Post by thread:[OT] Import tariffs

was Re: [AVR] use a PICKit2 to program AVRs! Funny NYPD wrote: > wow, that's a duty preventing people from importing. We run into this all the time. The worst situation is when the customer gets the package, refuses to pay customs fees, and the carrier charges them to our account. You don't even have to import anything to be hurt by tariffs. Back in the early 2000s tariffs on steel were raised by 100%, to protect US steel makers from competition. Back then we used steel enclosures for our products (made in the US), and our prices went up x2. Thankfully, unlike the American auto makers, we had the option to switch to plastic for our products. Vitaliy

>was Re: [AVR] use a PICKit2 to program AVRs! > >Funny NYPD wrote: >> wow, that's a duty preventing people from importing. > >We run into this all the time. The worst situation is when the customer gets >the package, refuses to pay customs fees, and the carrier charges them to >our account. This is why I absolutely refuse to use FedEx any more. They did this to me too many times. Now I ship USPS exclusively. -- --- Chris Smolinski Black Cat Systems http://www.blackcatsystems.com

{Quote hidden}> > On Apr 9, 2010, at 2:51 PM, Chris Smolinski wrote: > >> was Re: [AVR] use a PICKit2 to program AVRs! >> >> Funny NYPD wrote: >>> wow, that's a duty preventing people from importing. >> >> We run into this all the time. The worst situation is when the >> customer gets >> the package, refuses to pay customs fees, and the carrier charges >> them to >> our account. > > This is why I absolutely refuse to use FedEx any more. They did this > to me too many times. Now I ship USPS exclusively. > > Chris Smolinski > Black Cat Systems > http://www.blackcatsystems.com FYI , those using USPS are charging costs to me. www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_066.htm Gus

> FYI , those using USPS are charging costs to me... Care to explain? I'm not a big fan of the "public sector", but Priority Mail gets me coast-to-coast service at about half the rate, & half the time, of UPS, where shippers offer it unencumbered by premiums. As well, UPS has abandoned servicing low-volume customers, & their guaranties are worth what they cost to disseminate... best regards, Jack p.s. - I'm willing to listen - This ain't a troll... On 4/9/10, YES NOPE9 <spam_OUTyesTakeThisOuTnope9.com> wrote: {Quote hidden}>> >> On Apr 9, 2010, at 2:51 PM, Chris Smolinski wrote: >> >>> was Re: [AVR] use a PICKit2 to program AVRs! >>> >>> Funny NYPD wrote: >>>> wow, that's a duty preventing people from importing. >>> >>> We run into this all the time. The worst situation is when the >>> customer gets >>> the package, refuses to pay customs fees, and the carrier charges >>> them to >>> our account. >> >> This is why I absolutely refuse to use FedEx any more. They did this >> to me too many times. Now I ship USPS exclusively. >> >> Chris Smolinski >> Black Cat Systems >> http://www.blackcatsystems.com > > FYI , those using USPS are charging costs to me. > www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_066.htm > Gus > -

I have been told, but have no proof, that the USPS first class postage subsidizes the parcel business. Since Fedex took over the package shipment from DHL when DHL left Wilmington, Ohio (between Columbus and Cincinnati) leaving 4000 people without jobs, the priority with tracking has deteriorated. It used to be I would reliably get 2 day service from anywhere in the USA, today, rarely 2 day, mostly 3 day, and sometimes more. The local post office does scan in and out (at my box), and if Fedex misses the local carriers (we are rural motor routes), they try to send a vehicle out to deliver those packages same day they received. Note that USPS has a special low cost book rate for Books, Cd's, etc., but it is slow. On 4/9/2010 10:18 PM, John Gardner wrote: {Quote hidden}>> FYI , those using USPS are charging costs to me... >> > Care to explain? I'm not a big fan of the "public sector", but Priority > Mail gets me coast-to-coast service at about half the rate,& half the > time, of UPS, where shippers offer it unencumbered by premiums. > > As well, UPS has abandoned servicing low-volume customers,& their > guaranties are worth what they cost to disseminate... > > best regards, > > Jack > > p.s. - I'm willing to listen - This ain't a troll... > > On 4/9/10, YES NOPE9<.....yesKILLspam@spam@nope9.com> wrote: > >>> On Apr 9, 2010, at 2:51 PM, Chris Smolinski wrote: >>> >>> >>>> was Re: [AVR] use a PICKit2 to program AVRs! >>>> >>>> Funny NYPD wrote: >>>> >>>>> wow, that's a duty preventing people from importing. >>>>> >>>> We run into this all the time. The worst situation is when the >>>> customer gets >>>> the package, refuses to pay customs fees, and the carrier charges >>>> them to >>>> our account. >>>> >>> This is why I absolutely refuse to use FedEx any more. They did this >>> to me too many times. Now I ship USPS exclusively. >>> >>> Chris Smolinski >>> Black Cat Systems >>> http://www.blackcatsystems.com >>> >> FYI , those using USPS are charging costs to me. >> www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_066.htm >> Gus >> --

> The point is moot because USPS gets billions in direct subsidies. Loss from > operations numbers, from USPS's own report: > > 2007: $5.3bn > 2008: $2.8bn > 2009: $3.7bn > > http://www.usps.com/financials/_pdf/annual_report_2009.pdf Addressing only your statement and not at all commenting on the merit of your arguments - Based on the document you cite your claims would appear to be incorrect prima facie. It may however be I rather than you that is reading the report wrong. You equate the "annual loss from operations" (reported on pages 2 & 61) with "direct subsidies" from the government. It is obvious that there is government $ input but this seems to be at least in large part on a commercial footing and not as handouts. Until supported by direct evidence to the contrary there is no reason to conclude that annual losses equate to direct subsidies for USPS than it is for any other similar sized US company. >From a quick skim of the report it is not at all obvious that these losses represent any of direct equivalent government input, direct subsidies, or money which is contributed by the US government without any expectation of repayment. Debt related interest payments of 80 million were made. Russell .

{Quote hidden}> > On Apr 11, 2010, at 2:51 AM, Russell McMahon wrote: > >> The point is moot because USPS gets billions in direct subsidies. >> Loss from >> operations numbers, from USPS's own report: >> >> 2007: $5.3bn >> 2008: $2.8bn >> 2009: $3.7bn >> >> http://www.usps.com/financials/_pdf/annual_report_2009.pdf > > Addressing only your statement and not at all commenting on the merit > of your arguments - > > Based on the document you cite your claims would appear to be > incorrect prima facie. It may however be I rather than you that is > reading the report wrong. > > You equate the "annual loss from operations" (reported on pages 2 & > 61) with "direct subsidies" from the government. It is obvious that > there is government $ input but this seems to be at least in large > part on a commercial footing and not as handouts. Until supported by > direct evidence to the contrary there is no reason to conclude that > annual losses equate to direct subsidies for USPS than it is for any > other similar sized US company. > >> From a quick skim of the report it is not at all obvious that these > losses represent any of direct equivalent government input, direct > subsidies, or money which is contributed by the US government without > any expectation of repayment. Debt related interest payments of 80 > million were made. > > > Russell TP = taxpayer ( http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/ar09html/ar_2_069.htm ) Private companies are prohibited by law from competing with USPS first class mail services. <== equivalent to TP subsidy USPS claims ownership of the mailbox at your site. <== equivalent to TP subsidy USPS benefits from special laws regarding theft of mail , protection of federal employees USPS employees get federal retirement ( http://www.postalmag.com/retirement.htm ) <=== equivalent to TP subsidy Capital Contributions from US Government dated 20090930 $3.087 Billion Approximate ( range ) gift of assets from the US Government $35-60 billion ( property and equipment is valued at $48 billion and I held my finger up into the air and approximated a range ) Deficit since 1971 reorganization $8.5 Billion Current liabilities to US Government $207 million Gus

> I can see this thread ending well.. Indeed. OK - dons admin hat. *** ADMIN MESSAGE *** If you are intending to post any more on this thread please read the following first. ____________ The WISE thing to do would be to say "No more posts on this thread or anything that walks talk or smells like it, last and only warning, Y'A\ll stop, No more warnings Nothing to see here, move along ..." BUT Instead, I say: LAST CHANCE for all to behave maturely and salvage some possible value from this thread. For reasons which are partially obvious and some which are not, we are on or beyond the edge of this subject going ballistic and for urgent remedial action to be taken. If people are interested in the effects of import tariffs on their own ability to do business or on other list members ability to do so etc, then just possibly consider posting. Otherwise, it would be better if this just faded away. Discussions on the debts, operation, legislation or anything vaguely similar of USPS may be of great interest to many (and even interest me) BUT are getting well into religious and political territory, are bound to cause argument and bad feelings and should be avoided. If that meaning is unclear read it as - DON'T talk about them here, please. This subject was obviously contentious from the very start. It was always likely to lead to where it is now leading, whether this is obvious or not. Allowing it to continue at all was an act of judgement from the very start. If people would like this sort of thing to have even a chance of being talked about in a quiet and rational way in future please demonstrate NOW that it can be handled well. NO MORE USPS details etc please. Be they ever so enlightening. ___________ If you want any comment on why I am posting this, please contact me privately. Only outline chapter and verse will be provided (eg no names). Russell