RC India

Admin NoteThis thread was split from : http://www.rcindia.org/rc-outlets-and-resellers/arfs-radio-system-import/

Anam Bhaiya! Sorry that I ask lots of questions.
But My last orders from HK(19oct 2010) were shipped at next day means 20oct as the warehouse status changed from processing to shipped. It is already 24th (4th day from shipped) and still not updated on HKpost's website. I have read that it takes 3-5 days. According to your experience, when it should be updated and when will my parcels arrive at my doorstep?
Thanks.

Hi I have ordered a RTF on Sept 23 and the status on USPS tracking runs thus.
 

Your item left the United States from ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS) at 11:21 pm on September 24, 2010. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later

Detailed Results:
 
 International Dispatch, September 24, 2010, 11:21 pm, ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS)
 Arrival
 Electronic Shipping Info Received, September 24, 2010
 

After this now its more than a month and no updates from USPS. Can anyone pleass advice me if this is a normal time taken to reach a Parcel from US or there is something wrong :'(

I believe, once it leaves the USA, it is no longer in the hands of the United States Postal Service (USPS). It would have to be tracked from who ever handles it from there. If was shipped UPS, that's different. They ship worldwide and you can track from http://www.ups.com
I would think you should have had it in no longer than 3 weeks. I order from China to the USA all the time and usually receive my order within 14 days.

The seller should help you track your order.

Hope this helps...
Wayne

@ asinghatiya

Try tracking your parcel on this site http://www.track-trace.com/post (http://www.track-trace.com/post)
Just enter your tracking number then Track with options. By default USPS tracking page will open if parcel is sent through USPS. After that in Select country tab choose India then you will be able to track it within India. I hope This helps.

Thank You so much @spitfire, I think it will work, currently its not showing result but might be due to server is down. Will chk again. Keep updating. thanks

i also order a jet plane to bananahobby.com. they sent it by usps now this is in custom office near bal bhawan ne delhi. but the status is Label/Receipt Number: CJ17 0803 245U S
Class: Priority Mail International Parcels
Service(s): International Parcels
Status: International Dispatch

the custom dept. is tooooo negtive to clear the parcel. if you have any question please call 09896074123

thank you so much but, this scare me, any way out, you have received your parcel or not ? I am waiting from last one month..and they havent send me a notice. and the EMS This is ridiculous.

no i am finding a approch to clear the parcel

Thanks, I finally got the whereabouts of my Parcel, from http://www.track-trace.com it has reached delhi last month only. Now sent to customs. Now its a real tussel to get the package from Customs. Can anyone help me how to approach them or get the package from them ?
Status is given below.

9/24/2010 5:18:00 PM UNITED STATES 91754 Receive item from customer (Otb) 
9/24/2010 11:20:00 PM UNITED STATES ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS) Receive item at office of exchange (Otb) 
9/24/2010 11:21:00 PM UNITED STATES ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS) Insert item into bag (Otb) 
9/25/2010 4:45:00 PM UNITED STATES ISC LOS ANGELES CA (USPS) Send item abroad (EDI-received) 
9/28/2010 12:00:09 PM INDIA DELHI FOREIGN POST OFFICE Receive item at office of exchange (Inb) 
9/28/2010 2:45:27 PM INDIA DELHI FOREIGN POST OFFICE Send item to customs (Inb)


Wot does 'Inb' means?

"inb" means inbound  freight
"otb" means outbound  freight.

U will have to go to customs office. It is detained. They will not release it until u go and produce documents.

[Admin Note]  Modified to remove a below the belt remark ;)

Yeah you are right, but They should have sent me a notice or a call. Does anyone have the number of Customs office. I got 01123238880, but no one is picking this number. Any other number for the same.

They do not. you have to be in touch with the customs dept yourself

I would be worried if my item is held with customs for over 3 weeks. The problem is there are increased chances of manhandling with you pacakge spending more time there. Something like spending too much time in police lockup  >:D :giggle:

I would advise you to visit the FPO as soon as possible with the following docs:
1. Tracking number
2. The Customs invoice as issued by Hobby King (should be  there in your Order page)
3. A Small application addressed to "Asst Commissioner, Postal Appraisal Dept, Delhi Customs, Declaring what is the item is to used for (ensure to mention it is for personal use) and the declared Value of the item including shipping (That should match what HK's invoice). Leave the Subject empty which you fill later by getting the 'Internal Number" from FPO.

first visit the FPO, at the item inquiry, get the 'Internal' number by providing the Tracking no. Put this internal number in the subject of the letter to Customs.

Visit  the Customs's PAD which should in the same premise of FPO. The Superintendent would normally entertain people after 1:30. find the peon and get an appointment. Give the peon you Internal No and he would take out you paper. Try to get the reason for holding the item - if they are awaiting to open you item, silently give them a slip and wait for more time. Otherwise you could mentally prepare to give the proper reasoning or completely re-write the letter.

All the best.

No. is 011-23233325. u tell the parcel no. they will give u info.

I thought I should not write again as one of the friend told me that this not a place to discuss the customs problem, so I stopped writing.
My dear friends now I have one thing very clear, Its Indian Postal service's responsibility to deliver my parcel and I will not go there. If there is a non-compliance they will send me a notice.

Now I have raised this issue with Dpt. Director General of Posterl service so, let see weather regulations win or I need bow against the wrong.

One thig is now sure, I am not worried abt a 10k toy, I m now firm to get this thing done in a right way.

I split the customs discussion from Anam's original thread...  feel free to discuss as much as you want in this new thread ! :)

Back to the customs issues, I know of two cases where taking a hard line (leading to court/tribunal cases) resulted in far more financial grief to the hobbyists, much more than the cost of the items.  As much as it sounds bigoted, a "half firm half flexible" attitude might be the smarter choice !

You are advised not to indulge in any details which might be illegal/unlawful under the rule of the land. Talking about the legal way of getting your package cleared is entirely fine.
to begin with you should have searched the forum before posting. These issues have been discussed and detailed times a many on the forum.

Comming to your plan to write to DG of PO, you are right that Customs + PO should serve you a notice. But there is nothing wrong in proactively inquiring for your own parcel. Importing goods, even things connected to RC is always a problem.

Apart from not receiving any notice/intimation, you would have anyway ended up at Customs.
Believe me, I have seen loads of Electronics goods auctioned and 3 truck load of 'Ganja' (Hash) burned by my Uncle's officers. Customs have all the rights to question goods imported. They can only confesticate restricted items like Radio. Almost all the other R/C items are good to go, provided the invoice is right for duty evaluation.

Keep cool and all the best.

Thanks Anwar :) and you are right, I should adopt the middle path (the Lord Buddha way of middle path :)) I have started my fight but I m pragmatic too, I know things are not so simple as they appear, I also understand customs department's priorities and their challenges.

Will keep on updating about my progress, I have written to all the senior officials in postal department and I am not very hopefull receiving any reply, if this didnt work then plan B :) .

For all customs issues, best to make a visit. Recently one of my parcels was detained for more than 20 days. On phone, I was told that the notice was send, never reached me. On visiting the office, I manually took out the letter meant for me and responded to it with the required docs immediately and got the item cleared.

The letter was not send for want of stamps........

The IE code is always asked while the law states that IE code is exempted for "Persons importing or exporting goods for personal use not connected with trade or manufacture or agriculture".

Hi Friends, beyond my imagination i got the reply from Dpt Director General's office it runs thus.

Sir,           
    Thanks for your mail.
    The SPA u/r detained by custom as per net movements . You contact to foreign post office (custom) , New Delhi -    110002 (Tel.- 23233325, 23236743, 23236739).

      Thanks and Regards
       SPC, Delhi--110001

 
But this didnt solve the problem.  >:( Now as Anwar suggested I have to be practical now and have to visit them. What my friends like to suggest ?

It is best that you visit them and resolve things in person.

By IE codes I hope you mean HS (Harmonized System) codes.
I have been to PAD twice. Just last Saturday I went to accompany one of my friend whose ARF Foamy was stuck due to missing invoice. In the letter We/I never mentioned the HS codes.

Unless you are not importing just too many items (in a single package) or multiple nos of same items, customs wont make too much of fuss. The Key is 'Order small and often' - keep away from importing Radio if you can find it in India itself.

The IE code stands for I(mporter) E(xporter code. HS codes are product description/classifications that are international. So HS code "xxx " will classify the product as "zzz" anywhere in the world.

Its not HS codes, but IE code issued by DFT. Issued for people engaged in EXIM. Its not required for personal EXIM. But customs ask for it thinking we are importing commercial. We have to convince them that its personal and charge lower duty rate of 14.712%.

Just call them and ask what is the problem? Tell them u cant come to Delhi and they shud give u a reason for detention. when they do, if u have the solution then fax the relevant documents to them otherwise PM me.

Duty rate depends on the item type not on personal or commercial.

Since we are taking about RC stuff, I am not referring to importing cars, electronics etc. All Hobby items coming under personal stuff, I believe is charged at 14.712%

No sir, it depends on custom wallah's mood. They might put ur item in diff categories and charge diff duties. ex. if they put ur item in toy category it will go free upto Rs 10000. if fun-fare category it will attract 26.849% (which is most common for RC products). there are many more.

Now the status runs thus:

I went to Customs Delhi office. Postoffice people were very cooperative and without me asking anything, they took my USPS tracking number and guide me about my internal tracking number and guided me to customs dept. toruble starts here.
every day from 2 o clock to 4 oclock they resolve the pending/ detained items with them. And to my surprise, after having heard so much about their haressment, I didnt found any thing like that there. With me there were 5 other people who had different items detaind due to different and valid reasons.

When it was my turn they took out my packet and open it infront of me.... and said, that this kind of item is not allowed to import. I said sir, market is flooded with airplanes and why this is not allowed?

He was adament without any logic, then he told me that go to DGFT website and you will find this product didnt comply certain criteria hence not alllowed. I told him its a toy, he said 'can you prove' this is a toy? After that wot is said was surprising, He said its not you but we have many such toys detained in our wearhouse and people without inquiring buy online and create a trouble here in office.

I aksed him a simple question humbly that if law didnt permit this toy then why so many hobby centers in the country are allowed to import so many toys. If there is a law and if this didnt comply with DGFT norms then why so many RC planes and Helis available in market? and he had no answer but he asked me to leave his office.  OK, as anwar said now I have to adopt the twisted and practical way.

As such there is no haressment by them but, as far as RC stuff specially helis and aircrafts are concerned they have a problem and I dont konw why?

Why a hobby shop owner is able to get his loads of stuff cleared and an individual's stuff is detained.
I know this is called 'clearing charges', if they are there then they could have charged me too and I am sure even after they charg me (or take under table) I will be able to buy RC stuff much cheaper.

Beleive me I am not against any Hobby shop but I just want a fair deal here.

You can try taking the letter posted by Santhosh.  It says that "models" (not just "toys") are allowed.

You can also try going the RTI route, requesting information on how many RC models were inspected in the past 3 months, how many were detained under which provisions of the law, and how many were released under which provisions of the law and so on.

OR...

You work on the lowest rung, and use "butter to soothe the wringles" :)

 :) Thanks Anwar, I have already found a butter for them. I have already got it cleared. But the question I have raised here is quite disturbing, why an individual face the trouble?

hello arvind ji how r u

i talk to mr anam my parcel will release on monday or tuesday.

Great, congratu;ations, even i got a connect today morning, and as i said...i am convinced tht it will be cleard by tuesday...so ...mine too is cleared..... but as we have discussed, why we individuals are in trouble ?

how u release your parcel

Actually its about clearence from Customs, so as I said a connect person will help getting its clearence done at customs..once cleard it will be delivered at our doorstep. Last evening we had a talk, I was driving down to Chd from delhi and today morning, I had a word with a person of my acquitance, he told me that it not always easy but this time he will get it done, so probably I will get my stuff this time, but I think I will now either purchase from Tower Hobby.com where they send it from UPS which have no such hassesl (as they charge "clearing charges").

Try Fedex if available. Ur parcel wont even go to FPO. Fedex gets it cleared from Airport. only problem is not many sites offer fedex.

We have so many challenges, first not many online stores shipp to india, those few who ship use USPS for it, very few uses UPS or other high quality shipping.

I hope that in near future, these online stores may take this in consideration and start using UPS or Fedexs of the world.

i have many permanent sellers on ebay who use fedex or can use it on request. if ebay suits u then buy planes and radios (tx rx) on ebay.

hello sir how r u

have u got ur parcel

Yeah Finally and today only, just an hour back. Havent yet open it, coz  I am in office. But it proves that Delhi Customes are not easy to handle.  ;D :banghead:

No custom officer is easy to handle, I had couple of experiences with them and you need to tweak around a bit to get it out of their hands :p

Also, this is the official site and a good one to track any international order received via Post

http://ipsweb.ptcmysore.gov.in/ipswebtracking/

Actually I read so many experiences here but none prove that customs denied bluntly to release the pack. In my case they denied blunty that its impossible to get this pack released.

They have even told me about any documents needed or any other non compliance but an outright NO.

So I twisted the fingure to get some Gee..... :giggle: ;D you know.  But a learning for me. Will now not going to imporat a RTF.

Let me read through the thread again before asking why they denied...

It was a RTF 6 Channel Heli ... like any other RTF. I am an individual imported for personal use. I dont find any reason for this denial :banghead: .

See what they said
a) Prove this a toy! if it is a toy then you need to have xyz certificates from manufacturer and DGFT.
b) You have get a clearence from DGFT (NOC) (he himself then told me that till date no has come to me with that NOC)
c) This is non compliant with DGFT norms.

Ah.. the radio. I would never argue them if the pack had any radio, its practically hard to prove to non-tech. people that radio falls under permitted range. It totally depends upon person to person who is dealing your case, maybe he had a fight with his wife :)

Ok, so about using FedEx., true they are the only courier that deliver on door step even if you import a scale model RC Jet with 12C radio :) as they become the Importer for you, they pay all the taxes applicable and ask you to pay that on delivery.

I had ordered some spare parts for my laptop from US, as that time Alienware was only US based. The parts cost me roughly 6K but the fedex people paid the duties worth 2.5K at Delhi airport. Within 5 working days I had the packet at my doorstep from US but I had to pay the duties to accept from Fedex.

When you have a radio, its better to talk to clerks than the officer to get it cleared. :)

Okie got it. I think you are right. In between this case I imported some other assessoris like my Digi cam screen and my radio's  antinna etc. they landed half the cost what is in the market. Delivered at home the the parcel was by USPS.

My conclusion is that any assessory is a non disputable item for customs and its useless too for them 8-) as they dont understand the importance of that product. Like my Digi cam screen cost me 1100. (Last year I purchased from delhi in 3000 and that too without backlight and after so much of hassel) this screen is 1100 all inclusive delivered at my home from Honk kong. similarly my Radio's Anitnna, one person was charging 1300 INR for a 2.4 Ghz antinna but It cost me 450 INT all inclusive delivered at home from US.

buy as much as assessories they are not going to charge you as they dont understand them... but a RTF is a bomb for them, avoide importing RTF untill you know how to twist the fingure :giggle:.

Another thing, your RTF box might had an invoice pasted on it, right? If the item comes with invoice pasted on it then its not a gift :)

O ya, that had an invoice. So had there been no invoice, they would have released this ??? :headscratch:

Not saying like that but it would have been fairly simple. The rule says, Toys/Parts or any item declared as gift and worth under INR 10K is non taxable and should be cleared without any duty except any storage/inventory charges which was paid by postal department to hold the item in their inventories.

Still the rule of thumb is buy small, buy often :)

Hummm Thumb Rule accepted. Mine exceeded 2000 to the threshold.  ;D

Hi,

I have ordered a few items using ebay.com and the seller gave me a tracking no.
It was shipped using usps first class international.
The status as on date is :


YOUR LABEL NUMBER
SERVICE
STATUS OF YOUR ITEM
DATE & TIME
LOCATION
FEATURES
First-Class Mail International
Processed through USPS Sort Facility
February 18, 2012, 6:00 am
LOS ANGELES, CA 90009
International Letter
Electronic Shipping Info Received
February 14, 2012
Processed at USPS Origin Sort Facility
February 14, 2012, 9:18 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84199
Accepted at USPS Origin Sort Facility
February 14, 2012, 8:03 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84116
Shipment Accepted
February 14, 2012, 3:35 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84199


Now I am unable to track it further down.
Just wanted to know whether i can track usps first class international package using speed post website or ips tracking.

Pl lemme know if any1 has experience abt this.

Merged...

And another related thread :

http://www.rcindia.org/rc-outlets-and-resellers/you-can-now-track-your-international-parcels-here/

Track it here

http://ipsweb.ptcmysore.gov.in/ipswebtracking/

Not working at ips...
Its a  first class international mail....

Hw much is the average time for USPS first class international mail to reach domestic locations?

First Class Intl Mail (i.e. non register/ordinary mail) usually takes 3 weeks after it lands in India.

On IPS, I think you can track only the following
- Register Mail (RXXXXXXXXXXXX)
- Air Parcel (CXXXXXXXXXXXX) and
- EMS (EXXXXXXXXXXXX)

Yes...
The no. is not traceable on any website.....
It shows only tht it hs left US on 18.2.12...
Waiting 4 it to arrive