posted on January 23, 2001 12:40:00 PM
Here's one I've never heard before... One of my bidders is from Singapore. He is buying a DVD. He is pleading with me to not declare the package as a DVD because Singapore Customs will charge him "for each half hour of the duration of the movie."
Anyone heard of this? What would you do?
Usually I get people asking me not to declare the item as merchandise, but this time the bidder wants me to actually describe the item as something it is not.
"My possessions are causing me suspicion." - Neil Finn
posted on January 23, 2001 02:48:43 PM
You have a very bad problem here...
According to a friend in Japan, who regularly buys stuff in Hong Kong and Singapore, the Singapore Customs routinely rips open baggage and Postal items over 1 lb to inspect for "illegal contraband."
If you don't know it already, Singapore has some of the most stringent and most costly rules and laws in the Asian Theater.
Many of the rules set up there to keep order in Singapore is being tested by e-commerce and the advances in Mail-Order.
We know of the ridiculous "Gum Laws" and that American that got caned, but I do know that Singapore has a Media Law in place, thought I don't know specifics.
Also, many Mail-Order outfits have been putting clauses that they cannot be held responseable for stuff seized by Customs. I know British Customs is notorious for destroying (or "stealing" according to some persons) literature that they deem "Sexually Explicit." Same has been said of other countries concerning American Goods. The Japanese aren't too fond of some of our Movies trickling back to their shores.
You have to ask someone at US Customs about this. Or, you might wanna drop by the Singapore Consulate in your major Metro City and ask them for a run-down.
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
posted on January 23, 2001 03:33:31 PM
Any US movie made after 1966 must pass through the government censor process before it is allowed into Singapore. The fee for the process is $3.00 per half hour plus $1.00 fee for the certificate to release it from customs. If the video does not pass censorship, there is a $5.00 erasure fee. (don't know how the erasure fee would apply to a DVD)
To intentional misrepresent the description of a product shipped out of the country to avoid legal restrictions is a federal offense. (it is called smuggling and is enforced both ways here in the US)
posted on January 23, 2001 03:34:29 PM
Yes they do not have the freedom of expression we take for granted.
At one time The Wall Street Journal came very close to shutting down and leaving Singapore because they wanted to keep the paper from printing any story that they considered unfavorable to the country.
I know of one older lady who was detained and her Bible confiscated before she was released.
They have the net access run through central servers and try very hard to censor a wide range of things.
posted on January 24, 2001 07:06:44 PM
Mr Jim is partially right. In Singapore, all movies that are imported must be approved by the Censorship board and they do charge to view and approve the movies. If your bidder is trying to import adult movies, he could be charged and fined/jailed if he is caught. Stay away from this guy!
posted on January 25, 2001 10:19:41 AM
I'm from Singapore and the situation is not that serious. RELAX...
Just go ahead and declare it as something ambiquitious..gift or sample or toy or mirror or circle tracer... There are hundreds of thousands of items coming into Singapore every day so they would probably miss your item in the first place. Furthermore, if they do find your DVD and want to censor it, they will send a card to your Singapore buyer, asking if he wishes to pay for the censorship or have the item returned. The customs really can't be bothered to look for you and prosecute you...pplleeeeeaassssee.
