Message to Jeff and Kathy re: Freebies in the UK

[toneus79]

Hi Jeff and Kathy

Having read your postings on Free content and freeloading, I couldn't agree more. Yet I have never bought a video from either of you (God knows I want to), and are unlikely to in the future. Why ?

Here in the U.K. every parcel that is sent to us from the USA, stands a 50% chance (my experience), of being opened by HM Customs and Excise at the Mount Pleasant sorting office. (Yes plain wrapped, with Gift ticked on the box)

I cannot begin to tell you how many 'California Star' or 'Platinum' Tickling Videos I have had confiscated by those bastards in the past. Their rules are ever shifting, and no one will ever set then down in writing to you. Some have been confiscated because they featured Bondage (although I once succesfully argued on the phone with the guy, that so did a then current TV Ice Cream advert), some because of Gags, some because a Trailer featured Enemas or Female Masturbation, some because they did not like the way the model was Forcefully Stripped. YES they have checked and let some through, but when they confiscate a video, not only do they take the one that offended them, but their rules say that they have to confiscate every other video that is in the parcel.

But it gets worse. On several occasions the confiscation has been accompanied by a threatening letter, telling me I could be taken to court if this happens again. Yes I did continue to take the odd risk after these threats, but I am afraid I have got to the point where I am not prepared to throw my life away, through ordering videos. SORRY I am not strong enough to argue my case in Court over this. Also my experience of Court procedure in other areas, is that you don't get a chance to properly say your piece anyway. Can you imagine being told you are being prosecuted because you import Videos featuring Enemas. Not only that, but in this country the links get made as: Dodgy Video = Sex Criminal = Rapist or Child Molester.

So I think you might see what my problem is, and this is why I bought a computer, and came on the Internet.

For me the company 'TICKLESPOT' dot com, had the right solution, whereby one was able to download full video length sessions, albeit in some 20 to 30 one minute downloadable chunks. I know some of you have had problems with this company (see my previous post on that particular thread) but while they were in business they worked for me.

So Jeff and Kathy, if I was able to download your complete videos, (not one 3 minute taster, or a collection of unrelated clips) I would happily pay full video price for each one to do so. After all I consider both your prices to be dirt cheap (Cal Star used to charge $95 per video). Is this an option either of you would consider ?

I know Kathy you do your streaming option but:
1) In the UK, 56k modem access is the norm, and believe me, if you try to watch anything on streaming (that Madonna concert from Brixton a few months back as a perfect example), it is not long before you want to stick you foot through the computer.
2) I like to pay, I like to own.

So how about it guys, maybe this is the way to go, not just for those of us in the UK, but perhaps others who have problems with their mail security and privacy.

Regards

 

[TMF Jeff]

Personally I send videos to England all the time.

 

[toneus79]

Do you Jeff ? Do you get a lot of repeat customers ? Are you bothered ?

 

[TMF Jeff]

Do you Jeff ? Do you get a lot of repeat customers ? Are you bothered ?

Ive occasionally had to send a second copy out, but that happens within the US sometimes too. Ive never failed to have a video eventually arrive at its destination and Ive never had a customer get back in touch with me to complain about a problem with customs.

 

[red indian]

Proof of the pudding

Blimey toneus now you tell me!!! I have just placed a 3 video order with jeff and you tell me i may not get it!!! well lets see what happens......watch this space.

 

[MTJpub]

red indian

Jeff explained his experience with shipping videos to the UK. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

I would also like to add that while I am not in the business of selling videos. I have several UK customers that are regular subscribers to my magazine and they manage to get 9 issues of my magazine each year without any difficulty.

 

[toneus79]

Re My problems: I am going back to a period of 3 years ago. It is possible HM Customs & Excise rules have changed; but try getting them to tell you what the current rules are.

Also it may be these problems were excacerbated by 'Cal Star' and 'Platignum'. For instance, Cal Stars video 'The Tickling Game' was confiscated because it featured Gags (along with two other videos, because they were in the same box) That was not apparent with the ordering information. Also Platignum Videos were confiscated ad infinitum; when I finally plucked up the courage to enquire why, I was told it was because they featured trailers with Enemas or Female Masturbation.

The point of my thread is not to say don't order from Magic Touch or Realtickling if you live in the UK. More than likely they will be able to get through. After all several of the Cal Star 'Tied and Tickled Classics' series got through, even after being opened by HM Customs. But personally I am not prepared to take these chances anymore; especially when I have had 3 warning letters, which for all I know are sitting on a file somewhere.

SO WHAT IS MY POINT: Well basically Jeff (or Kathy if you read this) People are downloading all the clips and pictures you most kindly post up for us. But have you considered there may be more to this then people being 'Freeloaders' or 'Sampling the Goods'. It may be because DOWNLOADING is a SAFE and SECURE FORMAT for people, which is why they are on the internet in the first place.

I feel there is a real business opportunity for you here, if you are able to see it !

 

[asutickler]

If you wanted...

Just a sneaky idea...

If MTP or FF wanted to send videos in "Stealth Mode," they could always just charge an extra 10 bucks or so, buy a copy of some long, boring, and non English-offending movie (A River Runs Through It, Inherit the Wind, etc.) and record their video onto the last hour or so of the tape.

Hey, it might work!


ASUTickler

 

[Longbaugh]

I remember seeing a website along time ago about certain videos/movies banned in the U.K. Several Cal satr vids were on the list. The vids were not banned for the tickling but for other things, like the stuff you mentioned.I remember one was banned because it showed the forcible stripping of women. It is possible the vids you ordered were on a list of already banned videos. The customes officials could have recognized them from the list. The vids I'm also guessing were not in the most descreet video boxes.

 

[toneus79]

Asutickler: Not a bad idea, but I can't see any video producer going to the trouble. After all I tried to get Platignum to wipe off the trailers of their Student Fetish Tickling series before sending them out; but was ignored.

Longbaugh: Platignum would send theirs in a fully illustrated box with labels, Cal Star would be a plain unmarked video only. However, either approach is likely to attract attention.

One other point to Jeff though, who said he has never had anyone complain to him about UK Customs; well think about it ! If one has a Video confiscated by them, accompanied by a nasty warning letter, one is highly unlikely to ask you to send them out a replacement video by the same channels, and thus provoke further warnings, or worse !