Re: Infrared duties and xray overseas shipping

[Clive Warren <Clive.Warren@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:23 pm -0400 8/6/00, Rolland Elliott wrote:

><<<<<<You seem to be lucky in the United States. In Europe, the duty is
>usually a function of the entire purchase price _including_ any costs for
>shipping and insurance. On the total price with duties, you then pay 15-25%
>VAT. This does not exactly encourage private import of items like IR film
>that might be hard to find locally at reasonable prices...
>Otto Giesenfeld>>>>>>
>
>When ever I ship to an international customer I just mark "Commercial Sample
>No Retail Value" on the Declaration form.  Then my European Customers that
>buy infrared film from me dont' have to pay extra fees.
>And although Clive has voiced his concerns about possible high dose x-ray
>damage, I think they are unwarranted. I've shipped several orders to Europe
>and have had no problems. Normal X-ray machines are not a problem as many
>past posts on this list have confirmed. It is just the very new High Dose
>X-ray machines used at airports that can cause film damage.  Since these new
>machines are much more expensive they are being put mainly into high
>priority/security zones like airports.
>
>I've talked to the USA Postal Service and while they can't specify exactly
>what kind of security checks they do because of possible security leaks,
>they have told me I shouldn't be concerned about shipping film overseas. I
>believe them and will offer a refund for any damage due to xrays.
>
>Peace Rolland


Rolland,

I am glad to hear that you have had success with shipping to Europe - guess
there are a lot of happy 120 users out there :-)

Have to clear up a couple of points about xray scanning machines to avoid a
long thread again on this subject.

There are two types of xray scanning device and you are confusing the two
in your last EMail.  Have a look at the relevant section in the Infrared
FAQ on the CoCam website for a full explanation (URL in sig. file).
Essentially the two types of xray scanning are as follows:

1. Hand luggage - repeated scans will not affect infrared film
2. Hold luggage - high powered scan which will affect infrared film. If you
are lucky then just a little fog, if you are unlucky then banding will
appear on the film.  The power of the scan is variable and sometimes
automated.


Mail is subjected to the hold luggage xray scanning NOT the hand luggage scan.


The USPS is not legally allowed to scan or search any mail unless it has a
search order signed by a judge or similar legal person. The USPS does not
scan mail very often and certainly not "without due cause".

A large number of airports throughout the world now have the newer high
power scanning machines installed to combat terrorism, smuggling, and the
transport of illegal items.  The air carriers contracted by the USPS use
scanners on all their cargo including mail.


A final point - in a personal EMail I sent you some time ago I included a
statement sent to me by the US Postal Service Operations Unit which gave
specific instructions as to how to send film to minimise the risk of xray
scanning damage.  I assume from your last post that you send the film
without taking these precautions?

I have offered to test film sent using USPS to the UK several times in the
past - that offer still stands.  It would be interesting to test film sent
without taking precautions against film sent taking the precautions
suggested by the USPS. A more scientific hands on test than armchair
theorising ;-)

By the way - have your contact details changed from those you gave me for
the Infrared FAQ articles?






All the best,

             Clive   http://www.cocam.co.uk
                     Photographic Services, Filters and Equipment, Infrared FAQ


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