HP Forum Archive 20

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I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #1 Posted by robertoataulfo on 8 Nov 2011, 7:33 a.m. I feel like crying :-( 41CL $ 235 Send $ 38 ?!?!?! ------- Total $ 273 Tax $ 191.10 (70%) fee charged on the import Customs (Brazil) -------- total $464.10 I'm already crying. :-( Bye 41CL. I will continue with you in my thoughts. Snif! Snif! Edited: 8 Nov 2011, 7:37 a.m.

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #2 Posted by Eddie W. Shore on 8 Nov 2011, 9:23 a.m., in response to message #1 by robertoataulfo Sorry. :(

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #3 Posted by Frido Bohn on 8 Nov 2011, 9:53 a.m., in response to message #1 by robertoataulfo Is there any means to reduce the "shipping price" to, let's say, 25$. In consequence, the customs would treat the device at that rate. Of course, the actual price may be still 235$ + X$. A sum which will be payed in advance anyway, and which, of cource would not be disclosed to the delivery service. Would that be fraud? Would this have any consequence for the sender if discovered?

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #4 Posted by robertoataulfo on 8 Nov 2011, 10:16 a.m., in response to message #3 by Frido Bohn Mount Dalrymple sent an explanation and a form to fill me 41CL Order For . . . We use Priority Mail and insure every package for the full value. :-(

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #5 Posted by Monte Dalrymple on 8 Nov 2011, 12:06 p.m., in response to message #4 by robertoataulfo 70% import duty explains why HP built calculators in Brazil. As far as declaring a lower value, yes, that is fraud. It is also an easily uncovered fraud, since the Systemyde website lists the price. (Although based on my experience with customs, discovering that information is probably beyond what they are capable of.) But it would also be obvious if the package was fully insured. The shipping/handling is expensive because I don't use the small flat-rate box because then the package can't be insured. A catch-22 that is expensive. The small flat-rate box is 13.25 to Brazil, while an 8 oz package is 24.23 plus another 5.40 for insurance. The box and packing material is another 3.00, and I tack on another 5.00 because it's a PITA to fill out customs forms and deal with the Post Office.

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #6 Posted by Gerson W. Barbosa on 8 Nov 2011, 2:38 p.m., in response to message #5 by Monte Dalrymple Quote: 70% import duty explains why HP built calculators in Brazil. It's actually 60%, extortive nevertheless. Even when HP built (assembled) calculators here they were very expensive. My first HP-28S came from UTAH, not from Samson's but aboard a Cessna Caravan (thanks to a coworker, a flight mechanic). It cost me $211.00 then (here the price tag was well over $500). Not illegal as it fitted in the duty-free import quota.

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #7 Posted by Ethan Conner on 8 Nov 2011, 4:39 p.m., in response to message #6 by Gerson W. Barbosa You just reminded me of something. Back in the 90's i worked at a place that performed a service for a group from Venezuala. When they were ready to go home they would hit Wal Mart and buy as much electronics as they could possibly carry. Us Americans were puzzled by this. Since being on this forum i understand why. I still smile thinking about them making several attempts at lifting off till they had burned just enough fuel to get airborne.

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #8 Posted by Thomas Radtke on 8 Nov 2011, 12:01 p.m., in response to message #3 by Frido Bohn Another interesting question is wether your incitement would inflict a penalty, and if so, judged by which country.

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #9 Posted by Alexander Oestert on 8 Nov 2011, 12:13 p.m., in response to message #8 by Thomas Radtke Import tax fraud is a crime prosecuted by the country that you import the item to.

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #10 Posted by Lincoln R. on 8 Nov 2011, 11:37 a.m., in response to message #1 by robertoataulfo Ouch. At that point I think it would be cheaper to get a plane ticket to the US to buy one, install it in your 41, and if asked at customs declare it as "1980s Electronic Calculator - Value $10"

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #11 Posted by Lincoln R. on 8 Nov 2011, 12:55 p.m., in response to message #10 by Lincoln R. Note: I don't condone tax fraud (even if Brazil's import tax is ridiculous...), however the claim could be made that the 41CL board is "repair parts" or "upgrades" for a non-working 41C. If I put an $3000 new engine in a 20 year old car with a blue book value of $300, the car's still 'worth' $300 for tax purposes.

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #12 Posted by Frido Bohn on 8 Nov 2011, 1:49 p.m., in response to message #11 by Lincoln R. The idea to declare the 41CL as a repair part of a system brings me to the idea of "divide et impera". Pricing is all of the manufacturer (or intermediate) and the policy might be adjusted for foreign customers in a way that the actually sent hardware makes only a fraction of the system. The other part, the software, would then be the major part. The software will be traded via a download page and is therefore inherently customs-free. For the 41CL the circuit board would constitute the hardware and the flash ROM/RAM the software. Would there be a means of customs to check for a pre-installed RAM/ROM on the board? This are only free thoughts. I don't want to incite nobody.

Re: I'll be without my 41CL :-( Message #13 Posted by Gerson W. Barbosa on 8 Nov 2011, 3:08 p.m., in response to message #1 by robertoataulfo Cheer up! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMaF2QmfTRQ

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