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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: 3roomlab on November 10, 2015, 10:30:12 am

Title: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: 3roomlab on November 10, 2015, 10:30:12 am
well i did ...  :-DD

Title: Re: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: alanb on November 10, 2015, 10:46:42 am
They probably thought that they were Flux Capacitors.
Title: Re: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: Xenon Photon on November 10, 2015, 11:06:44 am
That always happens here but they do it to get extra money from the importer by increasing the time it is stored at customs (the importer pays for each day his good is filling an area at customs).
Although this is only applicable to huge goods not some capacitors and not at the exported country!
Title: Re: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: nuno on November 11, 2015, 12:09:04 am
It depends on what's their Farad and Voltage specs and if they come charged or not.
Title: Re: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: 3roomlab on November 11, 2015, 04:27:01 am
That always happens here but they do it to get extra money from the importer by increasing the time it is stored at customs (the importer pays for each day his good is filling an area at customs).
Although this is only applicable to huge goods not some capacitors and not at the exported country!

yea strange isnt it? caps becoming an item of scrutiny
Title: Re: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: ivanjh on November 11, 2015, 05:15:10 am
It's just overly zealous.

Security Export Control System in Japan - "Catch-all Control: Exporters have to apply for an export license in cases where the item or technology is not on the control lists but could conceivably contribute to WMD proliferation programs." - http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/englishpage/overview.pdf (http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/englishpage/overview.pdf)

I can conceive of a WMD proliferation program based upon duct tape & crazy glue...
Title: Re: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: Psi on November 11, 2015, 05:42:12 am
You have to answer an intended use question every time you order something from digikey if you are outside the USA.

Title: Re: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: SpidersWeb on November 11, 2015, 06:22:40 am
Such a pointless step, like a terrorist is really going to write "Bomb Manufacture"
Who makes these rules :/
Title: Re: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: Neilm on November 11, 2015, 06:48:19 pm
Such a pointless step, like a terrorist is really going to write "Bomb Manufacture"
Who makes these rules :/

Even funnier if you are working on prototype military equipment. Hence I used to put statements along the lines of "prototype servo system" - didn't use the phrase gun control equipment at any time. They didn't spot it
Title: Re: anybody get questioned by customs clearance for buying capacitors?
Post by: Seekonk on November 11, 2015, 07:06:48 pm
I remember trying to get on a plane with a carry on bag filled with a couple hundred yellow film 1uF capacitors.  This was back before you couldn't joke about a bomb.  The checker asked what these were.  I said they were capacitors.  She said,  If you hold one of these up and ask for $50,000 are we supposed to ask what they are.   I said, For $50,000, I would.  Another inspector said, He's one of those (insert company here) guys and told her to let me go through.