Page 1 of So seriously, what are the chances of getting shafted by customs?

Have bought a few things over the past weeks from eBay, which have been over the £18 customs limit, and so far have not heard anything from customs. (I`m keeping my fingers crossed, as I know they aren`t always quick at getting their letters out with the fines.)

I`d like to order the Marx Brothers collection (about £22) from DVDSoon.com, but I`m a bit wary of getting fined. I got fined about a tenner once before for importing a Gamecube game - but that`s been a one off so far. So anyway, in all honesty what are the chances of getting caught by customs? I know the subject has been somewhat discussed before, but can anyone offer any kind of definitive answer? Is it just down to luck?

Also on another note, how do they know what`s in the parcel - do they put it through a scanner or something, or do they open it?

Cheers for the help! :D

The discs I have received from abroad have always had a customs sticker with the value and contents (DVD) on the label, which have been put on prior to shipping.

As for getting stung, I have only order one item over the limit, Schindler`s List giftset from Amazon.ca, and, 3 weeks later, I am still waiting for it :(

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What`s the chance of a parcel being opened if it`s marked as a gift?

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Please visit ::soundalikes.com::

Stolen, more likely (from bitter experience).

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I`m keeping my fingers crossed, as I know they aren`t always quick at getting their letters out with the fines
They don`t usually send letters out. What usually happens is you get a card through your door telling you they are holding your parcel hostage and how much the ransom is and where to bring it :D . In my experience if your order seems to be taking longer than usual it usually means customs have got it.
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So anyway, in all honesty what are the chances of getting caught by customs? I know the subject has been somewhat discussed before, but can anyone offer any kind of definitive answer? Is it just down to luck?
Is it down to luck? Yes and no. It depends how the contents are declared.If it is marked as DVD`s it is more likely to be caught than if it just has the films title or if it is marked as software. If it is marked as a gift the limit is £36. I think who and where you order from makes a big difference as well. I ordered one thing over the limit from CDWOW and got caught, I`ve ordered lots from dddhouse and been caught less than a quarter of the time (got one on the way now). I`ve ordered over the top from DVD Pacific on several occasions and only been caught twice (also got one on the way now).
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Also on another note, how do they know what`s in the parcel - do they put it through a scanner or something, or do they open it?
They open it (and not always carefully).

This item was edited on Monday, 10th May 2004, 16:34

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They don`t usually send letters out.Well the only time it happened to me I recieved a letter, with a charge at the bottom I had to pay at my bank. :o

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They open it :o :(

Seems like I`ve been lucky so far then. So, should I bite the bullet and order the £22 boxset, or not? ;)

order it... go on

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Well the only time it happened to me I recieved a letter, with a charge at the bottom I had to pay at my bank.

Where was the parcel?

This item was edited on Monday, 10th May 2004, 18:11

What percentage get opened then? They can`t have time to check them all.

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Please visit ::soundalikes.com::

I got caught out in January for importing a portable dvd player that was marked as a birthday gift from my cousin in the U.S. Had to pay £50

I got caught again a few weeks ago for some dvds from dvdpacific and that was a further £12 and oh yes I ordered a wireless cctv camera on ebay at the end of last year and yes got caught again even though that was marked as a gift as well !! >:(