I sold TRS-80s, and we sold the 16KB RAM upgrades for only $99 (list $399), so we got a lot of business. But I was in high school at the time.

You guys ARE old! LOL
I recall dropping the programming cards for the IBM 4341 & learning basic on the Trash 80s, Was selling electronics @ Sears to pay my own way through college and bought one of the very first TI-99/4s the store got. I also learned FORTRAN, COBOL, Assembly, PL-1, DEC Vax systems and a slew of others but ran out of funding before I was able to graduate so never got the CompSci degree.

Fortunately all that background helped me to be at the forefront of networking in the 80's & then cellular in the 90's & started working for Bell Labs/Lucent Technologies by the 2000's leading the VoIP charge. For now I am still "playing" in the tech world working for British Telecom these days & looking forward to retirement in 3 years when I turn 59

You guys are soooooo old! My first computer was a 75Mhz Packard Bell. :P and C was the first language I learned, but my dad had a computer where you had to load the giant floppy disk every couple seconds for it to do anything. I played Oregon Trail on it, I think that was at least 10 floppies. Good times.

Now once I get my rotors there will be more good times ahead.

I received an email from UPS worldwide saying I have a package coming that weighs 40 KG scheduled for delivery Monday, June 4th!

Me thinks the wait is almost over!

+1. Got my notification as well.

Couldn't hurt.

I haven't received notification yet either, but I'm going to be patient for a bit longer. Not sure I'll be able to put them on immediately anyway.

I have received notice that the rotor shipment has been held up for customs.

seems some glitch has stopped the progress of rotors at customs via UPS notification as follows:

06/02/2018 6:22 A.M. A valid ID # (tax, personal, deferment) required for clearance is missing. We're working to obtain this information. / The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release.
will you follow up and supply correct documents requested Please...

What makes you so special?

He's a zmooth talker.

Explanation from UPS:




[QUOTE] Per our conversation, please see the details below regarding why US Customs and Border Protection requires your Tax Identification number.
Summary
Why isSocial security number / Tax Identification Number / IRS Number / Importer Number requested for entry through US Customs and Border Protection

To view directly from CBP website, please go to cbp.gov

To simply read the text of the answer, please see below:

Why is an overseas supplier requesting my social security number (SSN), tax identification number (EIN), importer or IRS number?
When goods enter the United States from overseas, it is considered an importation and must be cleared by Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
When an individual or company purchases goods from an overseas supplier, CBP considers them the ultimate importer. The ultimate importer can clear the goods or have a broker clear them on their behalf.
If thesupplier hires a carrier that provides door to door service, the carrier service usually has brokers in their supply chain to clear the goods on behalf of the ultimate importer. If a formal entry is required, CBP regulations require the broker to put the ultimate importer's identification number on the Entry Summary CBP Form 7501. The ultimate importer's identification number iseither the EIN/tax identification number assigned by the IRS or the importer's social security number. A formal entry is usually required for commercial importations valued over $2,500 or for textiles valued over $250.
If thegoods are cleared informally, the Entry Summary CBP Form 7501, bond and identification number are not required. Goods are usually cleared informally when they are for personal use, under $2500 in value (or under $250 if textiles),and are not in commercial quantities. However, because there are no guarantees that an entry will be cleared informally, brokers find it helpful to have the ultimate importer's identification number just in case.
Because many foreign merchants are aware that CBP requires an identification number for the ultimate importer for formal entries, they will often request the purchaser's social security number to include on export documents that the broker will subsequently rely on to prepare the CBP entry.
It should be noted that paperwork for goods sent by courier service does ask foran importer number, whether the import qualifies for an informal entry or not. Courier services file CBP entries electronically, and the software system they use requires an identification number to be provided for the recipient of the goods. If an identification number is not provided, the courier service is required to file a paper entry, which is extremely time-consuming and in the world of "Overnight Delivery" not practical. The end result is that most courier services will not accept packages for international delivery to U.S. residents if a recipient's identification number is not provided by the shipper. Goods sent through the international postal service that are under $2500 in value (or under $250 for textiles) generally do not require an importer number to be cleared through CBP.
[/QUOTE]

FYI: there will be another $103.85 due from each of us for U.S. Customs. They do not collect at time of delivery but they will send you a bill at later date. This info is from UPS customs department. This is not a tax by UPS but from U.S. Customs!
according to UPS the shipper should of supplied this info for any package with a value of over $2500.00 sent to the USA, of course the shipper would of asked for this information from each us us prior to shipping, guess they do not know this tidbit of information about U.S. Customs. So we can kiss another 103.85 good bye!!

FYI... https://www.vividracing.com/wp-pro-m-1189.html

So I got a call today and gave UPS a tax ID, then when I got home I saw the email about $103 due, and paid it to UPS directly online using paypal. Looks like the rotors are in a nearby city UPS location, so if my payment was timely enough I may see them tomorrow. UPS email communications made it seem like if I didn't pay in advance I could pay the driver, but if no pay, no delivery.

Interesting!