US Customs cracking down on TV boxes and Mini PC's?

[bluesmanuk]

A fascinating article over at CNXSoft about recent activities inside US Customs that anybody purchasing direct from China might want to read before you buy.

http://www.cnx-software.com/2016/07/04/have-us-customs-declared-war-on-tv-boxes-and-mini-pcs/

[scooter2014]

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business/android-box-streaming-1.3455524

Wonder if this guys 10 minutes of fame going on news station was worth it now that his company has been added to the list of companies bell and rogers taking to court. 😛

[RISCy Dude]

Fortunately, my last order(R-Box) must have slipped through. But I will be a bit worried in the future. The reasons sited by Customs seems a stretch, as many Intel boxes come with properly licensed Windows. As to the piracy factor, also a stretch, as almost any computing device can be used to that end. But you can't really win an argument with them, as facts seem to have little bearing on their decision. I know they have a tough job, but this seems an over-reaction. Meanwhile, I read that less than 1% of food imported to the US gets inspected. Seems to be a miss in priorities.

[prahjister]

I have had a couple items come through customs the last month with no issues. It might be hit or miss. 2 Android and 1 windows stick. I didn't look at my customs slip. None appeared to be opened.

[bluesmanuk]

I don't think the real reason has much to do with piracy but more a case of making direct trade between individuals and China more difficult.

Despite thousands of listings on ****, Amazon and the like for fully loaded boxes, we don't hear about legal actions against them for aiding and abetting the sale of boxes primarily used for copyright breaches.

That is because the prices you pay on these sites will generate some form of tax revenues for the host countries and aids the struggling economies a little more.

There is really no need for these fully loaded boxes anymore now anyway because there are so many online wizards that will populate the box with hundreds of addons in seconds.

The Microsoft/Windows 10 part doesn't make sense at all because if they are legitimate then I can't see how customs could do anything other than charge customs duties and taxes based upon the already know set rules for the US.

I wonder what vendors like Geekbuying and Gearbest think of this as it could seriously affect their businesses.

[RISCy Dude]

It does make me wonder how Gearbest can sell items in their US "warehouse", often at prices lower than they list on their China and EU site. If it is all about the money, and it probably is, seems these prices would reflect an increase. Granted, many of those items, at least the TV boxes, are older models and they're trying to clear inventory. Or maybe they slip them in under the radar, but they would not do that, surely.
I do like that stuff comes fast when using their US w/h.

[scooter2014]

As long as they dont stop my hpbby project geekbox and landingship its not for tv it for learning ya thats my story. I am sticking to that development ya . 😛

[Guest]

Well I am now a member of the club of good ceased by US Customs. I had 50 T95N boxes ceased in NY this week. I am glad I paid by paypal. It is funny because I have shipped quite a few boxes in through NY before. Mine where running Android 6, and had no Microsoft logos on them, but did have Netflix, HBO, Youtube blah blah blah

[bluesmanuk]

Well I am now a member of the club of good ceased by US Customs. I had 50 T95N boxes ceased in NY this week. I am glad I paid by paypal. It is funny because I have shipped quite a few boxes in through NY before. Mine where running Android 6, and had no Microsoft logos on them, but did have Netflix, HBO, Youtube blah blah blah

Ouch!

Are they going to let them through with a charge applied?

[gearbest]

I don't think the real reason has much to do with piracy but more a case of making direct trade between individuals and China more difficult.

Despite thousands of listings on ****, Amazon and the like for fully loaded boxes, we don't hear about legal actions against them for aiding and abetting the sale of boxes primarily used for copyright breaches.

That is because the prices you pay on these sites will generate some form of tax revenues for the host countries and aids the struggling economies a little more.

There is really no need for these fully loaded boxes anymore now anyway because there are so many online wizards that will populate the box with hundreds of addons in seconds.

The Microsoft/Windows 10 part doesn't make sense at all because if they are legitimate then I can't see how customs could do anything other than charge customs duties and taxes based upon the already know set rules for the US.

I wonder what vendors like Geekbuying and Gearbest think of this as it could seriously affect their businesses.

Now I am sad to know it..........If the new policy is fully carried out, our business would be truly affected.... Maybe we dont call tv-box tvbox

[gearbest]

It does make me wonder how Gearbest can sell items in their US "warehouse", often at prices lower than they list on their China and EU site. If it is all about the money, and it probably is, seems these prices would reflect an increase. Granted, many of those items, at least the TV boxes, are older models and they're trying to clear inventory. Or maybe they slip them in under the radar, but they would not do that, surely.
I do like that stuff comes fast when using their US w/h.

Trade protectionism arises!

[bluesmanuk]

Now I am sad to know it..........If the new policy is fully carried out, our business would be truly affected.... Maybe we dont call tv-box tvbox

I think that the answer for Android boxes is to ensure that any mention of Kodi has an additional statement that it is a vanilla installation that carries no addons that are not part of the official legal repository and make sure that is all that is installed. Maybe just call them Mini PC's from now on too just to be sure.

For Windows, you might just have to strip back much of the Microsoft branding unless you can show that it is being done to their required specification.

[RISCy Dude]

Trade protectionism arises!

I hope not, I don't think there are any winners.
I wish they would just let us make our own trade decisions and not confiscate our toys. There have to be more important things to spend their time on.
So far I have not had any customs problems from local or overseas, I hope that does not change.
Using standard shipping, US W/H toys get to my door quicker and no customs worry.

[scooter2014]

Kodi has been very clear on the open program NO mention of the trade mark Kodi for any add. Re name the app and advertised as anything but Kodi. Re free streaming apps at some point they will find an avenue to stop some of the piracy. Not everyone does not pay for tv apps. The fact that so many are Demanding it and see it as a right when it is not is going to lead to laws being changed. Networks are losing billions you dont think they will pool and lobby for changes to streaming laws. 😁 It will end at some point. Paid services are reasonable on line now and reliable.

[bluesmanuk]

I think that Kodi are only objecting to the use of the name in relation to promoting infringing activity, where they have said that they will prosecute.

But if vanilla installation with a statement that it is just that won't incur their wrath.

The networks and movie studios may have to rethink things themselves too because the amount spent on advertising is so huge that it just helps to inflate market prices that means some people will turn to an alternative route.

When single TV episodes are costing millions of dollars to make and stars are being paid obscene amounts of money then something is wrong.

So lowering costs a little more across the board will enable streaming services to be even lower and tempt more to pay the monthly fees to watch.