Shipping Dvd's

[houseofgooch]

I have a couple shipping questions. I am going back to the states next week, trying to think of the best way to ship.

1. DVD's - originals and copies - Am I better of shipping it or taking it with me or seperating the case from the disk?

2. Statue of a Buddha, its a replica- do I need a certificate to authenticate that if I take that with me on the plane?

Thanks so much

[Cuban]

1. DVD's - originals and copies - Am I better of shipping it or taking it with me or seperating the case from the disk?

I am unsure what the current policy of US customs is - but I think you will find that the amount you are bringing in will affect if it is ignored or 'dealt with'. Consider splitting the DVDs between different bags, and using smaller DVD carry cases to remove any plastic bag & copied paper insert if you purchased discs of questionable copyright.

Bear in mind a thread running elsewhere about US Customs right to seize and inspect any data they find, regardless of media. I would expect that they have high speed disc readers in place looking for illegal content.

Statue of a Buddha, its a replica- do I need a certificate to authenticate that if I take that with me on the plane?

Unless it is a real old 100% treasure of the nation - no one will care about the tourist quailty Buddhas that are taken out of Thailand. Keep a receipt if it looks old and important. I doubt anyone at the Thai or US side will care.

[PoorSucker]

Can't you get a DVD about shipping in the US.

[houseofgooch]

I am not sure how the shipping works here...how easy is it to send dvd's throught the post office, do they often inspect things, and do you reccomend that I seperate the dvd from the packaging?

[a2396]

Unless you are sure that the DVD's are not bootleg copies & can prove it, I would be carefull about taking these to USA. They are liable to be confiscated by customs otherwise.

[harleyclarkey]

I got hammered by the customs at Schipol. I forgot the DVD's were in my hand luggage and went to go to see Amsterdam for 2 hours in between flights.

The guy stopped me, saw a few (well quite a few..all darn presents and lists I was given. Not a da_m one for me) DVD's/CD's, emptied all my bag and found all of them. I got fined 800 euro....yes, 800, and had them confiscated. he asked me to sign something to the effect that I was voluteering the items and so he said this saved me double the fine. he gave the opinion that the items were copies and so were banned in Holland. The fact I was in Transit had no bearing.

Any one from Holland???

Was I right to pay the fine there and then or should I have said as far as I was aware they are real and I bought them in good faith from a store? Rubbish of course but was it up to him to authenticate every single one and to prove they were fakes? If they were shown (yes, they were) fakes could was it up to him to show that I bought them knowingly? In other words did he con me into a big fine?/

Yes yes...for all you smart alecs who never put a foot wrong in life.....I just forgot they were there. I always ship these in my checked luggage.

Edited August 7, 2008 by harleyclarkey

[dingdongrb]

I got busted about five years back while returning to the USA (before I had actually moved to LOS). I had only about 5 DVDs with me and three of them were movies still playing in the theatres. (Bootleg for sure!) They were all gifts for my brother and nephew as I didn’t even have a DVD player at the time.

Anyway I had stashed them into the sleeve of my laptop case along with some other work papers and CDs. Well needless to say, having long blonde hair and traveling alone I usually get singled out for the random luggage search probably 30% of the time when returning to the USA (mostly in San Fran airport, as it was this time).

I was told to step to the table and provide my passport, to which I did. The very first thing (I was carrying my laptop case, my fanny pack, and one check in luggage) the Customs officer opened was my laptop case. He looked at my laptop, zipped that section up and was about to move the case aside while feeling through the sleeves of it and then happened upon the 5 DVDs. He looked at the sleeves of the DVDs and saw the titles full well knowing that these were bootleg.

He tossed the DVDs as well as some of my work papers and CDs on top of the laptop case and then proceeded to chew my ass out telling me how I was taking away monies from the film industry and trying to make me feel like a low life chump. I stood there for 5-10 minutes sucking it all in and only tried to tell him the truth that they were gifts and I didn’t even have a DVD player. I also tried my ‘puppy dog look’ telling him that I didn’t know it was wrong to buy them. (A big fat lie, of course!)

Well, he then told me put everything away and turned towards his computer with my passport for the next 5-10 minutes. When he turned back around to hand me my passport I asked if he wanted the 5 DVDs which I held out in front of me. He told me to get on my way, allowing me to keep the DVDs. He didn’t even take the time to look through my fanny pack or check in luggage once he found the DVDs. It was probably a good thing too, as I had (I think) about 5 or 6 Rolex copies in my luggage at the time.

And by the way, I finally knew what he was doing when he was at his computer with my passport. He had blacklisted my passport number as the next 5 or 6 times I returned from any business trip back into the USA I was pulled aside each any every time for a thorough search.

[harleyclarkey]

I got busted about five years back while returning to the USA (before I had actually moved to LOS). I had only about 5 DVDs with me and three of them were movies still playing in the theatres. (Bootleg for sure!) They were all gifts for my brother and nephew as I didn't even have a DVD player at the time.

Anyway I had stashed them into the sleeve of my laptop case along with some other work papers and CDs. Well needless to say, having long blonde hair and traveling alone I usually get singled out for the random luggage search probably 30% of the time when returning to the USA (mostly in San Fran airport, as it was this time).

I was told to step to the table and provide my passport, to which I did. The very first thing (I was carrying my laptop case, my fanny pack, and one check in luggage) the Customs officer opened was my laptop case. He looked at my laptop, zipped that section up and was about to move the case aside while feeling through the sleeves of it and then happened upon the 5 DVDs. He looked at the sleeves of the DVDs and saw the titles full well knowing that these were bootleg.

He tossed the DVDs as well as some of my work papers and CDs on top of the laptop case and then proceeded to chew my ass out telling me how I was taking away monies from the film industry and trying to make me feel like a low life chump. I stood there for 5-10 minutes sucking it all in and only tried to tell him the truth that they were gifts and I didn't even have a DVD player. I also tried my 'puppy dog look' telling him that I didn't know it was wrong to buy them. (A big fat lie, of course!)

Well, he then told me put everything away and turned towards his computer with my passport for the next 5-10 minutes. When he turned back around to hand me my passport I asked if he wanted the 5 DVDs which I held out in front of me. He told me to get on my way, allowing me to keep the DVDs. He didn't even take the time to look through my fanny pack or check in luggage once he found the DVDs. It was probably a good thing too, as I had (I think) about 5 or 6 Rolex copies in my luggage at the time.

And by the way, I finally knew what he was doing when he was at his computer with my passport. He had blacklisted my passport number as the next 5 or 6 times I returned from any business trip back into the USA I was pulled aside each any every time for a thorough search.

Isn't it unreal the crap we have to suffer at the hands of these petty ant brains (no wait, an ant has more respect from me). They abuse their power...there was NO need to lecture you and harangue you in public. That is NOT his job. But we know we have to take it or face a few hours delay. American police/IRS/Customs/Border I feel are particularily offensive and power mad.

It is as if this creep has never had a drink too many, bought something knowing it may be not 100%, maybe not paid his full and proper taxe, brought in a bottle or pack over the allowance....the list goes on and on.

[Tod Daniels]

I routinely ship DVD's of computer programs, current movies, games, and the like back to the US in those flat padded envelopes, usually with a dozen or more discs per envelope. NEVER has one been opened. I usually ship out a few envelopes every couple of months.

Sadly, I too am pulled out of line every time entering the US for "further scrutiny". I usually always have DVD's of current movies, pc programs and games in my suitcase (of course they're like all the stuff here; copies). They have perused them but never taken any or lectured me about bringing them in.

I would say you're further ahead to mail them to your address in the US before you fly back. There is a higher chance of them getting thru; higher even than your paranoia about being questioned when arrive with them in your luggage.

[DB84]

I got busted about five years back while returning to the USA (before I had actually moved to LOS). I had only about 5 DVDs with me and three of them were movies still playing in the theatres. (Bootleg for sure!) They were all gifts for my brother and nephew as I didn't even have a DVD player at the time.

Anyway I had stashed them into the sleeve of my laptop case along with some other work papers and CDs. Well needless to say, having long blonde hair and traveling alone I usually get singled out for the random luggage search probably 30% of the time when returning to the USA (mostly in San Fran airport, as it was this time).

I was told to step to the table and provide my passport, to which I did. The very first thing (I was carrying my laptop case, my fanny pack, and one check in luggage) the Customs officer opened was my laptop case. He looked at my laptop, zipped that section up and was about to move the case aside while feeling through the sleeves of it and then happened upon the 5 DVDs. He looked at the sleeves of the DVDs and saw the titles full well knowing that these were bootleg.

He tossed the DVDs as well as some of my work papers and CDs on top of the laptop case and then proceeded to chew my ass out telling me how I was taking away monies from the film industry and trying to make me feel like a low life chump. I stood there for 5-10 minutes sucking it all in and only tried to tell him the truth that they were gifts and I didn't even have a DVD player. I also tried my 'puppy dog look' telling him that I didn't know it was wrong to buy them. (A big fat lie, of course!)

Well, he then told me put everything away and turned towards his computer with my passport for the next 5-10 minutes. When he turned back around to hand me my passport I asked if he wanted the 5 DVDs which I held out in front of me. He told me to get on my way, allowing me to keep the DVDs. He didn't even take the time to look through my fanny pack or check in luggage once he found the DVDs. It was probably a good thing too, as I had (I think) about 5 or 6 Rolex copies in my luggage at the time.

And by the way, I finally knew what he was doing when he was at his computer with my passport. He had blacklisted my passport number as the next 5 or 6 times I returned from any business trip back into the USA I was pulled aside each any every time for a thorough search.

Isn't it unreal the crap we have to suffer at the hands of these petty ant brains (no wait, an ant has more respect from me). They abuse their power...there was NO need to lecture you and harangue you in public. That is NOT his job. But we know we have to take it or face a few hours delay. American police/IRS/Customs/Border I feel are particularily offensive and power mad.

It is as if this creep has never had a drink too many, bought something knowing it may be not 100%, maybe not paid his full and proper taxe, brought in a bottle or pack over the allowance....the list goes on and on.

The film industry is crying a river. Sorry, I really don't care if Julia Roberts only makes USD 15.000.000 a movie because of bootlegs.

[LaReina]

Carrying them on your person is risky via plane. Depending on the quantity and the mood of the person checking, they can seize and fine you big time.

As for the guy who went through Holland, if I am not mistaken the EU has some pretty strict copy right protection laws, what can fly in the US does not even fly in Europe (eg ebays recent law suit for selling fake stuff). An imitation bag can get seized in Europe but in the US can fly by as long as it is not branded as the real item.

What would they have done to you if you could not pay the fine though??