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Posted by Dean A. Markley on August 20, 2025, 5:08:06, in reply to "Re: This Stops Here"
Paul, I am not sure what you want. I've already apologized once. If you are that sensitive over something as relatively insignificant as and internet post, perhaps you'd prefer to be elsewhere.
Dean 
Previous Message
Except the entire string wasn’t deleted. I run a website that uses this exact same Boardhost system, so I know exactly how it works. Each post in a string can be deleted selectively and separately by the host. There’s nothing that happens automatically. Neither my post nor Ralph’s was in any way political and if you had read them you’d have seen that. Previous Message
If you'd prefer to take over, please advise Steve Backer. I'm not perfect and this system is not either. If you responded to any of the "political posts" then that chain gets deleted. The system cannot do otherwise. I apologize if you think I deliberately deleted your posts.
Dean Previous Message
I object! I posted a perfectly NON political question to Ralph, and he gave a detailed NON political answer. And you deleted both, apparently without reading them. If you’re going to do this job, take the time to read the posts and do the job properly. Previous Message
If you two gentlemen (Ralph Wood and Simon Scheuer) cannot get along then I strongly suggest you do not engage each other.
Dean Previous Message
Okay, fine, politics...
The previous administration's position on de minimis...
https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/09/13/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-to-protect-american-consumers-workers-and-businesses-by-cracking-down-on-de-minimis-shipments-with-unsafe-unfairly-traded-products/
From this item:
"Administration Action Intended to Reduce De Minimis Import Volumes
New Rulemaking to Reduce De Minimis Volume and Strengthen Trade Enforcement: The Administration intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would exclude from the de minimis exemption all shipments containing products covered by tariffs imposed under Sections 201 or 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, or Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.
Section 301 tariffs currently cover approximately 40% of U.S. imports, including 70% of textile and apparel imports from China. Some e-commerce platforms and other foreign sellers circumvent these tariffs by shipping items from China to the United States claiming the de minimis exemption. If finalized, these goods would no longer be eligible for the de minimis exemption.It would also ensure that de minimis exemption eligibility for products covered by trade enforcement actions is consistent across U.S. trade laws. Products covered by antidumping or countervailing duty orders are already excluded from de minimis exemption eligibility."
So, the previous administration was preparing to shut the loophole down themselves. They lost the election and the current admimistration actually took action.
Now, Congress looks like it might soon "catch up," and shut it down by law:
https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-graham-introduce-bipartisan-closing-the-de-minimis-loophole-act/
https://www.furnituretoday.com/industry-issue/closing-the-de-minimis-loophole-act-introduced-in-d-c/
And this is a bipartisan bill. You enjoy "infesting" us with your extreme position. All you're doing is making yourself feel better by venting, and inciting the opposite extreme to chime in, and neither side is impressing me with their positions. There is a moderate view on this, and it is reflected by the links. Knowing this, you just look like an obsessed, deranged fanatic to me. Which has me feeling bad for you (and all the others from both sides who've become so radicalized that they've gone berserk.) I have become numb to all the silly sermons. I nod vacantly, and think other stuff. I am then contentedly living the retirement I've looked forward to. "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's" (from the Bible) or "Go placidly amidst the noise and the haste" from Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata." Whatever works to release you from your unhealthy fixation. You're not doing yourself any good being all wound up. Wishing the best for you, Simon. Previous Message
the entire "justification" for tariffs is to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the US???? If a model parts provider can do it, what do you think a well funded drug operation can do? Just like the "Great Wall"....just tunnel under it or deliver the drugs by submarine...the coast guard has been cut down...easy peasy. Previous Message
I also order extensively from Chinese ebay vendors, and AliExpress (Mainland China to Canada). Chinese manufactured items are very reasonable (no tariffs), and shipping is usually a couple of dollars, or free. Economy shipping means delivery in 2 - 4 weeks. Previous Message
Um... Lots! Such that this is a situation where a picture is worth 1000 words. And that will require me to post an ebay listing, which shows pictures of all the contents. Technically, a No-No here, but I will link you to the seller I used. The catch? He's out of stock on them, so you can't order this from him. You'll need to find it from another ebayer. The reason for the No Ebay rule is to keep people from posting their own ebay listings. This both isn't my listing, nor can you even (currently) get it from him anyway. Should satisfy the rule.
Here's the link with pics of the contents:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/197474917722
Here's their Scalemates entry, which I would have used instead, but they don't show the contents:
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/ev-model-p100-arleigh-burke-class-guied-missile-destroyer--1626910 Previous Message
What's in the set? Previous Message
On August 2nd, I ordered EV Model 1/700 set P100, upgrades for Arleigh Burke destroyers, from an ebay dealer in China. This is a product made in China, and shipped from there. Since May 2nd, items from China have not had de minimis. So, I assume I paid customs and other fees, but I honestly can't tell you details of how. It went very smoothly.
I wanted this set badly enough to take chances by ordering. Price was good...only $25.99. Shipping was listed as $10.00. The listing indicated I should get the shipment by/before August 27th, which is two days before all de minimis ends, and if I am not mistaken, rates also go up. The listing promised me I would not be charged any other fees after checkout. At checkout, my state added their sales tax. Otherwise it was just the item price and shipping that it totaled out to. "The adventure begins," I told myself, and waited to see how this all worked.
Sometimes, though listed as "in stock," these sellers actually have to order it printed. This looked to actually be in stock since it shipped two days later, on August 4th. It shipped by ebay's SpeedPak through Orange Connex.
Tracking showed "Export Customs Declaration Completed People's Republic of China" on August 7th. It showed "Import Customs Clearance Completed United States of America" on August 10th. Yet, it next showed "Departed from Origin Country People's Republic of China" and "Arrived at destination country United States of America" both on August 11th, the first at 6:02 & the second at 11:07.
From an advanced tracking site I use, I had learned it would be assigned another tracking number for the US. The last ebay item I got from China--in February this year--went by SpeedPak, then transfered to the USPS for the last-mile delivery in the US. This shipment was handed over to UniUni, whom I find are a Canadian shipping service. Tracking from that company then showed "Gateway transit in," "Arrived at regional sorting center," and "Gateway transit out" all in the NY City/New Jersey area, on August 14th. It showed up in my state yesterday early in the morning, and was then out for delivery shortly after, then delivered yesterday evening.
I never heard a thing about customs except the tracking entries, nor was I charged anything further after checkout. I can not tell from the amounts I paid which fee included the customs duty, but I certainly presume I paid it. I strongly believe, though I have no exact proof, that a customs broker was involved in the process. That or the ebay seller knows his customs procedures pretty well. I think Orange Connex provided brokerage, though. That seems most likely.
It went seamlessly, and I found the charges all reasonable (under the rates currently in effect for China until the 29th.)
Make whatever you will from this. Just passing it along.
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