Well, there is a few way around this.
If you remove the laptop from the box, then you are indicating that “this laptop is for my personal use” and therefore is not a piece of imported goods and not required to report to customs.
I’m not sure what it will be considered as if you bring in laptop parts. (e.g. the display and the display only). It might (be considered as electronics).
Although, in theory, you should not bring anything that is not for personal use – that’s why you are a passenger, not a company. A company will need to file a bunch of paper basically telling the country "ok i want to import these things to china to sell them.
http://english.customs.gov.cn/
The translation of the site is so bad. But then, this is what happens when you tell government officials to get things done.
(browsing the simplified chinese site)
It look like the webpage is made for government officials for themselves. It list endless and endless things of “oh we announced the modification toward “xyz” regulation at this date”
I don’t know. I have only departed China with potential “electronics” and machinery (I carried some parts for my electronic projects and some tools (soldering iron, etc).
I’m not sure about returning. In theory you won’t have to worry about it either.
…
so how are you caught?
You brought it in via a luggage bag and it was inspected. Why/how are you required to be shown your luggage?
When I enter the states you just show visas and stuff. Although I have the “privilege” to be pulled aside and have my belongings checked.
So you did get pulled aside and you show them the framework laptop still in the box. thats kinda … bad.
I like to keep packaging of nice things because … well, they are nice things. Although usually I will take the “thing” out of the box and have the box stored/placed elsewhere. Not sure about shipping. Might discard it actually.
I assume your laptop is put on hold (at the customs) when you enter, and they said they will mail it back to you after inspection. However obviously the inspection failed and the laptop is now at the “Customs Clearance Office” of this logistics company.
why can’t they be convinced that it’s for your personal use? Do you have any of your data on it?