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Amiga computer related discussion => General chat about Amiga topics => Topic started by: kamiga on January 13, 2009, 04:32:09 PM

Title: bringing minimig into US from amigakit in UK
Post by: kamiga on January 13, 2009, 04:32:09 PM

I ordered a minimig from amigakit that is shipping from the UK to me in the US.

Fedex contacted me to ask what a "minimig" was.  For a lack of a better description, I told fedex it was a computer.  They now want me to fill out US FCC form 740.

http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form740/740.pdf

Any clue what the right way to navigate this bureaucratic bs is?

The form asks for a Harmonized Tariff Number, FCC ID, etc etc.

Thanks

Title: Re: bringing minimig into US from amigakit in UK
Post by: broken on January 13, 2009, 04:37:19 PM

LOL thats crazy.

I recently ordered an A1200 from Amigakit back in November, and FedEX never required me to fill out any paperwork for it. They just delivered it.



I wonder why they are flagging your shipment?

Title: Re: bringing minimig into US from amigakit in UK
Post by: pan1k on January 13, 2009, 04:52:05 PM

Wow.. that form is for devices that can cause interference from the looks of it... FedEx is crazy. Can't you call them and tell them it's just a computer? :-?

Title: Re: bringing minimig into US from amigakit in UK
Post by: beller on January 13, 2009, 04:54:06 PM

I also purchased a minimig last year, from Amigakit.  No issues were raised in the delivery.  I had mine shipped by Royal/US Mail.  

The form looks problematic.  Its a requirement that devices meet FCC interference requirements.  This requires testing and the issuance of an ID.  

I think you might have identified a problem that ACube faces.  Have they received US certification (FCC ID) for any of their equipment?

Title: Re: bringing minimig into US from amigakit in UK
Post by: amigakit on January 13, 2009, 04:56:11 PM

Email us and we will provide all the information. We can fax FedEx the completed form.

Before shipping, we have already included the FCC form in the FedEx pouch (our systems generate it automatically) so I am not sure why FedEx want it again.  Very occasionally, they have been known to loose forms or overlook them in the pouch with the other paperwork..

Usually FedEx call us, if they have an inquiry such as this, we ask them to call us first and not to bother our customers.

Title: Re: bringing minimig into US from amigakit in UK
Post by: kamiga on January 16, 2009, 07:21:30 PM

Just to wrap this up cleanly.

Fedex had contacted me because they were trying to "pre-clear" the box through customs.  IE, trying to get the box cleared customs BEFORE it actually arrived at the destination port.

I don't think "pre-clearance" is _required_, but I think fedex does it when they have to turn a package around quickly to send it back out on a plane.

I believe my package failed to be pre-cleared, and as a result, missed the outbound plane -- and so was cleared normally (and customs had access to the physical box, and the FCC form)  It shipped out on a flight the next day, which meant it was delivered to me a day late.  No big deal.


Incidentally, I think amigakit is using an old Harmonized Tariff Number, because the current HTS does not list the number they are using.  A friend of mine, who does this stuff for a living (who is also technical) said that they likely should be using "8471.49.0000"

http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/ (if you are really bored...)

FYI if anyone runs into it

Title: Re: bringing minimig into US from amigakit in UK
Post by: amigakit on January 16, 2009, 07:51:44 PM

Sorry about the 12 hour delay of your package.  Most FedEx packages take around 36 hours on average from us to the customer (anywhere in the USA).

FedEx took the time to call us yesterday and apologize for the delay.  They told us that the package had missed its plane because of technical difficulties.

We will look into the HS coding- we use that daily (successfully until now).