Your package is missing Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) [0], duh.<p>Add a proper ECCN number (such as "EAR99" [1]), according the rules and regulations that apply to the specific product you're shipping.<p>FYI, export violations can reach up to $1 million per violation, prison for up to 20 years, and administrative penalties.<p>[0] <a href="https://www.shippingsolutions.com/blog/six-basic-steps-for-export-compliance" rel="nofollow">https://www.shippingsolutions.com/blog/six-basic-steps-for-e...</a><p>[1] EAR99 is not a free pass: <a href="https://www.shippingsolutions.com/blog/ear99-isnt-a-free-pass-for-export-compliance" rel="nofollow">https://www.shippingsolutions.com/blog/ear99-isnt-a-free-pas...</a>
The envelope says “plastic carrying case and computer memory module”. Photo of the content there: <a href="https://www.bigmessowires.com/shop/product/floppy-emu-model-c-bundle/" rel="nofollow">https://www.bigmessowires.com/shop/product/floppy-emu-model-...</a><p>I understand how technically that’s true. Still, I can see how for a non-technical person a PCB with OLED display and buttons does not look like a memory module. 99.99% of memory modules sold are DIMM or M2 SSD modules. They look very differently from the content of the package.<p>I would try printing slightly more descriptive labels on these packages. Maybe “Custom aftermarket replacement part for 1979-1983 Macintosh computers”
At least they receive their packages back.<p>Compare that to the eBay Global Shipping Program - where if eBay decides that your package violates some opaque rule, neither the sender nor the recipient receives the package. eBay keeps it.
I don’t think the trade names you’ve used in “Contents” are very descriptive. Something along the lines of “Hobby Electronics” might be more appropriate. I’d also consult a trade expert on this but I think spec’ing the origin as US may be part of the problem because no doubt there are Chinese components on your assemblies. Receiving countries will want to tariff commodities based on the actual origin.
Do you need an EIN on the package label?<p><a href="https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1145?language=en_US" rel="nofollow">https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1145?language=en_US</a><p>Interestingly it seems to be the fault of the Census Bureau wanting to provide aggregate economic activity reports rather than border patrol themselves. Nothing more fun than watching two departments try to "cooperate" which is why you're probably not getting much help from Customs.
A freight forwarding service like MyUS.com could be of help here.<p>First, the customer/recipient can use a freight forwarding service to get the stuff shipped to them without the seller having to consider export procedure at all; The customer just has the seller ship to their US freight forwarding address and then the service handles export and reshipment. Freight forwarding services are a natural accumulator of export protocol know-how. It’s their specialization.<p>Secondly, the freight forwarder might be able to advise on best practices. It might be in their interest to raise attention to themselves and accumulate good will, as well as to demonstrate what particular suffering it is that they alleviate.<p>There’s also a free business idea here: Freight forwarding services that handle from-one -to-many shipping. (Most of those that I am familiar are from-many-to-one. From many shippers to my personal account.)
I’ve always included a proforma invoice and an ECCN when sending anything international (except letters).<p>Perhaps some software change happened internally that no longer defaults to something, or the clerk isn’t allowed to deduce the ECCN anymore.
I'm sorry for your trouble.<p>Customs are one of the most harmful things for society in our day and age. People in highly developed countries don't notice this much. Still, people from poorer countries with high bureaucracy and intervention in trade by customs cannot access good and cheaper stuff from elsewhere. In the end, a few official importers/exporters with good relations with the state apparatus plus corrupt customs agents benefit at the cost of the impoverished society.
As an aside, I’ve got a ADB Wombat from BMoW and it’s just awesome. Allows me to easily use my 1993 Apple Adjustable Keyboard with my modern Mac.<p>Edit: forgot to mention that it also works great for using a USB mouse or keyboard on older Macs.
Tell this guy to call a customs brokerage like flexport. Entrepreneurs should focus on making things people want and connecting with customers. Turn everything else over to specialists with experience and scale. Most of all customs regs.
As one of the comments on the original article points out:<p>"I notice your ‘Signature’ is a printed string."<p>First thing that jumped out at me too when I read that label. I wonder if that's the reason. As far as I know, an actual signature is required there.
Maybe they have a crappy algorithm that sees "EMU" and thinks: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu</a> and says "nope, we're not touching animals, you need a special form"?<p>Either way, the lack of transparency is a huge problem. I thought the United States had all those guns to prevent the State from messing with them? Not sure that seems to have helped here.<p>Good luck figuring this out! Go to the news media.