Have US Customs Declared War on TV Boxes (and mini PCs)?

Customs are useful to make sure illegal or dangerous goods don’t reach customers, and they also “protect jobs” or “special interests” by applying tariffs to imports. If you’ve ever purchased goods out of your country or economic zone, the experience can range from flawless (no duties), to annoying (paying some taxes), up to really frustrating and depressing, if customs decide to have a closer look to your imported item. Most the time I don’t have any problems, especially since I try to be careful to stay below the limit (~$30 here) sometimes splitting my orders, a few times I have to pay custom duties and VAT, and once I got a call from UPS telling me my $100 mini PC was kept by customs (not sure why), and that the total cost to it get was unknown, but it will be at least $150 for handling and taxes, and sending it back to China would cost about the same… So finally, my customs office (not in the US) got a free mini PC to play with. I just exchanged a few emails with UPS, and never had to fill any forms during the whole process.
US_Customs_and_Border_Protection
This happened a while ago, so why am I writing about this now? First, I’ve recently read some articles that UK authorities had raided TV box resellers running modified to stream illegal content, so let’s say it’s fair game. But I also got a comment from a US based reader who ordered 10 Wintel W8 Pro mini PCs:

Just an update on Geek’s Wintel W8 Pro. I ordered 10 more and they were seized by US Customs and Border Patrol. They could not find any illegal aliens so they are now checking all “TV BOXES” as declared on the shipping paperwork from China to US. 6 weeks later I got a 7 page letter from them saying they were seized not detained. The reason given was a trademark violation printed on the bottom of the box that is for Microsoft Windows 10. It is sworn to be an illegal trademark by Microsoft. They give you several options I gave the letter to my attorney. It sounds like I may still be fined some money on this side. The good thing is I paid with PayPal and got my money back. Geek offered to go Dutch on the loss and I said no. They are mad at me and won’t respond to me after I sent them a copy of the letter. The government determined the value to be 83.30 per unit and not a gift as packaged worth $50.00 per case. If you deal with Geek read the fine print, it talks about going Dutch when things go south. Customs said they are checking ALL boxes labeled “TV BOXES” many companies ship them like that. You may want to be more creative if you want them. No more Windows for me. After having trouble with one box with Kaspersky it said there was something bad in the Windows program I called and was told you cant run anti virus with that version of windows. I bought a different one. I believe in anti-virus’s reducing problems. Geek claims if the US sends the boxes back to China I will face shipping fees, importation fees, taxes and duties to the Chinese government. Maybe I can post the 7 page letter or email it to anyone who is thinking of buying these. I don’t know what the posting rules are on this. Delete any part that cant be printed. Just trying to save people time and money and having every package from China now being inspected 100% and taped back up with green US Customs and border patrol tape for routers and keyboards and things like that. This never happened until these 10 were seized. For the record Geek claims this has not happened to anyone else but I know a guy who bought 1 unit from a different reseller and his was also marked “TV BOX” and was seized.

So it took his word and asked for that document. So basically, once US customs decide to seize your goods you have 5 options (CBP = Customs and Border Protection):

  1. I request that CBP consider my petition administratively before forfeiture proceedings are initiated
  2. I request that CBP consider my offer in comprise administratively before forfeiture proceedings are initiated
  3. I abandon the property, and I request that CBP begin administrative proceedings to forfeit the property.
  4. I request that CBP send my case for court action
  5. I request that CBP begin administrative proceedings to forfeit the property

If you’re not a lawyer and have not dealt with customs before, yet clearly understand what the 5 options mean and their implications, I congratulate you. So unless you simply decide to abandon the property, most people might need a lawyer to handle the case.

But let’s clearly see why the mini PCs were seized by checking the appendix.

Microsoft_Logo_Word_CustomsSo the “Wintel Set-Top Boxes” running Microsoft Windows have been seized because Microsoft Windows logo was shown on the package, as well as Microsoft trademark…. Wintel name was OK apparently… That appears to be completely ludicrous, as they have not investigated whether the system had a proper Windows license, so even if you’ve bought a mini PC with a proper Windows license (~$25 on this type of computers), your property may still be seized because the package describes what’s been installed… Maybe it was just a matter of adding a line with “Microsoft is a trademark of Microsoft corporation” on the package or documentation (as they even opened it), but it’s still harsh, and may feel like they just found a pretext to confiscate the devices. So blank packages might not be that bad after all. I guess Android boxes with “Kodi” logo may also be looked suspiciously by customs whether banned add-ons are installed or not.

The person who released the document also share some other tidbits with his experience:

I have spoken to several different  DHL warehouse workers and drivers and they say the Customs people are there everyday. Some they grab off the belt and put right on the trucks and others they open right there, look at them, tape them back up and allow them to continue on.

I spoke to Customs this morning …. I asked if it made a difference if the box was made from Android parts instead of Bill Gates and she said it makes no difference. I did not want to argue with her but she said these boxes are just for stealing cable TV.

Why can I buy a Zidoo X6 Pro on Amazon.com for $109.00 but I can’t buy it on a Chinese website for $70.00?>

So customs agents are apparently posted in couriers’ warehouses, at least some people working at the US Customs and Border Patrol believe that TV boxes (and any small computers) are made to steal content from cable providers, and the same exact product that can be bought on Amazon, can be seized for any reasons by customs if bought from outside the US…. Is that a war on TV boxes or an isolated incident? I don’t know, but that means if you’d like to be safe, you’d have to buy locally (likely at a higher price), and selecting TV boxes or mini PCs without trademarked logos or brands on the package may help going through customs…

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39 Replies to “Have US Customs Declared War on TV Boxes (and mini PCs)?”

  1. Last item I got from GeekBuying (EU here) cost me a day in ‘clearing the goods’ from the customs, and the item was super trivial (in both nature and price), but of course the seller had mislabled the package in all possible ways. I can only imagine what it could have been if it was something worth a few K. So naturally I’m cautious of buying things from outside the EU — not worth the hassle.

  2. So cable TV providers rule US & own customs?
    Why the f*** would that dumb lady in the customs office say that to him? Is it her duty to protect cable TV companies?

    1. this is stated by customs in a country that insists that guns don’t kill, people do.
      this logic apparently don’t apply to TV boxes…

  3. @Fossxplorer
    Besides that, these boxes aren’t only made for that. I can play games, surf the web, read my emails, write documents etc.
    So they should start blocking all computers coming into the country too, since likely all can run Kodi (hence steal cable TV), can’t they?

  4. Just don’t use UPS nor DHL, they precharge customs fees in advance without telling you in advance the amount. They have a deal with the customs. Use standard and slow post.

  5. Those were full on Windows computers. By her definition all computers are meant to pirate content? Riiiiight.

  6. I thought US has a very liberal customs dept … Description is the main problem, some times you have to inform the seller not to use , PC ,Computer , TV , Radio etc because customs will think that these items are available locally ,and these guys are avoiding tax by importing it from china .. So ask the seller to use some fancy words , “electronic kits” ,” PCB components” as labels

  7. Send them blank, no OS, then download OS on receipt

    Use Linux, Openlec etc.

    Google play lists Kodi.

    Tell customs to keep offending box logo but send you the rest.

    Use Android Phone, Phablet, Tablet and HDMI socket or Ezcast Dongle.

    Have you asked customs if the will be removing the boxes off Amazon.

    Etc.

  8. The boxes are legal…Kodi software is legal…but when you sell them pre-loaded they’re illegal?

    We’ve got the same problem in Canada right now. The courts are issuing injunctions against (16 so far) resellers who use the words “Free TV” in their Android TV box ads.

    Wait til someone figures out you can load Kodi on a regular desktop PC…

  9. As a Dutchman, I object against the expression “going Dutch”

    I propose the Thai expression อเมริกันแชร์ , so “American Share”, as more appropriate …

    😉

  10. And more serious:

    Is this about Customs thinking “it’s from China, so the software on it (like Windows) must be illegal”
    Or is this about devices that can show content on the TV, and thus could pirate TV-content?

  11. I used to get tablets and phones without any customs in Romania where I used to live. Now I get the same here in Bulgaria but I haven’t really ordered anything expensive yet, we’ll see.

  12. I would suggest re-reading the article. Here people are talking about piracy, some agenda from Customs, Kodi(?) and who seems to rule the world, but this line:

    “The reason given was a trademark violation printed on the bottom of the box that is for Microsoft Windows 10”

    seems tell the whole story.

    From the Microsfot image usage guidelines:

    “The Microsoft logo cannot be used in any manner that would imply that any non-Microsoft goods, services, or Web sites are sponsored by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Microsoft.”

    “The Microsoft logo must always be accompanied by the registered trademark symbol (®).”

    While those are for the Microsoft images, I’m sure there are similar guidelines for the Windows image (I dont really care enough to search for them)

    So yeah, while Customs are a bureaucratic mess all over the world, and they try to f**k people up, in these case it seems that they are right.

    Chinesse manufacturers must realize that they can’t simply stamp any brand on their products to attract more sales, the corporate identity must be respected, and above all the products “look” cheap (cheaper?) with all the brands and standars stamps (dvd, blueray, usb, audio 5.1 or whatever is the latest standard) all over them

  13. During the republican debate, the candidates spoke about customs and tariffs on imported goods. Trump was adamant on stopping China from shipping cheaper and better alternatives. But so far, all of Trump’s predictions have become losing prophecies. He first said the U.S. economy would tank and that sure hasn’t happened and actually has only become stronger since his prediction. He also said the “Brexit” would be a global financial failure and the markets are even higher now than they were before the “Brexit.” It seems everything Trump says is a “Doom and Gloom” fake Youtube video. So, since Trump said he would stop China’s imports, I wouldn’t worry about the customs problems, except for in Canada. Canada’s parliament has some serious friends at the cable companies or in Hollywood or Silicone Valley. Either that, or they hate China. One thing is for sure, China is the best at making quality processors for the best price. Maybe China got tired of being accused of making cheap junk in the 80s and 90s and stepped up their game.

  14. Glad to see some good ideas about “deals” made with DHL and UPS, I think I will cross them off the list. UPS already was. I remember how much money I lost during those strikes. I had to rent big trucks and get my own product. As if they could not afford to pay their drivers. They have since closed the UPS drop offs in our area. There is one left only open a few hours per day. Who are some of the other shippers not in bed with Customs? Since we gave up trying to catch the illegal aliens invading the Mexican border along with who knows how many ISIS members and we lost the 40+ year old war on drugs we now declare a new war on mini computers from China. Does this make any sense to anyone? Walmart probably sells more Chinese mini-computers or media players or whatever you choose to call them than Amazon.com. Do you think Customs will stop Walmart from selling them? Last time I was in Walmart they had several brands for sale to the public. Are those not being used to steal cable? I wonder where that Customs agent got her information? DHL said they have at least 2 agents at the airport everyday grabbing some things from a list in hand and others just grabbing off the belt. I sleep so much better knowing these mini computers are not allowed to be sold to the little guys not greasing anyone’s hands but certainly legal to buy them from Walmart and Amazon, while ISIS members along with the millions of illegal aliens (mostly Mexicans) freely cross the open border everyday with no identification and rape and murder and rob our citizens on a regular basis. Or should I say undocumented workers, do the ISIS members fall into that politically correct name also? Today is July 4th and I wonder what happened to the Country I grew up in? Years ago we would expect this kind of thing to happen in Cuba, Russia, China but now it is happening right here in the USA.

  15. The problem with the UK seizure is that the arrests are likely to fail prosecution because at this present time the EU court has ruled that streaming is legal, so the Police will have problems.

    The other, more interesting aspect of this is that both ebay and Amazon continue to have thousands of fully loaded box listings, where nothing at all is being done to prosecute them for their part in assisting the sale of so called illegal boxes.

    This, for me brings in to light the real reason for trying to stop them and it has little to do with piracy.

    It is to do with general trade wars and an attempt to curtail China’s domination on the market with regards to direct selling to buyers.

    The likes of Amazon and Ebay, where goods are being sold within the country of purchase will be liable for some taxes and importation duties, so this benefits the local economies with the higher sales prices. So Government agencies will allow them to be sold this way.

    With the US. UK and half the world being in gross amounts of debt to China, they are trying to find ways to disrupt things to some extent for the sake for the sake of their economies.

    If piracy really was a key issue then Amazon, Ebay and others would be prosecuted as accessories to the crime.

    In terms of general duties when coming into our respective countries, we are all aware that there are limits and when applied, you can’t really complain if you have to pay the necessary fees, which can easily be worked out with a number of online calculation sites.

    The examples quoted with regards to Microsoft and Windows do seem rather bizarre but I guess it needs somebody to challenge the legality of these things, which may not happen because of the legal costs involved.

    Fully loaded boxes are not really necessary anyway for people that want to go down such a route because there are now many easy to run wizards that will populate a box in seconds.

    Add the fact that there are a gazzilion videos on Youtube that show all manner of ways to populate a box with such addons and yet, not prosecution of Google for their aiding and abetting.

    Only when we see a more global crackdown can we ever believe the reasons being put forward for preventing such boxes from being imported.

  16. US customs actually is very liberal compared to other countries. I’m a bonded importer, and once you know how the system works, you are “usually” fine.

    It appears the problem here is use of the Windows logo and even just the Trademarked term ‘Microsoft’. This is pretty stupid, IF the device has a legit copy of windows, then fair use allows you to say it comes with Microsoft Windows–though customs will make you prove it’s a legit copy, which could be impossible for a consumer.

    The quick fix is for these Chinese companies to stop using the Windows Logo on the box and the device itself (as well as the word Microsoft just to be safe–as they should legally be able to say Microsoft comparable). They should also stop claiming FCC cert, if they don’t have it, as that can (but probably won’t) trigger seizure as well.

    Out of 17 comments on one else in the US has reported this issue, so it might me an isolated event–let’s hope!

  17. Mike,
    Don’t forget the other guy at the bottom of the article had his single computer seized that he bought from a different seller that was a $400 super mini computer intel i7 and another was not in the article because a 3rd guy had 5 Wintels W8 Pros detained or seized on the same day as the first. So it has been 7 or 8 weeks for that guy not to receive his package of 5 or a letter telling him his were seized or inspected and returned. I hope it maybe just this city but I doubt it we will wait and see. When you track the tracking number on the day it was supposed to be out for delivery it said out for delivery by the end of the day. Later that day we checked it again and it now said please call DHL and when we did we were notified that Customs did take the package without saying anything about why. It was out for delivery and they called the truck back. That was 3 packages in a couple weeks. All 3 were Windows trademarks.

  18. @Tom I may need to re-read the article 🙂
    My guess is it is a Trademark issue, if so. I imagine Geekbuying will be quick to start sending out units without packing (as most don’t say windows on the units themselves).

    Once you get stopped by customs, it can be a hassle (basically impossible), or simple to fix (I’ve seen both); usually for former.

  19. To add some fuel to the fire:

    “Wintel W8 Pro. I ordered 10 more” … “The government determined the value to be 83.30 per unit and not a gift as packaged worth $50.00 per case.”

    I might be wrong, but it looks like the government did their work very well?

  20. Sander,
    Think about what branch of the government is doing this. US Customs and Border Protection. Custom maybe but Border Protection? Lets be real we have over 30+million illegal Aliens mostly from Mexico that have more rights and benefits than Americans. We even pay for their College but not our own. An illegal alien can get caught with 100 kilos of marijuana and released on his signature with whatever name he uses that day. He never goes back to court and gets caught again a month later and gets released again and again. If an American did this once he goes to Prison. They have no ID and it is illegal to ask them for ID or Citizenship. I think they have more important things to do than looking at $80.00 boxes from China that you can buy at Walmart or any other store as well as Amazon.com and e-bay. These illegal aliens are putting Americans out of work. Please protect our border we are being invaded. If they wanted to tax these boxes reasonably I doubt anyone would have a problem with that. 99% of what Americans buy on the internet is not taxed. Amazon.com is one of the very few that do charge tax. I always wonder what they do with that tax money from other States that nobody even knows got collected? I am sure they probably give all of it to the government while almost none of their competitors even charge tax.

  21. Tom, you watch too much FOX News. 100% of what you posted is incorrect.

    Now retired, I did ‘Admin, stamp & clear” for a large warehouse ‘customs clearance’ company in Compton CA (for 37 years). It was a great job, there were lots of Mexican workers involved, and they were all good, extremely trustworthy, legalized family people. No nonsense, no slackers, and no dope… many of whom are retired now as well. They never had more benefits than US Citizens, not ever.

    OK. FYI. US Customs will usually tag & hold imported electronics that arrive in multiple units that appear to be for resale. 10 is a good number to get tagged. Also, if multiple electronics are labelled as including ‘Windows’ software, (value of less than +/- $60,)… the agents do not stand around scratching their heads, they immediately put a hold tag on it. No secret agenda.

    It used to be that if a unit was listed as including XBMC, there was no problem… but now, if the packaging is splash labelled as including KODI with a number of addons, they are starting to do a “Hold for clearance”, they don’t get tossed, but most people are afraid to deal with it, and so they just don’t.

    US Customs staff do get a lot of memos each week, they are not stupid. So yes, buying multiple units through Amazon, or a US based eBay company, is a very reasonable alternative right now.

    OK.This great website is based on incredibly interesting ‘Embedded’ hardware/software. Tom? Please stay on task.

  22. So it’s OK to buy them from Amazon or ebay but not China and you forgot the biggest culprit, Walmart. Go on their website and tell me how many different brands of these same TV boxes with Kodi and XBMC and Android, etc. on them. Why aren’t they getting “tagged”? So there no illegal alien Mexicans in California? Thanks for clearing that up. How did Fox News stage the riots they just had when Trump went to California and they had all those brown faced people waving Mexican flags while burning our Police cars and destroying property. Yes they show their faces and flags on FOX News and they sure looked like Mexicans waving those Mexican Flags. If they are so proud of their country why won’t they go home? On these memos are there any notes saying that these boxes are actually mini computers? Does it say that Kodi and XBMC can be installed and run on any size computer from any manufacturer? If you read the paper carefully you will read that the box in question in this article shows a quantity of 5. The total order was 10 and went to two different cities. 100% wrong? How many times in the last year did illegal Aliens from Mexico kill honest hard working Americans? It is true they won’t show it on CNN but then again who watches CNN anymore? We are tired of the propaganda. Time after time we see on TV the Mug shot, the Mexican name and his illegal status after he killed an American? How many times he re-entered the country with no problem after being sent home? I agree most Mexicans are honest hard working people that stopped breaking the law after they broke the law getting here. A lot of European families wait in line 25 years to legally come here and don’t speak a word of English but within 7 years they have good jobs and own their own homes and learned English? Why do the white Europeans have to wait in line while the Mexicans are allowed to break the laws everyday? Don’t you believe there are over 30 million illegal aliens here already? Democrats and Republicans agree on that, not much else. Is it a lie on TV that we pay for illegal Alien Mexicans to go to College unlike Americans? Why isn’t the main stream media all over these lies? I guess we should put our heads in the sand and say nothing. For your information none of these mini computers that some people call TV Boxes had any add ons on them. If you read the article one guy bought a single mini computer with an intel i7 processor for himself and it was seized. You sure don’t spend $400 on a Chinese computer if your main objective is to steal cable. They have plenty of boxes that do that task for $25.00. If they inspected them they would have seen that and nowhere on the box did it say anything about add ons. How many of these mini computers supposedly going to be destroyed end up in the houses of the Customs and Border protection employees who modify them to watch TV? What do these Memos say about giving a pass to Amazon, Walmart, ebay,paypal, and so many more stores when it comes to these same brands of mini computers. Let them slide the word comes from above, let them through. We can’t can’t have Americans buying them 30-40 cheaper in China? They may not be stupid but they sure are corrupt. It’s like affirmative action modern day racism against white workers. A minority time after time gets the job with a much lower score because of the color of his or her skin. What would Martin Luther King say about that? Only in America is that “fair”. So the big bad corrupt government declares war on mini computers sold to Americans who shop on line in our global economy after our jobs have been sent to other Countries like Mexico and China, etc. etc. Lucky you, you got your 37 years of government paychecks and benefits, enjoy them. Young white Americans will never see them. When you say “afraid to deal with it” do you mean hire an attorney for $5,000 for $400 worth of property and fight the corrupt government with an endless amount of money to fight the case? Or is that just common sense? You realize you have been robbed and it was by the government and no lawyer is going to get those computers back for any amount of money. They are already playing in the Customs and Border employees homes. These computers are exactly on task. I have Microsoft Office, a legal version playing on my mini computer that cost me less than $100 and the same exact model is on Amazon.com for $109.00. I bought mine for $70.00 and took out their version of windows when my anti virus said it was no good. I can afford to pay for Windows but I find it strange that Microsoft sends me popups on my old Windows 7 machines offering me Windows 10 for free. Did you get these same offers? Have you seen what they took out of Windows 10? I would rather get used to it on a computer that costs less than $100. Another thing you did not mention is how many ISIS members are coming in everyday across that border along with the Mexicans with no ID? I am glad you think the government is doing its best at Border Protection, I don’t. Sending 2 agents out to pick up mini computers means 2 less agents protecting our Border from terrorists. Is it a terrorist attack when they kill as many Americans as possible while yelling Allah Akbar? Or is that work place violence from your point of view like our Muslim raised President. Those wounded and killed military members did not even get military benefits because he said it was work place violence not terrorism. He lives in the world of make believe. That is a disgrace.

  23. Barky,
    I can’t imagine the tariffs on these are more than a couple bucks each. I regularity import $30-60k containers and my import fees are normally less than $500, per. Usually the only thing I get really dinged for a paper products like cardboard boxes.

    I don’t know the HS code for these, but with China’s trading status, I suspect there’s actually zero tariff on them (though I could be wrong).

  24. If anyone knows the correct procedure to buy these boxes I think it would help everyone that reads these articles. We probably all buy electronics from China and had an interest in electronics or would not be reading this. Say for example I choose a box that does not have a Windows logo on it. The Chinese write in their fine print that they declare the value at $50.00 per box no matter what it is. Then they say the box is a gift. I found this out after having my boxes detained. I asked them to put the actual value on the paperwork for now on and they refused. Maybe they have to pay their government money? I don’t honestly know. I don’t know how much a value on a box is before they charge duties or taxes or tariffs. Like I said if they fees are reasonable I would gladly pay them. I have called Customs and asked, they were of no help at all. They will refer you to their website that you need an attorney to figure out. Lets says I bought 5 mini computers at $70.00 each that do have the Android and Kodi logo but have no add ons at all. There is nothing illegal about this box (computer) unless every retailer in the country and on web are breaking the USA law. Now the box total value is $350.00. Does this box go to a different department for extra duties and taxes and tariffs? If yes do they put a percentage price on it or how do they figure how to pay the fair share? I have heard different numbers from different Chinese salesman. I have heard $50.00 is the limit most of the ones I asked told me. I was told you can declare up to $200.00 per box. I was told up to $800 per box. My own government that harasses me won’t tell me when I ask them politely. Think how much the government could make if they charged a reasonable amount to the customers. Like Mike said it may be as low as $2.00 per box. I would be thrilled and happy to pay it. Eventually the Chinese would learn this and stop saying everything is worth $50 and is a gift. I don’t feel good shipping them that way. A couple companies said they will write them up any way I choose but I don’t know the answer. Is there a cut off point of 3 units per box or 5 or 10, what if I wanted to buy 100? Calling a mini computer a “TV BOX” is not an accurate description. Is there any way this is not a mini computer? Is this not also a media streaming box? Isn’t streaming legal in the US. I can legally put my Netflix (which I pay for every month on my credit card) or Amazon account number in this box and be 100% legal and Netflix gets $12.00, Amazon less per month for more TV than I could watch. How is that stealing from cable? That is buying a different yet similar product at a much better price. Can others modify them to get more, sure but like I said they can do this on any computer, any size or price range. That does not mean that every computer Dell builds is made just to steal cable. It can be done on any Dell computer depending on what the law actually says about streaming in the USA. I am sure an attorney would have a hard time figuring out these laws. The 7 page letter they sent might as well have been written in Chinese because I don’t understand the options at all. When I called for guidance the Customs and Border protection people said almost everybody just releases them to be destroyed and you won’t be charged any more money in fines or duties or anything else. She told me I was a victim of the Chinese who stole the trademark and I could not know this was done so nothing else will happen to me. Since then my packages have been inspected 100% from China and taped back up with green Customs and Border protection tape on every box. I want to buy the legal mini computers sold in every store. I know not to buy any that say Windows on them now. How do I do this legally and have no problems with the government. Barky after 37 years do you know these answers? If not do you know where I can get the answers in simple English? If I give them an exact make and model exactly as the ones I see on Amazon. How do I do this and stay 100% within the law. What end customers do with it is their choice. We used to be free people until the government forced us to buy health insurance. I will never feel free as long as that law is on the books. My doctor was forced to join a hospital team as well as almost every doctor because he can’t make a living any other way. He was an independent doctor since school. I have huge co-pays and deductibles now that I never had when we were free. Nothing on the news about the millions who are still uninsured. The size of their fine goes up every year and they will jail Americans for not buying it. I thought the whole government controlled health insurance was designed to insure those who did not have insurance. There are still millions of white working tax payers that used to have it but no longer can afford it.

  25. You are mixing to many problems together so know wonder you confuse others and yourself.

    If you buy from abroad then you have to educate yourself on the customs import laws.

    Not knowning killing some is illegal is no excuse form murder. Not knowing the law, is not a get free card.

    Customs did not make you order the goods.

  26. @Tom
    Sadly, I don’t have a clearly answer to your question, but many Chinese website will (not so legally) lower the declared value so that their customers don’t have to pay taxes. In some countries it may be as high as 100%.

    In my case the limit is supposed to be around $30, but sometimes I get items with a higher declared value, and no taxes, sometimes I only have to pay VAT, sometimes I have to pay VAT, custom duties, and the courier’s handling charge. The total is often just around 15% of the total value. This varies from country to country, and you need to learn about your country rules, and import codes (different items have different VAT applied).

    I think Chinese steel has up to 241% tariff in the US…

  27. I live in the same city as this unfortunate buyer and was about to order another windows box from the same seller, never had a problem before, my orders were mostly for 1 at a time but I did place an order for 15 once. Never had a problem before so it seems Customs may have changed their stance which is worrisome. May have to change to a US supplier at a higher price. 🙁

  28. @Phils

    The seizures in the UK were not for streaming being illegal they were for copyright and trademark violations.

    The companies affected were advertising their products using terms such as “Sky TV”, “Virgin Media”, “BT Sports” and “English Premier League”.

    It is this that has got them into trouble and frankly they deserve whatever they get for being so stupid as to try to sell these boxes using someone else’s trademarks and copyrighted terms.

  29. @Tony
    So does that if people had not used those trademarks, and provided the same “streaming services” accessing those channels without paying, it would have been OK?

  30. @cnxsoft

    Yes.
    Unfortunately the mass market are still dumb about this kind of thing so if it’s not blatantly stated in the advert then they don’t know anything about it.

    Lots of other companies still selling boxes. Most sensible people stopped using these terms in their adverts on eBay, Amazon and Gumtree in the UK following these raids. Sky and the Premier League are actively targeting people using their trademarks. They will always win these cases as it isn’t about the legality of streaming.

  31. @Tony
    Thanks. So selling a box allowing you to “watch live sports events and movies for free” would be OK (for small time sellers), as long as they don’t use trademarks on the box. 🙂

    I guess customs / other authorities would have a hard time checking devices with pirated operating systems or content, because it would be time-consuming, so instead they go after trademarks (logo / name) on the package which can quickly be checked.

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Khadas VIM4 SBC
Khadas VIM4 SBC