[dvdvol] Customs forms, etc.

[Johnnie CD]

I have been using a Form 2976-FCMI on all items outside the US except some
APOs and a request from Mexico that showed up in the US Que through a
receiving service.

The one to Mexico got held up as it had no 2976, declaration of value, bill
of sale, or anything like it. The send me an email asking for one and they
indicated all was well.

I was following the advice on the PG website and attaching a customs form to
everything even though the USPS code appears to indicate that they do not
require it. Of course, the opinion of the USPS is not really the crucial one
as the receiving countries postal service is the one that decides if the
item will be delivered. As everything else had the customs form I do not
know if it would have been an issue or not.  Most of the clerks at my local
post office really do not understand international shipping so they are not
very helpful.

After my first visit to the post office with a handwritten multi-part
customs form that they had never seen before I changed to the 2976 instead
of the –A version and it is easier to work with. I currently export the
name, correct the dropped characters from the impossibly long fields,
isolate the City as required and  run my labels through my Stamps.com
software so the customs form, address, and postage all print at the same
time. I do this to avoid completing the customs form by hand, as it is quite
tedious.  They have not yet made be pay the additional fee so it had usually
been $2.03 except Canada, which is a little less.

The Endicta folks are using a semi-static declaration form on their labels.
It is not an USPS approved customs form but it has all of the same
information and as it is static, you are supposed to just change the dates
and run your labels. I have not tried international shipping with their
service as I was usings the other folks service at home.

It would be interesting to hear what other folks are finding. It would be
much easier to forgo the customs form it will not have a negative impact on
delivery.

BTW, I sent Paul an email and he indicated that his gear will duplicate DL
DVDs.

I can also burn a few but not the quantities that I have consumed in the
past.

I tried the Ridata DVD-R DL from the online store. They are x4 and a little
slow but my gear keeps rejecting them as non-identical copies. I Tried the
TDK DVD+R (the only think on the shelf in the local store) they are x8 and
they ran through without any errors. Of course they were considerably more
expensive. I will try another brand next time I order and see how they work.


Johnnie
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