Was your package inspected by customs?

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

I recently got a package from FT that had some drivers, O rings, emitters, hosts, and DC cables in it. I noticed that it had been opened and inspected (they reseal with tape that notifies you it had been inspected), and then properly repackaged. Everything was in order. What actually surprises me that it was the first of many since starting to order these types of items last year that had ever been opened. On reflection, I can imagine how suspicious these items must look on an X-Ray screen, and it would have looked even more suspicious if I had also had some batteries in that order. One of my previous orders had a lot of items mainly used for firearms (but in this case for mounting lights on bike helmets) such as picatinny rails, weaver mounts, and tritium vials, again rather suspicious looking items in the eyes of a non flashaholic perhaps.

This has got me wondering if perhaps some countries are more pro-active about actually opening shipments like these and inspecting them, and of course this leads to the next obvious question, how long does waiting in the inspection queue end up delaying the shipments? Perhaps some countries are better/worse than others? I suspect it may be a function of how well funded the respective border service agencies are, and they probably are a lot better at separating packages destined for flashaholics from those that are intended for less salubrious ends than I realized.

2

All the time.
Mike

3

Hi,

I have an order that I’ve been waiting on for awhile (> 3 weeks) from sobuying.com.

The order was from about 3 weeks ago, and I got a tracking number from them about a week after the order. I waited, but the number never worked, so I contacted them. The first time, they asked me to be patient and wait awhile more, which I did. Then, about a week later, it still wasn’t working, so I contacted them again, sending several messages.

Early last week, they got back to me and told me that they had found out that China Post had stopped the package because there was a battery in it, and was returning it to them. So, it appears that, at least China Post, does inspect and stop OUTgoing packages.

The funny part about the whole story (well, half story, I still haven’t received what I ordered yet) was that I hadn’t ordered any batteries, but sobuying had added a battery as “service” :(…!!

4

yes.

5

I’ve had one inspected by customs from about a 100.

6

One of my DX order was inspected by customs,
and I suspect the reason was a green laser.
I get all of the items repacked and with a note.

7

Nope. But once it was by the TSA.

8

yeah I had my green laser opened, then resealed and sent on.

Which was lucky as it was a 50mw one.

Quite powerful……hmmm I might get it out of the drawer……… >)

And get this, I bought something, can’t remember what, it went via the US……and it arrived at my home with “Inspected by Homeland Security” tape across the back!

I mean, wtf?

EDIT: that was it, after fully reading TSeller’s post, it was 20mm Weaver mounts with some P-rails, higher set ones for a larger headed torch!!

9

so far 1 out of 45.

10

I have had to pay customs on some items but I am not sure whether they opened the package to inspect.

I am waiting for an order right now from FT that has been in my country for almost two weeks and I wonder if it is due to customs inspecting the package. The order value was under the amount to incur import VAT (just some eneloops and a thermometer).

11

in here, we receive letter from central mail exchange say that our package detain in customs.
Then we have to go there. customs officers open package in front of us and charge duty tax

early days… they can fooled by saying lower price than actual market value of product.
I know man who told customs his 1000$ worth hi-end motherboard, VGA, processor valued less than 100$ total.

But now they check prices online and calculate tax.

12

in my country they check if the package is large size. happened once to me.

however if item packed in bubble envelope even up to A4 size, never been opened by customs or post office. hope they keep it that way :D

13

Not yet, but then I only recently started ordering stuff from outside the US.

14

Heheh…beat me to it.

15

Yes. I’ve ordered some knives from various Chinese sites and the packages have been opened by customs.

16

17

That would be a resounding yes...

I wonder what they made of all the laser hosts

I've never seen a package so viciously torn apart. All the packaging was tossed. A couple of smaller pieces are missing, and I assume went with it.

Everything that could be taken apart was taken apart, and later it looks like the literally tossed it back into the box.

Every hollow area was opened.

I don't mind customs doing their job (well mostly :p) but I'm kind of ticked that there is no one to hold accountable, about doing carefully.

18

i don’t know what my customs will do to a sharp object like a knife, that’s why i never order anything have function like a knife including multitools or pocket swiss knife.

@infinitusequitas, that is a mess job..I don't see a seller can be held accountable for that "disaster".

19

The shipper is not at fault, nor am I unhappy with them. The package was properly declared, and packed.

What bothers me is how much of a mess customs made of the examination.

I had packages examined in the past, and what I received was still basically pristine, and somewhat repackaged. I had other packages where things were mixed up a bit, but still all there.

I never had a package tossed like that though, where they literally tore up small baggies, with little parts, even though you can see exactly what's in there - button covers, focus adapters, switchers, etc,.