploded bombs right under our security's backsides all these years, don't need an R/C plane or a heli to do it. I have witnessed a bomb explosion  (roshan di kulfi) and my father had to go through multiple surgeries to remove the splinters, else have his leg amputated because these imbecile "security officers" with a dog squad could not detect the bomb in the restaurant 5 minutes prior to the blast, yes they came inside the restaurant with dogs, and we were wondering why, and they just moved out casually talking to each other, 5 minutes later went off the RDX. They should spend some more time and money training their squads (both technical as well as attitude training) and getting them right technologies rather than confiscating rc toys.The comment specifically irritated me because as a 15 year old kid, I asked my father to get me an R/C plane from abroad and at that time he could not because he was told it will be confiscated for the same reason

Sorry if I irked any nerves (but no sorry for the moment I hear someone cutting BS in the name of national security, memories are revoked). A lot remains to be wished for..

As with most Indian authorities, they cannot say which item is a toy and which one is a genuine threat. So they consificate all. And the article talks about the basic toys that come from china. Not hobby grade ones. A layman can't tell them apart. And it's not their job.

Quote from: anwar on July 20, 2012, 08:19:02 PM
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/1-200plus-and-counting-seized-toy-planes-pile-up-at-mumbai-airport/976934/

This Article sort of scares me,Does this mean I need to get a NOC first before bringing any ARF plane models from abroad....If yes then who will be issuing body for giving this NOC

Quote from: mail4ajo on July 21, 2012, 07:29:26 AM
they cannot say which item is a toy and which one is a genuine threat. 

I tend to disagree. They exactly know what is what. We all know they confiscate to dig money out of our pockets. Most of the times even they're not interested in giving a receipt for the duty and invite one to knock on the backdoor. In fact, we're at equal fault because we try to avert custom laws

Quote from: mail4ajo on July 21, 2012, 07:29:26 AM
And it's not their job.

In our country, most officials are unaware of what their job is. Pun aside, yes I fairly understand it is not their job but whoever's job that is is not doing it adequately to ensure that these guys don't deliberately confiscate whatever goes under their nose. Custom officials in the US and UK do not stop rc planes passing through, when they have all the more reason after 9/11. Baddies in our lands still believe in ground attacks.

Quote from: freeflyer on July 21, 2012, 10:30:47 AM
This Article sort of scares me,Does this mean I need to get a NOC first before bringing any ARF plane models from abroad....If yes then who will be issuing body for giving this NOC

The article does mention that an NOC needs to acquired from

Quotewhich is issued by the office of the Joint Wireless Advisor, Regional Licencing Officer (West) in Borivali

I don't know about Mumbai customs, but I have brought in an RTF from US into New Delhi. I was stopped, but I tried to stay confident and bluffed that I'm well aware of the rules. They let me through. I think getting it via mail is a bigger problem, esp if one ends up visiting the FPO. I have recently had q a surv. camera stuck (the actual cost of which was 800 and I was levied 1900 customs on it). I forgot about it and never went to the FPO; I'd have ended up wasting more time and money going to and fro.

I threw the topic off onto a tangent,  directing back to nealswap47's packet->

http://www.amai.in/news.php  (see the newspaper clipping with the heading "Radio controlled aircraft pose no security threat").

In addition, this was sent by Mr Nagar of AMAI to the commissioner of customs.

Quote
Letter to Commissioner Customs:

Dear Mr.Naik,

I request reference to a recent article in the Indian express regarding confiscation of aeromodeling material and mentioning that
they are a security risk.

We would like to place some facts about the hobby for your kind considerations :-

We are a registered Association affiliated to the Aero Club Of India which is the apex body in our country for aerosports which in turn is affiliated to FAI,the
international body of aerosports.

We have members all over India and a website :-www.amai.in, Our Chief Patron is retired Air Chief Marshall A.Y.Tipnis.

We have rules and regulations under which this hobby is to be conducted and we issue an ID card after verification of proof of address and other details
of the members.This ID is also valid in International competitions.

We provide third party insurance at designated flying field.

It is a very safe and controlled hobby and is wrongly being portrayed as a security risk by ill informed people ,for that matter every walking person is a security risk.

On the frequency being mentioned as 27.2 Mhz or near about is out of date in the international market for model aircraft use,the WPC has not changed that in their documents,however 2,4Ghz is a allocated as a free band in our country and many of the stockists of aeromodelling goods are importing the 2.4 GHZ equipment
after due type approval from the WPC ,so how can it be illegal?As far as goods from China is concerned ,today china is supplying consumer goods to half the world and ALL the Aeromodelling goods are being manufactured in China,Taiwan and Korea and exported to USA,Europe and other countries.Most of the popular brands like Futaba,Sanwa,Hitec etc on the 2.4 GHZ are legal in our country.

So on all accounts to give sweeping statements that chinese equipment is bad or frequency of Radio Control equipment has to be only in the 27.2Mhz band is totally misinformed and wrong ,A lot of RC equipment is being legally imported for Radio Control from China under type approval and is in use throughout the country.

Aeromodeling is a healthy and educative hobby ,even being persued by NCC in schools and colleges and they are also using Radio control models in training and
competitions.

We would like you to have proper perspective of this hobby and to remove misconceptions in the minds of officers in Customs and police and others so this can be promoted in a healthy manner.

Our last event was held at the Pinjore flying Club ,Haryana ,where we had flyers from,Assam,Mumbai,UP,Delhi,Haryana,Punjab etc,we published a souvenir of the event which I would be mailing to you for your perusal.

We appeal to you to give due regard to above facts which can be confirmed from WPC by you independently and request that these goods may be allowed import after payment of necessary duties as applicable.

We would be pleased to provide any further information required in support of this hobby

Best Regards

Vijendra Nagar
President
Aero Modelers Association

I could not find a link for the same at the AMAI site, hence reproducing it here as posted on Facebook.

7/9/2012 3:31:00 PM    CHINA    325029    Receive item from customer (Otb)    
7/10/2012 11:44:00 PM CHINA    SHANGHAI EMS    Insert item into bag (Otb)    
7/11/2012 4:05:00 PM    CHINA    SHANGHAI EMS    Send item abroad (EDI-received)    
7/14/2012 7:20:00 AM    INDIA    MUMBAI EMS    Receive item at office of exchange (Inb)    
7/14/2012 8:25:00 AM    INDIA    MUMBAI EMS    Send item to customs (Inb)    
7/17/2012 9:50:00 AM    INDIA    DELHI, EMS SPEED POST CENTRE    Return item from customs (Inb)    
7/17/2012 2:41:00 PM    INDIA    DELHI, EMS SPEED POST CENTRE    Send item to customs (Inb)    
7/21/2012 2:29:00 PM    INDIA    DELHI, EMS SPEED POST CENTRE    Record item customs information(Inb)Retention reason:other
7/21/2012 3:01:00 PM    INDIA    DELHI, EMS SPEED POST CENTRE    Return item from customs (Inb)    

can anyone decode it for me ...what may be the possible track for my product (laptop 3kg parcel wt.)

Avi2020 - you are asking for trouble. You have imported a laptop from China, shipped via EMS. Firstly all parcels arriving into India via EMS have to be inspected by the Customs Authorities. This is mandatory. Airmail / Regd post etc sometimes escape their scrutiny, but EMS, no way. Then again, this is a laptop. An item that is understood and the value of which is known to all and sundry.

You seem to be lucky, as the last line in your post seems to indicate that the parcel has been returned to the Speedpost Authorities for onward despatch to the consignee i.e. YOU, without being retained by the customs.

I hope you don't face any hassles and it arrives safe and sound at your address. All the best!

hi VC
actually i didnt know about these rules n all...so i chose the cheapest Currier service for my order....also mine seller indicate parcel as netbook PC as a gift and displayed cost 30-50$ over invoice.....so may be custom guys cant detained it for long as there is some rule regarding a gift below 5000 inr come under duty free....can you clarify more if possible....do you think i ll get my product soon now,,

next product i am going to order is a mobile from china again ...do you think it can made again safely,,,any special precaution for invoice n all,,,can you suggest kindly...thanx in advance

@avi- no EMS, plain vanilla registered airmail on your mobile phone, and there are higher chances it will reach your address. Also, if you can ask them to mark it as gadgets  (and not write mobile phone on it). The last leg of journey your phone has to cover is the postman...so there are multiple risk points.

hello guys
today i got my parcel (laptop 3kg parcel wt.) with price 110$ over invoice  ....
my query is that custom charged me 55$ (3033 inr) as custom duty...is this resonable or huge