Bad experience with US customs...

N.E.Tim said:
Nader,
In dealing with people over the phone I have learned to get their name AND employee I.D. NUMBER.
A lot of companys do not want their employees using their real name for security reasons.
When I ask for the I.D. number things change with how they work with me and stop trying to pass the buck.
I know You do not need this non-sense, but hopefully the buyer will appreciate the knife even more.
1,000,000 crazy things going on in North America and the U.S. is worrying about something that has already left with approval.
Maybe somebody in customs heard that the Knife was a REAL LOOKER.
GOOD LUCK.
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Very true, I was naive enough to think no games were being played...unfortunatly the plot thickens and I do fear that it might end up "missing".
Im just wanting the knife to get to the buyer , hes a swell guy, and even though we both agreed that once it was out of my hands that he will take responsibility for any customs issues (after I insure it and take care of things if I need to file a claim)- I cant help but feel horrible.

I've got a busy day tomorrow, but wednesday im gonna start knocking on some more doors and seeing what I can find out
 
Bigfatts said:
Wait. So you were supposed to get the knife back and when this person in TX found that out he put a stop on the package and had it redirected to him? Why? Is this the Smith person? Whoever said it above was right, get employee id numbers.
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Absolutely correct. Smith is uncontactable according to UPS, but I will see if I cant call the office directly and go through their employee directory on the phone (On Wednesday).
 
Neil Ostroff said:
Shipments from Canada to any country in the world pass thru the USA first - FedEx has several hubs including Memphis, Indianapolis, Newark and Anchorage- UPS has their hub in Louisville and perhaps another - notwithstanding the fact that the package will only spend the night in one of these hubs before leaving for the destination foreign country, US Customs has the right to examine any package that has entered the USA even though it is just passing through.

Yes, this stinks but it is the law and there is nothing that can be done about it.

Neil Ostroff / TNK
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I hear yah Neil and I 100% agree that they have every right to inspect something that goes through their country. What they dont have the right to do though is to call back an item once its left their country. They are the US customs, not the "world customs". To have the ability to call back an item and basically redirect it at their leisure around the world (ie. away from the customer when it was out for delivery in another country, and away from me when it was out for delivery) is ridiculous and unlawful if you ask me.

Just hope it all works out
 
RevDevil said:
What in the world are people on. I tell you man, this is pure nonsense but I am not surprised. They should at the very least refund your shipping cost or send it on it's way once "Agent Smith" finds no trace of Neo or Zion inside the box. :rolleyes:
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I ask for a refund, and what do you know..they rejected it since it was a "customs" issue- even though they are the ones who have a big role in this situation (ie. returning the package to me instead of the customs officer who requested it)
 
I dont think a package in transit from Canada to another country outside the USA would actually enter the USA in a legal sense just because the plane carrying it makes a stop in the USA. It would sit in a locked and secured area before being sent on and would only pass though US Customs if the final destination were inside the USA. US Customs doent clear every single piece of freight transiting via air freight through the country. Somehow I think there is some aspect of this story we have not heard yet. I have sent thousands of packages, many many of them to the USA and US Customs has never taken an interest in a single one...
 
Wait, This Agent Smith:eek:

agent-smith.jpg
 
Kevin Wilkins said:
I dont think a package in transit from Canada to another country outside the USA would actually enter the USA in a legal sense just because the plane carrying it makes a stop in the USA. It would sit in a locked and secured area before being sent on and would only pass though US Customs if the final destination were inside the USA. US Customs doent clear every single piece of freight transiting via air freight through the country. Somehow I think there is some aspect of this story we have not heard yet. I have sent thousands of packages, many many of them to the USA and US Customs has never taken an interest in a single one...
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Mr Wilkins - you are 100% wrong. This is not a matter of customs clearance.
I am not speaking of packages sent from country A to the USA directly- this is a case where any package that goes from Canada to a country other than the USA by FedEx or UPS will pass through the USA first and although it is very uncommon, the US authorities at the corresponding carriers hub in the USA have the right to examine anything they wish for SECURITY purposes before loading it on their US aircraft for onward delivery.
This is a rare event but it happens- also it is no different than any outbound shipment from the USA being examined for security before it is put on board- all carriers have the right to verify contents of anything they ship for any reason and they don't gave to ask you.
However if during their SECURITY inspection they find contraband such as switchblades or elephant ivory materials then under international law they have the right to seize the items.

Finally I think the OP just ran into bad luck in this isolated case and unfortunately shit happens.

NEIL OSTROFF / TNK
 
Nader Elhayek said:
I hear yah Neil and I 100% agree that they have every right to inspect something that goes through their country. What they dont have the right to do though is to call back an item once its left their country. They are the US customs, not the "world customs". To have the ability to call back an item and basically redirect it at their leisure around the world (ie. away from the customer when it was out for delivery in another country, and away from me when it was out for delivery) is ridiculous and unlawful if you ask me.

Just hope it all works out
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Hi-- this really stinks but actually US Customs has a right to take back packages from anyone from anywhere even after the package has been delivered- this happened to me only once in my 17 years as a knife dealer- long time ago.

Sorry about all this for you- its a real inconvenience but in the end you will have spent your time- which is more valuable than your money- and unfortunately you will not get any satisfaction.
 
Neil Ostroff said:
Mr Wilkins - you are 100% wrong. This is not a matter of customs clearance.
I am not speaking of packages sent from country A to the USA directly- this is a case where any package that goes from Canada to a country other than the USA by FedEx or UPS will pass through the USA first and although it is very uncommon, the US authorities at the corresponding carriers hub in the USA have the right to examine anything they wish for SECURITY purposes before loading it on their US aircraft for onward delivery.
This is a rare event but it happens- also it is no different than any outbound shipment from the USA being examined for security before it is put on board- all carriers have the right to verify contents of anything they ship for any reason and they don't gave to ask you.
However if during their SECURITY inspection they find contraband such as switchblades or elephant ivory materials then under international law they have the right to seize the items.

Finally I think the OP just ran into bad luck in this isolated case and unfortunately shit happens.

NEIL OSTROFF / TNK
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I don't think I am 100% wrong.

Do companies who make their money by being effecient – like FedEx and UPS – actually do zero direct air freight from Canada, but instead ship 100% of all shipments first to the USA before sending them on their final destination? If they do, they need to hire me to come in and consult with them. First off: Stop doing that. Then creat a computer shipping program to automatically direct shipments the fastest, most direct way based on where the shipping capacity is at any given moment... oh wait, I just let the cat out of the bag!

Goods in transit are not legally imported into the countries through which they pass. If that were the case, Customs would have to clear everything passing through US ports and the US trade inbalance would be really, really bad. Goods in transite are stored securely until they are shipped on out again.

I'm sure the US does security checks on all shipents and the carrier certainly gives them direct access to their manifests. If there were a security problem with the shipment, they would have seized it. Calling it back? There has got to be something there we are not hearing about.

And US Customs can't come to your house and seize your property without a warrant and due process. If that were the case, Customs could just seize almost all the products in the USA any time they wanted, because they are almost all imported or contain imported components. Hide that Made in China iPad! Here comes the Cusoms agent! Not gonna happen. Once Customs clears your goods and releases them to you, they are yours. You're gonna have to have some serious contraband before anybody is going to seize it from you. And a trial. Because although it has taken a beating in recent years, the US Constitution is still on the Books.
 
Kevin Wilkins said:
I don't think I am 100% wrong.

Do companies who make their money by being effecient – like FedEx and UPS – actually do zero direct air freight from Canada, but instead ship 100% of all shipments first to the USA before sending them on their final destination? If they do, they need to hire me to come in and consult with them. First off: Stop doing that. Then creat a computer shipping program to automatically direct shipments the fastest, most direct way based on where the shipping capacity is at any given moment... oh wait, I just let the cat out of the bag!

Goods in transit are not legally imported into the countries through which they pass. If that were the case, Customs would have to clear everything passing through US ports and the US trade inbalance would be really, really bad. Goods in transite are stored securely until they are shipped on out again.

I'm sure the US does security checks on all shipents and the carrier certainly gives them direct access to their manifests. If there were a security problem with the shipment, they would have seized it. Calling it back? There has got to be something there we are not hearing about.

And US Customs can't come to your house and seize your property without a warrant and due process. If that were the case, Customs could just seize almost all the products in the USA any time they wanted, because they are almost all imported or contain imported components. Hide that Made in China iPad! Here comes the Cusoms agent! Not gonna happen. Once Customs clears your goods and releases them to you, they are yours. You're gonna have to have some serious contraband before anybody is going to seize it from you. And a trial. Because although it has taken a beating in recent years, the US Constitution is still on the Books.
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You are 100% WRONG- I see you want to change the rules and the system and I am all for that- way too much government interference in my view.

But the protocol and law is as it is now and no amount of pontificating on your part will change it.

If a carrier, mail courier delivers a package to a household or business in the USA after clearing it thru customs they have the legal right to go back and claim it back for customs to re-examine it- no warrant required. Sucks but that's what it is.

Your thoughts and dreams for a better America is admirable but in fact unfortunately the practicality is what it is.
 
Nader, you've gone to great lengths to figure out and get some insight into what is currently happening. I totally commend you for that, and it is exemplary on your behalf. I will say that I would be glad to deal with you (again) and without any hesitation on my end. You are one of the good guys.
 
No disrespect Neil, but I'd have to have some more information before I can buy that.

The Postman rings your bell and says, Hey that package I delivered last week? I need it back! UPS stops by and demands the goods they delivered two years ago?

Just tell 'em you sold the stuff on ebay! ;-)

If we're talking endangered animal products or major product piracy, then that is something else and I think we're talking Raid! This is the Police! Not Hi this is Customs, can we take another look at that pocket knife again, the one you bought last year?

It is just not going to happen.
 
Kevin Wilkins said:
No disrespect Neil, but I'd have to have some more information before I can buy that.

The Postman rings your bell and says, Hey that package I delivered last week? I need it back! UPS stops by and demands the goods they delivered two years ago?

Just tell 'em you sold the stuff on ebay! ;-)

If we're talking endangered animal products or major product piracy, then that is something else and I think we're talking Raid! This is the Police! Not Hi this is Customs, can we take another look at that pocket knife again, the one you bought last year?

It is just not going to happen.
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Congratulations Kevin- you just had the last word. :rolleyes:
 
Hey All,

Sorry for the lack of updates- did not see these post notifications.

Good news! The item arrived to the buyer yesterday. After knocking on some doors and emailing /calling multiple parties it seems that the US customs just wanted to physically clear the item, but DHL apparently just cleared it w/o them seeing it. After running it around the country, it made its way to Kentucky- where it was cleared and shipped back to Austria.


What I learned from this: Apparently any customs can call back a package at ANY time during its delivery if it has touched their soil. Stupid, I know, but hey what can you do.

Im glad this has come to an end. Thank you all for your support in this matter!
 
RevDevil said:
Nader, you've gone to great lengths to figure out and get some insight into what is currently happening. I totally commend you for that, and it is exemplary on your behalf. I will say that I would be glad to deal with you (again) and without any hesitation on my end. You are one of the good guys.
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Thank you Rev, means a lot brother!
 
Happy it all worked out for you - have a great weekend!


Nader Elhayek said:
Hey All,

Sorry for the lack of updates- did not see these post notifications.

Good news! The item arrived to the buyer yesterday. After knocking on some doors and emailing /calling multiple parties it seems that the US customs just wanted to physically clear the item, but DHL apparently just cleared it w/o them seeing it. After running it around the country, it made its way to Kentucky- where it was cleared and shipped back to Austria.


What I learned from this: Apparently any customs can call back a package at ANY time during its delivery if it has touched their soil. Stupid, I know, but hey what can you do.

Im glad this has come to an end. Thank you all for your support in this matter!
Click to expand...
 
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