This is strange. We are sending and receiving open source material including Open Solaris, Ubuntu CDs, SFD's promotional material since last 3 years now and it has not invited any such duty or charges. The package has a declaration and legally no charges are applicable on any such material as it is not under "imported goods" and has no commercial value. You have done the right thing by not accepting the courier. In case of Canonical, you can contact their Distribution Co-ordinator marilize at canonical dot com or simply let the courier/custom guys have a hand on Ubuntu ;-) - Girish SFD-Indore, India

Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:03:43 +0800 From: Frederic Muller <fred@beijinglug.org> Subject: Re: [SFD-discuss] Custom duty was charged on Ubuntu CDs

Dear Shashi,

Every single package leaving China will have a sticker and a matching custom declaration stating that what we're shipping has no commercial value. Anything else has to do with your country customs and nothing with SFD. I myself do suffer from custom officers once in a while even if there is a sticker and the proper declaration. I have learned to live with it. You might want to do the same...

Fred

Shashi wrote:

...

I ordered some Ubuntu Cds to distribute to my friends. The courier came today (DHL) and the courier person charged me 1300 Rs. for duty charges ($31). There was a thread in the list the other day to label the CDs as promotional materials it was not done! We rejected the Courier as we could not afford it.. We apologise for the trouble we caused to Canonical, I'm now downloading the Image and will burn it on 15 cd's that is 10 times cheaper! Hope the other package that is coming from China also does not go through this! I can't download t-shirts! Please tell If i'll have to pay we'll try to make arrangements.... -- Shashi http://connect2shashi.blogspot.com