Does the post x-ray boxes?

[sf]

I ask because I wish to buy my film online for price reasons, but I don't want to subject my film to any unnecessary radiation before it gets to me. UPS does have a clause releasing them from laibility from xrays, but I suspect that is rather to do with the customs scanners than their own.

 

[BrianShaw]

Ha... so if only 5% of air shipment gets scanned, I guess the answer to the question is "probably not"! The scary part is that the 5% rate might be the same whether the parcel is traveling on cargo or commercial (passenger) airplanes.

 

[BrianShaw]

I much prefer being subjected (me or my luggage/parcels) to a dog's nose than an x-ray scanner. A well-trained dog is hard to trick!

 

[ch1]

The volume of mail would preclude x-raying more than a small sample.

But as G-man suggests - probably best to order film that is shipped via Ground (regardless of carrier).

 

[Simon Larbalestier]

Shutterflower
i use to buy a lot of film from 7dayshop.com which offered very good rates on B/W film
when the packages came they had "do not Xray!" stickers on them.
I took the film all over SE Asia through many airports and still it showed no signs of fogging.
So even if it was scanned before being delivered to me the end result didn't show it.

you could always order a small amount first and check the results?

 

[sooner]

I just traveled to France from the US, with 100, 400, and 1600 speed film. Some film was hand-inspected but all of it got x-rayed at least a couple of times, mostly in Europe where even museums x-ray your stuff. Upon my return, happily, there were no signs of fogging or other effects. Too bad, on some of the shots I could have used an excuse! --John/sooner

 

[SolaresLarrave]

George, a couple of days ago I posted an envelope with two rolls of Scala film and the words "Do Not X-Ray" across the front and the back. The USPS clerk said "This is not necessary; they don't X-ray these things."

Now... if your film comes from abroad, there may be a small "risl" that it gets X-rayed, but I frankly doubt it may happen if it's labeled as "Film."

BTW, I buy my film exclusively from eBay vendors (both private parties and a couple of stores) and it's been all fine so far.

 

[bmattock]

From July, 2002 US Customs:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/CustomsToday/2002/July/main.xml

At the last line of defense, America's borders, Customs employs a variety of technological systems to detect and interdict WMD. Before cargo arrives in this country, Customs uses sophisticated computer systems as well as intelligence data to screen the cargo and determine which shipments are high-risk. Upon arrival, all cargo identified as high-risk for security purposes is subject to further scrutiny by Customs.

To examine these shipments, Customs uses a range of technology, including gamma ray and x-ray inspection systems. Radiation detection technology, including radiation pagers, portal detection systems, and isotope identifiers also form part of this arsenal, which is expanding daily. Next year, for example, Customs hopes to have a total of 8,500 radiation pagers and 150 large-scale X-ray and gamma ray systems in place. Other systems are being bolstered as well.