[FAmSCo] [Fwd] F13 Media Stuck at Customs

[susmit shannigrahi]

Hello Legal Team,

Can you please suggest anything regarding this?

Thanks.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: FAmSCo <trac at fedorahosted.org>
Date: Sat, Sep 25, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Subject: [FAmSCo] #88: F13 Media Stuck at Customs
To:
Cc: susmit at fedoraproject.org, mspevack at fedoraproject.org,
Ke4qqq at fedoraproject.org, tatica at fedoraproject.org, luca at foppiano.org


#88: F13 Media Stuck at Customs
---------------------------------------+------------------------------------
Reporter:  arthurbuliva                |                 Owner:  jsimon
   Type:  task                        |                Status:  new
Priority:  critical                    |             Component:  Budget
Keywords:  F13 Media Stuck at Customs  |   Reimbursment_amount:
   Area:  EMEA                        |
---------------------------------------+------------------------------------
 Christoph Wickert sent me some 300 F13 media for distribution in the
 Freemedia program. The package was sent via dhl, who assigned it a
 tracking number and even gave a [http://nolp.dhl.de/nextt-online-
 public/set_identcodes.do?lang=en&idc=481006836118 website for tracking the
 package].

 Three weeks down the line the package has not yet arrived so I called
 their office who said that the package was not mailed via "express"
 service hence the inaccuracy of the report. So they adviced that I check
 with the Postal services. Surprise, the package had arrived but there was
 no one folowing up on its clearance, since DHL had "disowned" it and I
 couldn't follow up on it since I am not a customs clearing agent.

 Long story short, I asked them what I had to do then. They actually showed
 the box to me and asked me to open it up (procedures, etc to show that it
 doesn't contain contraband). Then they say that they have to tax it. How
 much? The value of the software times the number of disks (300) plus VAT
 and import tax. Showing them the enclosed letter bearing the value of
 $0.15 per media didn't help much. So I take the chance to evangelize to
 them about FOSS and how the price is even much less than $0.15 but its
 like am just wasting my breath. He insists and Googles a site that offers
 Fedora on media which asks for approx $5 per DVD. But argues frantically
 that the software cannot be that cheap.

 Many calculations later and uncooperative tax guys (who clearly was not
 intent in hearing me out coz she was playing Solitaire all the while) they
 come up with a figure for the value of the disks - Ksh 60,000 ($742). Add
 16% VAT and 2% import duty. And that's where we got stuck.

 So someone else came and adviced that the only way out is to look for a
 way to get duty on it waived. How? Clearing and forwarding agents (who
 will of course charge their own fees).

 They asked me to check in Monday 27th when their supervisor will be in so
 that I can argue my case out. But just in case he doesn't change his
 mind...

--
Ticket URL: <https://fedorahosted.org/famsco/ticket/88>
FAmSCo <https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Ambassadors/SteeringCommittee>
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-- 
Regards,
Susmit.

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http://www.fedoraproject.org/wiki/user:susmit
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