[dvdvol] Customs declaration

[Donald Arnold]

John and Brandon,

Thanks for the information.  I will start using the forms on all
non-US shipments.

Don Arnold


On 5/9/05 10:14 PM, "John Hagerson" <j.hagerson at comcast.net> wrote:

> Don,
> 
> I have been completing customs forms for most of my overseas mailings.
> 
> The difficulty lies in the definition of "potentially dutiable contents"
> which, I guess, varies from country to country. By putting the forms on the
> mailing, you identify the contents for the inspectors. I had one helpful
> mail clerk tell me, "Just write CD on the outside of the package and that is
> sufficient." I had another one tell me, "CDs are merchandise and must be
> declared as such on a customs form." I was also informed that Canada was
> cracking down on incorrectly addressed mail. This was around Christmas and,
> as I understand it, the US was dealing with extremely great volumes of mail
> returned from Canada. Mailings to Canada were rejected if they lacked the
> full name of the recipient or the sender (security concerns with all the
> terrorism, don't you know) and if the address was not in all capital
> letters. At my Post Office, one of the window clerks with whom I have
> developed some rapport due to my regular visits and number of transactions
> asked me why I thought Canada was being so hard nosed. I replied, "If I were
> a cynic, I would think that maybe the Canada Post employees were feeling
> overworked and were looking for any excuse not to do their jobs."
> 
> I have been checking the box declaring the contents as a gift, identifying
> the contents as "1 CD-ROM data disc" and "1 DVD data disc" or as
> appropriate, and declaring the value of the shipment to be $2. I have an
> address stamp for my address, so I just need to write the destination
> address and sign and date it twice. I'm printing mailing labels for the
> destination and return addresses. I am identifying the shipper as "Project
> Gutenberg Media Fulfillment," c/o my name and PO Box address.
> 
> I would presume that your packages were either delivered or they are en
> route on their way back to you. I guess it's possible that some might be
> confiscated somewhere, but I don't think that is happening.
> 
> On a related, but more general note, my personal productivity has fallen
> markedly in the past two weeks or so. I have become engrossed in a
> programming project at work, which, I hope (knock on wood) is nearing
> successful completion. It should provide a big productivity win for my
> department.
> 
> John
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dvdvol-bounces at lists.pglaf.org [mailto:dvdvol-bounces at lists.pglaf.org]
> On Behalf Of Brandon Galbraith
> Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 8:03 PM
> To: CD and DVD Volunteers
> Subject: Re: [dvdvol] Customs declaration
> 
> Don,
> 
> There was a previous email about this on the list several months ago.
> Let me go dig it up. Short answer: You don't need the customs forms.
> 
> -brandon
> 
> Donald Arnold wrote:
> 
>> Is anyone else having to complete the customs forms?  I was told I had to
> do
>> one today on a package to Canada.  I have never been told anything about
>> this before by the Postal Service people.  Now I am wondering if any of the
>> DVDs or CDs that I mailed without Customs forms have reached their
>> destinations.  I suppose I should fill them out regardless just to be on
> the
>> safe side.  Any thoughts or ideas from the group?
>> 
>> Don Arnold
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> 
>>  
>> 
> 
> 
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