Alright, I was not completely sure whether to post this in this thread or in the "Customs Hassles" thread. Anyways, the picture says it all. Up until now I was very skeptical in ordering from HK citing custom hassles and I also advised others to buy from Local Hobby Shops keeping in mind that there will be no such hassles.

But this incident has now changed my opinion, even though this might only apply to my city. The parcel was held up by the Kolkata Sales Tax department just before Durga Puja(the biggest festival here) and was quite obvious why it was seized "just" before the pujas, actually the whole DTDC container was seized.

 Then there was this wonderful period which lasted for two months and involved a lot of phone calls every other day. The Kolkata Sales Tax department proved to be as "good" as the Kolkata Customs and its brilliance and professionalism made sure that I received the parcel which was dispatched from Delhi to Kolkata in mere 60 days with only 2 lipos missing and guess what, I had to only pay Rs1350 as fine. Moreover, their concern for students also ensured that I was NOT able to participate in the NIT Warangal sp4mm3r for which I was building a hovercraft(even though I'll complete her now!) Isn't that outstanding? Anyways, All's well that ends well.

Let's look at the bright side: One of the sellers here proved his merit during this incident !  He kept me updated about the whole incident, was extremely helpful, kept calling the Kolkata DTDC office(from Delhi), acquiring all the necessary updates and details. He has also decided to share the Salex Tax fine and is also willing to refund the money for the missing lipos(which the Sales tax officer would be using as a power source for his table fan; brilliant idea! considering the frequent power cuts in Kolkata).

While separating the items for Kalyan Da and my friend Ankit(3 of us had ordered together to save on shipping!), I reflected upon the incident and I actually feel very proud now to have joined the elite group of those who have been, in some form or the other, blessed by our government officials!     

I also had my package seized by sales tax department once. But my experience was rather brief and with no heart burn. The package was a plane from RCDhamaka, four days after placing the order I got a call from RCD that my parcel has been seized in Pune and I might get a call from the sales tax department. Few hours later I got the call from sales tax guy and as suggested by RCD I told them that its a hobby item and the quoted value is the actual value of the item for which I have a invoice also. The sales tax guy was trying to get some "kahrcha paani"; he was saying come to my office and show me the invoice,  you'll have to pay a fine, may be we can settle it .. and other usual stuff like that. But i decided to stick to the script RCD suggested and told him to send someone to collect the copy of invoice from MY office After this i called up RCD and informed them about the call. Finally in the evening again I got a call from RCD saying that i'll get the package by tomorrow afternoon. And the next morning I got the parcel like nothing happened in between

West Bengal, Bihar and Uttaranchal have this problem. They require a waybill which includes the Sales Tax number etc. from the consignee. Though this is not strictly applicable to personal items. However , in your case, the problem arose because of the DTDC goods being seized/detained. Normally carriers do not accept goods without this document.

And West Bengal is notorious for their bureaucracy. I have experienced it, many years ago, in person. It is a long story and was a bit harrowing too.

@ Sushil sir: Absolutely true! DTDC shouldn't have accepted the parcel in Delhi cause they knew well that the waybill was missing. Anyways, all this points to one thing : We desperately need an LHS here in Kolkata.
@ SunlikeStar: I wish I had been as lucky as you were!

NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC. NEVER USE DTDC.

 They had lost 7k of computer components in between cheenai to bangalore , these pigs are not even replying now.

DTDC should got the worst topper.

My experience is that, while sending a normal letter by courier for urgent and by normal post (FROM Metro Railway Kolkata to RITES office Noida) the same address and envelop was used.

Surprisingly, the DTDC letter returned as Adress not found (Who knows RITES Building how small) after 10 days while Normal Indian Postal Dept. send it withen 2.5 Days.

Please note that This was happened on probably Mid-2001.
I have just stick the required postal stamp and posted in Metro Box in Post Office(Park Street).

And one more thing, My PCQuest Mag is coming through Indian Post (BookPost covered with seal King only) with DVD inside almost unaffected and I prefer this mode of delivery. Only first copy was damaged as my Postal Peon was unaware about the DVD may be inside and folded though he expresses sorrow later while we asked him. However, PCQuest was kind enough that they replaces whenever I have Damaged CD/DVD Issue.

And as said earlier, in Bihar, West Bengal, Uttaranchal etc. needs Kharcha Pani specially before largest festivals (As they need to purchase Huah. ) they start twisting public in many ways. You may see that Traffic, Mode of inspection increased this time.

Most time, the private courier companies tries to solve it as quick they can , so that their goodwill remains and that is why they are the easiest and profitable TARGET but they fails sometimes. And, as the Govt. SpeedPost will not pay them, generally they are remain undisturbed.

So, use Govt. Service when this chances remain. Even ask them (Post Office Personnel) politely and they will help you about the papers required with that shipment. Believe me, they are expert to distinguish between the Postal Stamp Black Marketters and you and help you as they can. At least I have got this all time.

In Park Street POst Office, and in GPO, I have seen many times that they denied to sell a few persons even 5 Nos while they sell me and some other as much as we need without knowing us.

Only STEEL can cut STEEL. So prefer Speed Post. However, big parcels may be kept in post office and you will be informed to collect from their as Govt. personnel are sometime physically weak.

And if personal sell items inside (without sales tax invoice) you may document/declare them as loan item or service replacement.

It is such a bad turn of times that Kolkata, which was once hub of Aeromodeling, with legendary IHC based from there, today looks at LHS in other cities. Openness, economic and Govt apathy is may be main issue.

Yes, true.

The cheapest thing in IHC almost 2 times than normal cost.

The Behala Flying Club is in COMA.
The behala airport is converted to commercial airport with personal hanger of large industrialist, and hence restricted.

Current Balsa/wood cutting experts are doing their job as business. No information sharing except high priced workshop.

 

Just one question
what was the value of consignment which you had ordered and how much was the tax you had paid on the consignment ordered from Delhi?

items appx 13k and Tax (?) about 1400. But that was collected by DTDC not Sales Tax Dept. and the receipt is also from DTDC insted of Salea Tax Dept.

Why berate the system and the courier company when it is you who have tried to circumvent the system (i am assuming no sales tax was paid)
And i am sure you can ask DTDC for the sales tax challan through which they have paid the tax for your items as well (again assuming that they paid the tax and not managed the tax guys)
The exp with RCD was different for the user here cause RCD charges you tax and hence the purchase is perfectly legal
Also people should know that there might be different rules in different state for cross state sales
As they say "Pay tax karo relax"

"Pay Tax karo relax" is replaced here by "Tax pura?, maro hatorah". Any articles having profit margin 10% (say) and Tax 13.5%(Maximum Tax) should be VAT of 1.35% only and this will depend on valuation by the inspector not by real life, where the dark station starts.

We always Pay Taxes in full and in advance and believe me as we have not compromised with rules or any other officials. One example, my single storied building (With 1/4th roof and rest with burned soil tiles covered)  have almost 4 times corporation tax than just front 3 storied building as that was a ....@#$%^&***() and in our locality all negotiates with corporation officers except me.

This is because, my salary comes from Taxes. But this negotiating money mostly utilized as BLACK MONEY.

Someone like us who pay full tax, are always target here.
Inspectors always select them and twist as they have more milk to suck.

Alright, even if the fine is justified, I paid it within a week after the parcel was seized and I got the parcel 7 weeks later. DTDC had a hard time collecting the fines from all the other customers and it didn't transfer the fine to the Sales tax officials until it had collected the money from all of the customers. So that took a couple of weeks. Then came our brilliant department which wasn't willing to release the parcel even after the fine was paid(again for obvious reasons). God knows what they were doing, 3 weeks later top officials of  DTDC had to meet the officer in person, and then it took 10 more days for the sales tax authorities to release it.

All I can say is we are hearing only one side of the entire story.
However one thing is clear that not paying tax was starting on the wrong foot.
Another age old adage is that, "one who seeks justice should come with clean hands"
I guess we are mature enough to come to our own conclusions   

I have personally found speedpost to be the most economical and reliable of couriers. The problem with many private couriers is their "last mile operations" which is frequently outsourced to an indifferent person.
Since the customer often has to deal with these clowns it tends to put one off.
regards
Avijit