Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: Damien on December 30, 2008, 06:22:48 am

Title: First parcel opened by Aust post & Customs
Post by: Damien on December 30, 2008, 06:22:48 am
I purchased 3 packs of Morphplast moldable plastic beads from Starloc adhesives, obviously Aust post couldn't work out what the hell they were looking at on the x-ray machine. Silly bl**dy customs resealed it with one small bit of sticky tape that fortunately stuck to the first bag and stopped the others falling out.
I've bought several hundred items from USA, UK and Hong Kong this is the first to be opened and the worst damaged.
Good old Aust Post.
Damien.
Title: Re: First parcel opened by Aust post & Customs
Post by: Hagar on December 30, 2008, 07:24:51 am
Are you sure they wasnt just repairing a hole in the package? Was there a slip saying that the parcel had been opened by them?

I have in the past received parceks where the post office have covered a hole in the packing, and others where customs have opened them. Normally if customs have opened a parcel, there is no doubt! The origial packaging is normally pretty well destroyed, and they leave a little note telling you they have opened it.

I complained once! "What If I needed to return the goods? I cant now because the original package is damaged"?

Their reply? 

"And thats our problem because....?"

Title: Re: First parcel opened by Aust post & Customs
Post by: Damien on December 30, 2008, 07:52:32 am
Yes Ian there was a sticker saying Opened by Aust post for inspection by Customs.
Damien
Title: Re: First parcel opened by Aust post & Customs
Post by: StarLocAdhesives/FiveStar on December 30, 2008, 08:24:10 pm
Sorry about that!, we just mark it as glue ,normaly , sometimes plastic balls , what was it marked as being in it?

We have had lots of the MorphPlast opened by customs worldwide ( in relation to other things ) , they think its pills......great big bags of pills! , I presume its with northwest england being a large exporter of illegal drugs! 

Australia is one place they do stop the morphplast , more often than other places

My theory.........they keep a tiny bit from every bag they open to save buying it!

They can handle superglue, epoxy glue, most glues by looking at them,  just not Morphplast as they dont recognise it

Its normaly fine not that much gets stopped for the number sent out , but every now and then they delay some to look at it.... (play with it),  i can just see some guy at customs boiling up the hot water to see if it was what it says it is.

They do some strange things at customs,

We regularly get deliverys of empty plastic packaging, they always cut random boxes open to see whats in them (leaving bottles falling out when you move the boxes), the holes are normaly in the botom of the boxes.

Buying retail ive just had all sorts of glues and thinners from around the world sent to me to see exactly what they are differences betwen different brands  , none of them were stopped at customs, they could have had anything in the bottles. , most were sent in as value $0.01 and marked as a gift , totaly illegal! but they didnt look in them
Title: Re: First parcel opened by Aust post & Customs
Post by: Damien on December 31, 2008, 02:38:31 am
The Customs label had one word Plastic, no value & no tick in gift or  sample boxes with date and signature on the bottom.
Damien.
Title: Re: First parcel opened by Aust post & Customs
Post by: Peter Fitness on December 31, 2008, 03:31:58 am
If anyone has seen the Australian TV show, Border Security, mostly shot at Sydney and Melbourne airports and international mail centres, they will know the lengths some people go to, to import illegal substances. Drugs hidden in children's books or toys, sewn into clothing, inside confectionery such as chocolates, hidden in cans of food, etc etc etc. It's no wonder Customs get suspicious of anything they're not sure of, and while it's extremely annoying when a parcel is opened, perhaps it's understandable.

On the show, Customs officers are shown in mail centres carefully "deconstructing" suspicious packages; perhaps they are not always as careful putting them back together as they seem on camera.

Peter.
Title: Re: First parcel opened by Aust post & Customs
Post by: bigfella on December 31, 2008, 04:28:04 am
I agree Peter and thank god they are so vigilant. If only a fraction of the illegal goods found through customs got through what would be the consequences. For a small country, population wise, we have a vast border that needs protecting and I think the customs and other related agencies do a first rate job. It may mean a little inconvenience but I think it is worth it.

Regards David