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Sending electrical goods to russia

 
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ClubsortR8
Just Starting


Joined: 10 Oct 2004
Posts: 4
Location: Geelong

PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 3:07 pm    Post subject: Sending electrical goods to russia Reply with quote

Hi, I would like to send a freind a portable DVD player similar to a walkman that has been purchased in Australia, Is it possible and is there a differance in power supply. We use 240 volts here
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wavetossed
WayToRussified


Joined: 27 Jun 2004
Posts: 339

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The electrics are exactly the same except for the mains lead. Russian powerpoints are either identical to European or they are a Soviet standard where the pin diameter and spacing both differ by 1 mm. If you use an adaptor, this isn't a problem because the travel adaptors are flexible enough to fit both.

However, there could be a problem with the DVD regions. If you only intend for her to play Australian DVDs then it should be OK. But warn her that Russian DVDs might not work on her player. If you look on the back of an Australian DVD it will have the number 4 in a little TV screen frame. Russian DVDs are supposed to be Region 5 which will not play in a Region 4 coded player. Most players will allow you to change the coding 5 times and then they will freeze up.

Fortunately, a lot of Russian DVDs are released as All-Regions DVDs which will work in an Australian player. I think this will mostly be older Russian and Soviet films, not the latest Hollywood releases. So, as long as you warn her to be careful about buying DVDs in Russia and you ship her a travel adaptor for the mains lead, it should work fine.
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ClubsortR8
Just Starting


Joined: 10 Oct 2004
Posts: 4
Location: Geelong

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks thats what I needed to know, I only intend to send Australian ones so she'll have to live with that.I've seen the adaptors and I'll grab one of them prior to sending it
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Atomcat
Lounge Lizard


Joined: 30 Jul 2004
Posts: 187

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 1:59 am    Post subject: DVD Reply with quote



Last edited by Atomcat on Fri Nov 05, 2004 4:23 am; edited 1 time in total
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ClubsortR8
Just Starting


Joined: 10 Oct 2004
Posts: 4
Location: Geelong

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 2:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

How much hassle am I likley to have sending her a lap top.I wanted to send a simple necklace and was told by Fed ex and TNT that jewelry could not be sent
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AliceFromMoscow
WayToRussified


Joined: 10 Jul 2004
Posts: 411

PostPosted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

haha! just dont say to them what you are sending, and there should be no problem.
actually sending dvd movies is illegal too, from that point.
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Brent
Lounge Lizard


Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Posts: 91

PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 8:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have heard that sending laptop computers can be a problem for the recipient. The receiver might have to pay a duty/tax equivalent to the value of the item. I don't have specific information, so I could be wrong. I can tell you from experience that personally transporting a laptop into Russia was not a problem.
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AliceFromMoscow
WayToRussified


Joined: 10 Jul 2004
Posts: 411

PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

didnt i say?... just say to them that the item you are sending is 50$ something, and there would be no problems.
well of course if you wanna pay. then say everything honestly Confused
by the way, i wouldn't advice to send a laptop because its too fragile...
my friend often sends me CD's and most of the times, even though they are very good packed, CD cases are broken! I'm afraid to imagine what would happen to a laptop, in such conditions.
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AliceFromMoscow
WayToRussified


Joined: 10 Jul 2004
Posts: 411

PostPosted: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Actually you are not supposed to send such things as a laptop or dvd player...
These things are illegal or just prohibited


Shipping Restrictions
General restrictions for THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Please check the lists below to verify that you are not attempting to ship something that is unacceptable for THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.


Unacceptable items (NI = Negotiable Instrument)

Cheques, cashier (NI)
Military equipment
Coffee
Non-factory packed chemicals
Coffee samples
Phones/modems
Cologne and perfume
Radar equipment-transmitters/receivers
Communications equipment
Radio equipment
Cotton
Radios or parts thereof
Cotton seed
Seeds
Drugs: non-prescription
Tax stamp
Drugs: prescription
Tea
Electronic equipment
Telecommunications equipment
Grain samples
Televisions, television equipment
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tuller
Talk Show Host


Joined: 24 Oct 2004
Posts: 234

PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 6:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I sent my fiance and her two daughters a laptop and had no problems with customs...just be sure to sent it as commercial and then if your friend's son't have the money to retrieve it from customs or their postal office..wire them about a $100.00 to pay the taxes on it.
On my last trip a couple of weeks ago I carried them a new one in my luggage...when I go through customs in Moscow, I always hit the green line and declare everything as personal.
I don't think they care what you carry into Russia, it's what you try to bring out that they look for in your bags.

Tuller

Just my worthless 2 cents worth
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AliceFromMoscow
WayToRussified


Joined: 10 Jul 2004
Posts: 411

PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 7:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

tuller wrote:
I don't think they care what you carry into Russia, it's what you try to bring out that they look for in your bags.

of course they care, they wouldn't let you in with a bomb or drugs Razz
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Brent
Lounge Lizard


Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Posts: 91

PostPosted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Speaking of "what you bring in" to Russia, they recently started a new policy at Sheremetyevo-2 airport. No vehicles are allowed to drive up directly to the terminal (i.e. cars are no longer permitted to drop-off passengers directly at departures entrance). All people entering the terminal must go through the same doors, and have all baggage scanned for traces of explosive materials. I went through on the first day they initiated this practice, and it went surprisingly quickly.
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tuller
Talk Show Host


Joined: 24 Oct 2004
Posts: 234

PostPosted: Sat Oct 30, 2004 12:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good thing to post...two weeks ago when I was leaving Moscow, our taxi was stopped and searched on the road into the terminal and we then had to park away from the terminal and walk. ....when it was time for me to go through customs , I was sent through the x-ray machines three times and then when I went through the Delta check-in everything in everyone's bags was laid out on a table.
That same trip when I got to SVO 2, and I always go on a Home Stay Visa from my fiance, it took an hour in Passport control, I always declare everything as personal, hit the green line and keep going. ..when I got to the x ray machine and she saw I had three bags, she waved me on out the doors to my girls Smile)) WHEW!!!!

Tuller
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