Customs disassembling overseas shipments?

[PepNYC]

I've heard that customs is disassembling certain products coming in form overseas to check the insides and then not reassembling them properly. Leaving parts out, screws missing, etc... This may happen predominantly with products with non removable batteries like the istick but not sure if it's just limited to those particular types of items. Has anyone ever experienced this problem?

 

[ninfreak]

anything and everything is subject to inspection. it is mostly random depending on country. Canada for example searches just about everything

 

[caramel]

Canada for example searches just about everything

And we love ordering these from e-bay:

 

[PepNYC]

anything and everything is subject to inspection. it is mostly random depending on country. Canada for example searches just about everything

What I was asking was if anyone has received a product that came from over seas that was missing parts due to customs inspecting the item.

Searching and inspecting is one thing. Not putting the item back together properly or leaving parts out before sending it on its way is another.

 

[Ryedan]

What I was asking was if anyone has received a product that came from over seas that was missing parts due to customs inspecting the item.

Searching and inspecting is one thing. Not putting the item back together properly or leaving parts out before sending it on its way is another.

This is the first time I've heard about this. Not even from Canada Customs, though they do sometimes hold shipments for nicotine checks and return to sender if they find some.

It has not happened to me, but I have not bought much lately. I really doubt this will ever become an issue, but that's just my opinion.

 

[Rickajho]

Never experienced the problem, let alone heard of it. US customs seizes stuff or they don't. They don't have the time to take it apart, reassemble it, repack it & send it along.

 

[Strings]

That sounds like a monumental waste of time for a Customs' agent to me.

Guessing someone sent merchandise that wasn't assembled or missing parts, and is blaming Customs

 

[Steamix]

Rumours, I'd say.

Taking things apart and putting them back together entails work...Gubmint officials and manual labour don't go so well together

That snide remark aside:
They dont want to and they usually are not allowed to. Busting a 5 dollar mod while inspecting it is one thing. Peeping under the hood of some hideously expensive lab equipment and breaking it in the process could result in them having to pay up for it.
So, if they want to take a look at the inner workings of something to make up their mind about it ( or checking for contraband ) they ask the consignee to come around and open/dismantle it for them. And laws almost everywhere entitle them to ask for just that if they deem it necessary.
I guess rough handling during shipping accounts for these occurences...

 

[WattWick]

I can only assume your customs do something like ours. Packages are scanned with x-rays, not just randomly opened and dismantled. My guess is most customs officials can tell a battery x-ray from an 'anomaly' that needs further investigation. Dogs are used too, of course.

I assume the risk of having your stuff dismantled is quite low.