Seems the Koreans are on the war-path about bring in counterfiet items. My co-pilot had bought a couple of real nice Rolexs from Jimmys while we were in Tapei. Heading home to Anchorage through Inchon the security guys got all excited about my co-pilot's watches. Held us up for over an hour while we waited for a customs officer to show up. Talked to the UPS crew coming out and they said similar things have happend to them. One Capt was bringing back a couple of bottles of wine and the the Koreans saw fit to take it from him. He did get that back according to the UPS crew. In the end we spent almost 4 hours in custom hell over in the main terminal. They finally took my co-pilot's watches and he was out $600 bucks. So heads up if you've bought items to bring back home but are spending a night in Korea..........

 

Excuse the ignorance. Were the watches real? 600 for a Rolex? Did the co-pilot have receipts? is Jimmy's known for "questionable" merchandise.

I'm sure all the intl guys/gals appreciate the heads up.


73M - domestically challenged

 

This has been going on for a while now, they are also easily upset by fruit, nuts, some other food items and telling them your country has been propping up their fragile democracy for half a century.

 

If it's a UPS crew bringing back booze, that could get them fired. Maybe I'll get recalled sooner.

 

Kind of like arriving at Narita on Dec 7th and wishing everyone in the customs office a happy "slap a jap" day?? Not good.

 

JetJockF14 the last thing any pilot should do is **** off customs in any part of the world. How many watches did your F/O have? Having lost $600 in copy watches sound like 10-20 watches. You do realize you are breaking the law by having them. Don't think the issue is over because they just took them away. It all depends if they contact the company with their concerns. It may be nothing or it could end in termination.

I can't believe how oblivious some guys are to the risks of some of the good deals guys think their getting. Guys buy Rx drugs without a doctors supervision. I've heard of guys buying Rx drugs for members of their family. WOW! Are the drugs real? Are they out of date? Are they what you think they are? Buy the wrong type of drugs at the wrong quantity and get stopped in a place like Singapore or China the cost may be more than some money or your job. You may have to pay with your life.

 

Believe he said "a couple" as in 2. That would be about right for 2 HIGH QUALITY reproductions from Jimmy - not the $20 cr@p you obviously buy. High quality as in virtually cannot distinguish from the $3-5000 authentic model.

Yes, anyone carrying around more than a couple of anything is asking for a hassle. Best bet is to take them out of any boxes/packaging that would imply they're anything other than watches you took with you on the trip. But that might offend the saintly integrity of so many of the "sans reproche" pilots on here...

 

Many years ago (at my "once great" legacy airline) the Flight Attendants would always say, "Wear, don't declare." Maybe they were right after all?

Their other tactic was to put a pair of chocolate candy bar stained indies in the top of their luggage and customs would open and close that bad boy in a hurry

 

Why would I want to buy any of that stuff, what do you think Wal-Mart is for?

My guess is the high quality $300 fake Rolex is the same one he sells for $30. Just you bought the better fake.

 

As they should.