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joehugashi55
Newbie
Joined: June 23, 2006
Posts: 3
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
June 23, 2006 - 04:30 AM |
 
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| Post subject: Purchasing at XiangYang and clearing China/U.S. Customs? |
I've recently been to XiangYang with the great bargains now and have purchased a significant amount of clothing and accessories as I'm going to be flying back to the states next month with my wife and parents and am concerned about having problems with Customs checks. I have removed ALL packaging as I have no intent to sell anything. Between the 4 of us, we have 8 tightly-packed large suitcases for checkin, 4 large carryons, and 4 computer bags for carryon. Can anybody with some experience with this please give me some insight and/or tips and recommentations on how to avoid a problem? Thanks!  |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31071
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June 23, 2006 - 09:57 AM |
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Best thing you can do is make a list of all legal things and declare them at customs in the US. Pack those items on top with your luandry (if they really inspect your luggage, it isn't going to matter where it is packed, but if they just want to see an item that you have declared you will be able to show it quickly without rummaging). China customs usually doesn't hassle you. I would walk through customs separately or in two groups. The US customs officer will usually ask you where you have been, how long you have been there, why you were there and if you have any food with you (don't bring food!)... they may sometimes toss in a quesiton about how the weather was or what your line of work is. Sometimes you just walk by without a second glance or a question being asked. It's going to depend on the customs person if you are searched or xray and there is no surefire advice how to avoid that. Just look calm, tired and as though you have done this a million times. If you have duplicates of the same item, it may be better to split them between the other people as that can be a big no-no since it may show intent to re-sell. That includes DVD's... do not bring more than one copy of the same title with you.
Basically, if they catch you, they catch you. But most of the time, people just walk through without a problem. Depending on your port of entry, random people are sometimes requested to have luggage xrayed... if that happens to you, just be calm and collected. Hopefully they won't open the bags further. Do not wear any fake clothing or carry any noticably fake bags in with you. Remember... they have people watching as you exit the aircraft, go through immigration and pick up your luggage... if you are going to split the group, don't do it right before you go through customs because the likelyhood is high that they have already seen you together and will then wonder why you have split apart. Act natural, calm, cool and collected. Make eye contact when a question is asked.
I've brought loads and loads of questionable items home with me... never a problem. Basically, pack it and forget it otherwise you will get nervous and they will pick up on that and wonder why. |
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sarahs
Raver
Joined: July 19, 2005
Posts: 445
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June 23, 2006 - 10:35 AM |
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what's the penalty if you do get caught with fake stuff? |
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"The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough." |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31071
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June 23, 2006 - 10:45 AM |
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varies by quantity and duplicates. there used to be a gray area law which permitted one item to be brought in without consequence, but i don't know if that is still on the books. punishment can include fines, prison and having your name blacklisted, which means you will be pulled for inspection on almost all subsequent flights. |
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n00b
PopStar
Joined: Apr 27, 2004
Posts: 1130
Location: Hua Guo Mountain
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June 23, 2006 - 10:46 AM |
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depends on which airport you are landing at and the airline you are using,
there's a way...
left your baggage or put it in "wrong" rail...
claim lost baggage,
go home,
let them deliver the baggage to you. |
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frenchlover1999
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 8730
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June 23, 2006 - 10:46 AM |
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In Europe you pay a multiple of the original item price... Which is outrageous. Anyway its often the same people who complain China is a bad bad regime that encourages various kinds of copyright infringement and are buying stuff at the Beggars Market (I thought they gassed the whole place and everybody in it?). Jail term for the hypocrites. |
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That was no shark. That was my personal submarine. But enough of this polite conversation. What is the purpose of your visit? |
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tomnoddy_uk
Fire-eater
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2902
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June 23, 2006 - 10:52 AM |
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how can they prove you new it was fake? whats to stop you just saying you were conned by a clever chinese person into buying the goods which you thought were real? |
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"Eight minutes past the hour here in Belgium - and presumably eight minutes past the hour everywhere in the world." Murray Walker |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31071
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June 23, 2006 - 10:55 AM |
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us law will ask you to present the receipt to verify the purchase if you try that route. no receipt, and questionable quality... the burden of proof is on you. if someone brings in only a few items and gets caught, they will often let the person go with a warning; keeping the items in question will be up to the mood of the customs agent. |
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BOYCOTT BENSON SALON |
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frenchlover1999
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 8730
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June 23, 2006 - 10:55 AM |
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Conned into buying 3 suitcases of fakes. Jail term. In Europe, the law applies whether or not you are in good faith. Outrageous perhaps, luxury good makers lobby for sure, but it certainly simplifies the procedure. |
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That was no shark. That was my personal submarine. But enough of this polite conversation. What is the purpose of your visit? |
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hammerforlife
Fire-eater
Joined: May 24, 2004
Posts: 2701
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June 23, 2006 - 11:04 AM |
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One month ago the Chairman of a very large and well known British company came to China and gave a speech, one of the key points of which was respecting intellectually property rights. My friend was with him in the car travelling back to the hotel when the Chairman asked if he could take a detour (three cars of important people) so that he could stock up on fake DVDs before he went back to the UK. He had to be reminded that this was not a great signal to be giving based on his previous speech! |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17959
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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June 23, 2006 - 11:19 AM |
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you and your wife are one family, your parents are another. Thats two declaration forms to use and $800 limit per family. based on that, you shoudl report all your purchase catagories: Clothing, Accessories, Gifts, Electronics, Miscellaneous, and make sure you total less than $800 per declaration form. Thats not too bad considering costs here (6400rmb?) I mean that will go a long way at Xiang Yang Market eh? |
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lazyyorkie
LoopKicker
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 990
Status: Offline
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June 23, 2006 - 12:48 PM |
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Is it different in the States: I mean in the UK you get caught they will simply ask you if you want to keep the goods or let them distroy them, end of story!
Food products are the most dangerous!
Customs in most countries are too busy looking for drugs to worry about a few T shirts and DVD's which half the time dont work!
Ask yourself is worth the stress for a fake LV bag crappy DVDS and T shirts which will fall aprt after 3 washes and a watch which will make your arm stretch by 2" well????? |
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bougie
Board Buddha
Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 13256
Location: Wuhan Hubei China
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June 23, 2006 - 12:52 PM |
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| tomnoddy_uk wrote: |
| how can they prove you new it was fake? whats to stop you just saying you were conned by a clever chinese person into buying the goods which you thought were real? |
Yes, 15 USD for a gold rolex presidential (whatever its called). I just can't find the authencity paperwork |
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lazyyorkie
LoopKicker
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 990
Status: Offline
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June 23, 2006 - 12:56 PM |
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hahahaha^
You need to carry a copy of Magnolias "how to cheat the customs" paper with you and refer to it every step of the way hehe.... |
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sarahs
Raver
Joined: July 19, 2005
Posts: 445
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June 23, 2006 - 01:18 PM |
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What if you only have a few things and you say that they were gifts from aunties or friends? You would naturally not have a receipt for these items... |
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"The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough." |
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lazyyorkie
LoopKicker
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 990
Status: Offline
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June 23, 2006 - 01:21 PM |
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sarahs: they are looking for criminals not a few gifts! forget it. |
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sarahs
Raver
Joined: July 19, 2005
Posts: 445
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June 23, 2006 - 01:27 PM |
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haha ok...reading this thread has made me a bit paranoid. but at least i'll know the worst case scenario. |
_________________
"The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough." |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17959
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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June 23, 2006 - 01:39 PM |
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honestly, despite our utter disilike for authorities, US customs agents have never given me much trouble. I decalre everything on paper and hand them the forms. If i go over allocation, i pay tax. Otherwise i usually have no problems. No paranio needed, I agree that they are looking for criminals not the traveller who bought a fe extra souvenirs.  |
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lazyyorkie
LoopKicker
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 990
Status: Offline
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June 23, 2006 - 01:45 PM |
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Human nature has to get away with soemthing, it is never worth the stress to smuggle a few T shirts , 10 dollar watches, fake dvd's whats the point?
People just feeding a greed complex, I leave all my clothes in SH when returning to the UK, this way I have an empty suitcase, usually fill it with stuff for the kids like football boots, horse riding items like hat etc, I could never be bothered to go to the market get hassled over a 10 bucks shirt and watches which will last about 3 months, you get what you pay for right!
Anyway, some French guy had all his fake stuff taken away in Paris/CD airport recently lucky him hehe |
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frenchlover1999
Shanghai Royalty
Joined: Sep 18, 2004
Posts: 8730
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June 23, 2006 - 02:00 PM |
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sarahs: they are looking for criminals not a few gifts! forget it.
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This is not what EU authorities are saying. Small traffickers like you are easier to catch than big criminals. And big fake goods traders and other parallel distribution networks are often related to original suppliers in one way or another... |
_________________
That was no shark. That was my personal submarine. But enough of this polite conversation. What is the purpose of your visit? |
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PaulM
Barker
Joined: July 26, 2005
Posts: 139
Status: Offline
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June 23, 2006 - 02:21 PM |
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Best advice is to think whether a few hundred dollars worth of cheap and sub-standard fakes are worth a criminal record. UK customs will throw the book at you now both for counterfeits and exceeding your allowance. Clearly certain flights into Heathrow are easy pickings. Obviously-pregnant lawyer friend of mine was stopped and threatened with criminal record (ie end of career) for a few cheap CDs. If you get stopped, you have no plausible answer. |
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lazyyorkie
LoopKicker
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 990
Status: Offline
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June 23, 2006 - 03:04 PM |
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FL:This is not what EU authorities are saying. Small traffickers like you are easier to catch than big criminals. And big fake goods traders and other parallel distribution networks are often related to original suppliers in one way or another...
Sure if you have one case full of fake shirts and another full of LV bags what do you expect?
PaulM: UK customs will often just ask if they can destroy the goods and leave it at that again, this depends if you have a few items for your own use or you have a suitcase full, it is not worth the time to prosecute a person for 10 dvd's!! |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31071
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June 23, 2006 - 04:03 PM |
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| sarahs wrote: |
| What if you only have a few things and you say that they were gifts from aunties or friends? You would naturally not have a receipt for these items... |
us law states that for such items, a market price must be established. remember... we are talking about declared items versus undeclared items. if someone has given you a tea set, you would declare a value on the customs form for it. if you have a a suitcase full of dvd's then you will not likely declare those. once illegal things are found in your possession, then the entire declaration form basically goes out the window, although failure to declare them is another charge they can tack on if they want. |
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yu888
Board Deity
Joined: Jan 25, 2003
Posts: 17959
Location: ZhongShanParkArea SH
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June 23, 2006 - 04:18 PM |
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i always declare my dvds. really. its one of the catagories of items i list on my declaration form. they have yet to bother me about it. |
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Thoughts & updates about Shanghai On my Blog for more details:Random Thoughts about Living in Shanghai...and more |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31071
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June 23, 2006 - 05:02 PM |
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daring!!!!
i've never declared dvd's... but i always declare other things... although, i don't usually bring in too many fakes unless it is a request from someone else... but then i just write "purses = X value" but i usually also have some legal purses to show.
have about 2000 dvds to get back... although i don't think i'll declare those! but won't be bringing those back in one go!!!! |
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