needing some help from friends across the pond . . . my son is a student in lyon and i’m needing to mail him a laptop. any idea on what french customs might do to the package? or what it might cost to get it released?
I think you also have to get a FCC transport certificate before anything such as computer can be shipped oversea, I could be wrong though.
On the customs cost I’ll tell you a quick story. I sold a Howard Low D to a individual in France for I believe $50.00. After a week past my shipping it to him, I emailed him to ensure he got the instrument and to see how he liked it. His reply was that the whistle played beautifully, but he had no idea customs fee was $60.00 on top of his purchase price, so he ended up paying $110.00 for the whistle. I felt very bad about this and tried to help him out. But this is a reason I won’t sell any of my extra whistles overseas.
I’d call DHL and speak to them.
Sometimes you can get around the customs issue by stating that the item is a gift on the mail forms required. I don’t know if this will work with a computer but it’s likely to work with whistles. I had suppliments sent from the US to England. I couldn’t get them in the UK and they made it through as gifts. But with today’s security issue this may no longer work.
Another consideration may be the electrical current difference. A different electrical cord for the system may be all it takes but you might want to be sure. Currency adaptors may not work well for computers. Just a thought. However, I bought a Gateway laptop in the UK (made in Ireland at the time) and it worked fine (relatively speaking - it was a sucky laptop) in the US with an American cord from Gateway.
I think Bloomfield’s suggestion was wise. Call DHL or even UPS.
Good Luck.
Fran
You sound so surprised…
On the contrary my dear Bloomfield. Your are a deep well of widom and sage advice.
thank you one and all . . . once again the c&f community comes through.