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Goods seized by customs

Yesterday DHL called me and tell me that parts I ordered are seized by custom for inspection. This is the second time I ordered from China (about $1300 total) since local parts are worst and more expensive. Parts includes iPhone LCDs, about 24 back glasses with Apple logo and 12 front camera of iPhones 7-8.

Any of you have been through this before? What are the consequences? Is this criminal? I tried to keep myself clean but I don’t know if this is illegal or criminal.

Thank you very much!

Answered! View the answer I have this problem too

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This question was migrated from https://www.ifixit.com/Answers.

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if you are buying 24 black glasses and 12 cameras you can hardly claim it as "personal items"... what you are doing is importing for business. You need to work out how to legally make purchases from overseas and pay the import duty.

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harmongdx  okay so you have been a “victim” of corporate America. We are at a point where companies like Apple are starting to influence government policies and are pretty much running the show. That does not just go for parts from outside the country but also for parts inside the USA. “Amazon and Apple have struck an agreement that lets Amazon list the newest Apple and Beats products when they come out, like the iPhone XS and XR. In exchange, Amazon will remove any non-authorized third-party sellers selling Apple products from the platform. The deal will begin later this year and apply to Amazon sales in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, India, France, Germany and Spain. “ from here

Unless we, the end users of those devices, support the right to Repair it will be the way of the future. Apple will not be the only corporation and Amazon not the only stooge for those companies. Corporate greed before people because we let it happen!

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harmongdx  illegal yes, criminal, not yet. Your stuff was seized and you can petition for it and/or chalk it up as a lesson learned. If you do petition etc. consider having an attorney do that for you. Wait for whatever notice they send to you and respond as requested right after you speak with your attorney. Do not anticipate anything (you are dealing with corrupt corporations) but wait for things to happen.

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The problem is the Apple logo on the parts! If you had the same exact part without the logo you would have been fine.

Sadly, you can’t win here, you’ll need to forfeited your order. It will cost 5 to 10 times as much to fight it!

Your name is now on a hit list so any inbound orders from China will be inspected and if you have any Apple Logo’ed parts within it the full shipment will be seized!

Apple is playing hardball! Even refurbished parts and parts Apple won’t sell even to their authorized repair partners are being seized!

Update (11/24/2018)

Here’s your options:

“CBP offers importers the following remedies:

  1. Request administrative forfeiture proceedings as provided under 19 U.S.C. § 1607 and 19 C.F.R § 162.45;
  2. File a claim and cost bond requesting that CBP immediately refer the case to the United States Attorney for court action;
  3. File a petition for administrative relief with the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Office at the relevant port of seizure, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1618 and 19 C.F.R. §§ 171.1 and 171.2;
  4. Tender an offer in compromise (i.e., a settlement payment)through the Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures Office at the relevant port of seizure, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. § 1617 and 19 C.F.R §§ 161.5 and 171.31; or
  5. Abandon the property – although you still may have to pay a penalty.vii

Allowing CBP to forfeit your shipment may seem like the simplest answer, but it can also make you look complicit in the eyes of the law. Repeatedly purchasing from the same overseas supplier whose goods are continuously seized will likely send up a red flag to CBP, and can be construed as an attempt to smuggle counterfeit goods into the country.

Responding to detention notices with copies of test reports, evidence of your supplier selection process, copies of order documentation, or other information related to the shipment can demonstrate to CBP that your company is performing due diligence in selecting suppliers and is not negligent or fraudulent.”

You should speak to a knowledgeable customs attorney!!

You’ll face fines and storage fee’s which can be quite high! The failure to pay these is what gets you into trouble.

U.S. CUSTOMS SEIZED MY MERCHANDISE: NOW WHAT?

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Thank you very much! So what can I do now if custom send letter to me? Don't answer it and let it goes? But I read some articles that we have to respond to letter otherwise they will fine me. Thank you very much!

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Louis Rossman has had computer parts seized by ICE in the past, his business and his credibility wasn’t affected at all by it so I doubt you will have long term problems with this.. just know that this issue isn’t just happening to you.

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Yes, I know Luis and Jessa goods have been seized, but I don't know if US treat this as criminal. I'm working on this bussiness for short term and start looking for a job since cell phone repair bussiness is getting worst. In my area, iPhone 7, 7 plus, 8, 8 plus screen repair they charge $49.

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Have a look at this article, it may answer some of the questions you have.

http://www.erai.com/ERAI_Blog/3048/__My_...

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harmongdx will be eternally grateful.