arising from an earlier discussion on this forum, can anyone tell me what is the downside if someone imports videos by mail order (for personal use) from the US and they are stopped by Customs? do they just confiscate the videos (which I could live with) or do they prosecute you? call me a scaredy-cat, but i'm not keen on that 'criminal record' business.
similarly, if you buy a US video in Amsterdam, say, and bring it back through the Customs Green channel, and you have the bad luck to be stopped and searched, do they just confiscate, or what?
customs and us videos
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PaulE
Re: customs and us videos
If you were coming back from Amsterdam you should, if you were a British citizen, actually come through the 'Blue' channel (for arrivals from EU countries) which isn't usually subject to checks, rather than 'Green'.
I am reliably informed by those who know such things that if you did happen to be caught with a tape or two then it would most likely be confiscated and an on-the-spot penalty (don't know how much) would have to be paid and no further action would be taken. However, come through with a suitcase full and it would probably be a different matter altogether.
It's a similar situation, apparently, for those coming back from Amsterdam with small quantaties (a couple of grams) of dope for personal use.
I am reliably informed by those who know such things that if you did happen to be caught with a tape or two then it would most likely be confiscated and an on-the-spot penalty (don't know how much) would have to be paid and no further action would be taken. However, come through with a suitcase full and it would probably be a different matter altogether.
It's a similar situation, apparently, for those coming back from Amsterdam with small quantaties (a couple of grams) of dope for personal use.
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stealthy
Re: customs and us videos
Re. DVD's
Be aware that US dvd's are not UK enabled, but are ok in
a pc dvd player.
Be aware that US dvd's are not UK enabled, but are ok in
a pc dvd player.
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Ned
Re: customs and us videos
Got me a chipped LG which copies NTSC as UK PAL. Best ?170 I ever spent.
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david j
Re: customs and us videos
thanks to everyone for their advice. i am reassured that we are unlikely to be prosecuted just for trying to import the occasional vid. (i need hardly say i am not talking about kiddie porn.)
i will try ordering one vid (probably from Excalibur) and see what happens.
i may also bring a few back from Amsterdam. if stopped, i don't think i will try the 'buy your own porn' line, as i suspect the Customs guys would get out the KY and the rubber gloves. i want to see porn movies, not to be in one!
i will try ordering one vid (probably from Excalibur) and see what happens.
i may also bring a few back from Amsterdam. if stopped, i don't think i will try the 'buy your own porn' line, as i suspect the Customs guys would get out the KY and the rubber gloves. i want to see porn movies, not to be in one!
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stealthy
Re: customs and us videos
The best way to get predominantly US hardcore I've found is
in DVD/VCD.
The company with an excellent selection is xonair.com.
They also individually write addresses on ordinary envelopes to
help ensure inconspicuous delivery- effort well spent!
gamelink.com probably supply the definitive range of VHS but
with that greater risk of seizure.
in DVD/VCD.
The company with an excellent selection is xonair.com.
They also individually write addresses on ordinary envelopes to
help ensure inconspicuous delivery- effort well spent!
gamelink.com probably supply the definitive range of VHS but
with that greater risk of seizure.
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Ned
Re: customs and us videos
Go to the following URL for an excellent BBFC, customs, FACT related site. Good articles here on all things censorship.
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Phil McC
Re: customs and us videos
Bollocks get off my porn and buy your own, works well with customs
I do this all the time. Special deal for all the guys on this site. put your videos in a bag address it to me along with a note saying please send to BBFC for view on certification an if they nick you you claim to be importing legally with a view to having it BBFC 18R 'd NO PISSIN OR FISTING MIND.
If they nick you I get the tapes and you have to beg for them.
Phil McC
I do this all the time. Special deal for all the guys on this site. put your videos in a bag address it to me along with a note saying please send to BBFC for view on certification an if they nick you you claim to be importing legally with a view to having it BBFC 18R 'd NO PISSIN OR FISTING MIND.
If they nick you I get the tapes and you have to beg for them.
Phil McC
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dave
Re: customs and us videos
Dave
I've bought about 10/15 videos mail order from USA.Only one lot was confiscated by customs.What they do is write to you telling you that you have imported non classified videos and if you want them back you have to take them to court.Basically nobody does,they destroy them and you have no criminal record.
It's a game,they try to stop you ,you try to evade them but unless you import loads and loads nothing serious happens(except you lose money).
For me a great company is Gamelink(usa).They have loads of videos and the ones they sent me had no box etc and were disguised as 'taxation learning videos'.
One tip is try to order one at a time,it attracts less attention than larger parcels.
I've also brought videos back from Belguim,had my car searched but thay never found them.
Basically unless you import loads and loads dont worry.
Go ahead ,its easier than you think,and in my experience most US companies are really good on customer service.They're great at replying to emails,always cancel if you ask them.Companies I reccommend are,SCORE GROUP, GAMELINK and TOYBOXX. SCORE are originals but I think some of Gamelink are copies.
Anyway good luck.Post your experiences.
It's important to weed out the cowboys,mostly in the SUNDAY SPORT
and reccommend the good guys
(at home Danskfoto are also good)
I've bought about 10/15 videos mail order from USA.Only one lot was confiscated by customs.What they do is write to you telling you that you have imported non classified videos and if you want them back you have to take them to court.Basically nobody does,they destroy them and you have no criminal record.
It's a game,they try to stop you ,you try to evade them but unless you import loads and loads nothing serious happens(except you lose money).
For me a great company is Gamelink(usa).They have loads of videos and the ones they sent me had no box etc and were disguised as 'taxation learning videos'.
One tip is try to order one at a time,it attracts less attention than larger parcels.
I've also brought videos back from Belguim,had my car searched but thay never found them.
Basically unless you import loads and loads dont worry.
Go ahead ,its easier than you think,and in my experience most US companies are really good on customer service.They're great at replying to emails,always cancel if you ask them.Companies I reccommend are,SCORE GROUP, GAMELINK and TOYBOXX. SCORE are originals but I think some of Gamelink are copies.
Anyway good luck.Post your experiences.
It's important to weed out the cowboys,mostly in the SUNDAY SPORT
and reccommend the good guys
(at home Danskfoto are also good)