Bitcoin Forum

As stated in the title.  Can people please post below as they get their Avalon Mark I this week.  I assume we they should be hitting doorsteps this week.  Give us any feedback on the unit as well.   Pictures and Videos encouraged.  


ONLY users that have received their units, please post in this thread.


Confirmed Units: (Updated - 04/01/2013 10:10pm PST)
1 - United States (Developer)
1 - United States (Bitcoin Foundation)
3 - China
3 - China
1 - Taiwan
3 - Brussels
1 - United States
1 - United States
1 - Bhutan
1 - United State
1 - EU
1 - Switzerland
2 - China
1 - Sweden
2 - Russia
2 - United States
1 - China
1 - Estonia
2 - Romania
2 - United States
2 - China
4 - Belarus
2 - Hungary
2 - Australia
1 - United States
1 - Sweden
4 - Romania
1 - Canada
2 - Germany
24 - Unconfirmed reports from new mining pool users

Total: 73

Update: Multiple accounts of tracking numbers be sent out from DHL.  At this point after seeing how many confirmed reports, it looks like Avalon is well on its way through Batch #1 or is making significant progress through the orders.

Please keep posts only to actual customers that get their Batch #1 units this week and after.   There are many other threads you can post speculation in.  Thanks.

I posted this in the Avalon batch #1 ships thread on February 4th.

I just called DHL and asked about my shipment status even though I don't have a tracking number. I was surprised when she said she would help me. She asked for my address details and name. Nothing came up. I was one of the earlier orders in the first 50. So I doubt if anyone is going to get their miner this week, but I could be wrong.

Give it a try 1-800-CALL-DHL and let us know.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=137534.msg1503904#msg1503904

I just called and they said there were no inbound packages to my zipcode.

<Raises the alert level to DEFCON 3.>

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110708000653/roblox/images/thumb/0/06/Defcon_3.png/70px-Defcon_3.png

1-800-225-5345

They checked by Destination Zipcode, Name and Point of Origin. From the 20th of January till today.

Cut it with the offtopic posts. They are being removed.

Edit: Geesh. Unless your post is narrowly related to having received an asic/avalon unit (or at least closely related like your shipment info) then it doesn't belong in this thread. See the original post's gigantic type.

Where can get batch #1 TRACKING number?  E-mail to you or other way?  I can't access my batch #1 account to check my batch #1 order status.

All batch #1 customers in the same position. Waiting for comments from BitSyncom or reports from non-china users...

   I'm Avalon batch #1 customer from China.

Hmm.. Interesting... You ordered from Avalon site, not from taobao or ali? And when did you ordered? It makes me think bad things about delivery dates to all others...

The Chinese customers are definitely not part of the 53 units that were shipped out of the country, but I believe I've read never made it out, which begs the question--where are those units currently? And when they do get into the hands of customers not in China, the shipping boxes should show signs of the hold up of sorts.

Yes, in China Avalon batch #1 are ordered from Avalon site:  store.avalon-asic.com, but use Taobao-alipay payment processor to make a payment.

First, register at store.avalon-asic.com as a batch #1 store member, and place order, then get Avalon batch #1 order number.

Second,  buy Avalon from Taobao.com that ngzhang provided and stick the Avalon batch #1 order number in this item. Them use Alipay as a payment method. After payment complete, ngzhang login taobao.com to change the status from "Buyer has paid" to "The seller shipped".  After  you comfirm that in taobao, then the money is in their way to Avalon development team.



My first batch # 1 order placed in September 2012.

leiyplane, thanks for info. I just wanted to specify that you in same order queue as all others. And that info is make me think even more delays...
BitSyncom, your explanation is highly needed. Give some info on shipping status, cos there is about 4 days to deadline.

I don't see how noone here has received one yet...

I have a package here from DHL, shipped on 2/22 from Shenzhen, arrived today.

Unfortunately, it was not an ASIC...

Just a thought, the only way i see this happening is if the packages were not shipped by DHL and instead by another courier. i.e EMS, China/HK/SG Post,etc. Shipping charges for a box that size with DHL is relatively expensive.

True, but a very short-sighted view. A day or two of mining will pay back any extra carrier charges. Hell, I'd fly to China and bring it back myself and come out ahead.

Vitalik Buterin: How did the shipping process go? When do you expect customers to receive the boxes?

Yifu Guo: We underestimated the shipping cost by like $80 per unit and ran into some issues with customs, so we are already in the red from shipping costs this round and later than we planned. As for when they will arrive, depends on where the customers are, but I think 2 weeks or so.

http://bitcoinmagazine.com/avalon-ships-bitcoins-first-consumer-asics/

It does kind of look as if they were mining until a couple days ago so they could make as much much as possible before shipping them...

http://bitcoin.sipa.be/speed-thumbnail.png

is there anywhere a chart of the testnet too (to see if there is some big variance in hashrate)?

Just received one. Trying to figure out how to set it up.  :-\

Country?

Taiwan

http://en.qi-hardware.com/wiki/Avalon

Congrats!

Is Taiwan considered outside China?
Did it pass thru customs?

depends on who you ask

I see what you did there :-X

Not exactly "this week" as the OP requested but one month later...

I got my shipment, Europe, Brussels

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=137534.msg1599987#msg1599987

Thank you everyone.  I have added confirmed units to the 1st post.  If you want to confirm your unit here, please post below.

mine's up and running. usa.

Congrats once again :)

This is wonderful news! Congrats!

I just received my Avalon! I didn't get a tracking number in advance, and just yesterday afternoon DHL said they didn't see anything coming my way. So don't assume it's not on the way if DHL doesn't find it in the system.

Great news! Congrats! Happy mining.

have you bothered to install a special 240 V wall socket?

how loud compared to a 2 gpu miner?

I don't have plans to setup 240V. As for noise, with 70F ambient, I'm guessing it's quieter than a dual-5970 rig. Can't really say since it's been a long time since I've had any gpus mining in the house.

Enough?
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=137534.msg1602130#msg1602130

Updated.

what updated? Where?

Check the first post the OP made

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=141154.msg1503257#msg1503257

@goxed
Thanks! I would like to post some pictures. Did you know any pictures hosting service which accepted BTC?

@1Pakis
Yes.
Yes.

Just use imgur (http://imgur.com)?

@darkip

Cool idea!

http://imgur.com/a/8rw1N

Dude,
What is the ambient tempreture in your room?

Best

OMG no way, that is awesome!! Congratulations!!

@loshia

AC off: over 30C by daytime.
AC on: setting to 27C, Avalon#1 Temp1: 28C /  Temp3: 46C.

@MagicBit15

Thank you!

10X

I will get mine after a couple of hours:)
And i will post update as soon as make it mine :)

Received mine Tuesday.

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=137534.msg1617293#msg1617293

AT LAST!!!!
i received mine today after 7 days in customs!!!!
do the math  ;D
thanks Avalon team

Congrats...
What was your order number?

118

Congrats :)
My customs saga has just begun :(

What is your country of origin?

What is your country of origin?

ok, tell us exactly what performance issues you achieved by moving the wr703n out of the case.  or was it merely to drop the temps?

ngzhang said the other day that the side covers should be left on as they contribute to the heatsink, so i'm confused why you felt you needed to do this.

EU Dude it sucks some times

you have to pay 22,1%...

I got my Avalon  ;D

Location: Switzerland

Please, tell us your order number

spiccioli

Would it make any sense to set up a "register" web page where people could disclose whatever they wish about their Batch #1 order?

This would probably be super help and could help make prediction about shipping time a little easier to calculate.

is your Order number in 100, 200, 300s ?

I have two orders from Batch #1, each order have 1 Avalon ASIC.

I have got one Avalon, another one is waiting to ship.

I'm from China.




Avalon running pretty well, very stable.

What is your order number you can mask the last 2 digits.

#18x

oh my.. i have order number near 400 :(

getting closer though!

You can add 2 devices up and running in Russia, one guy in russian thread received them (proof (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=25127.msg1627460#msg1627460)).
I received my tracking number, waiting for the device. Probably soon will be 3 in summary.

+1 Up and running :)

I get my unit today just in time before the custom closed for weekend  :o
Location: Sweden
Order: 198

Will publish some photo later, and I heard that some one in china received at least 10 of them, I guess at least 100 of them is out by now

2 units delivered and running
Location: US
Order: 168

I was called by DHL a day in advance.  Today, DHL reported the delivery as attempted/failed, which scared me as I would have to wait until Monday. When I went to the apartment office to ask them what happened, THE BOXES WERE THERE!

Bitsyncom,

This is why you need to get to work and send out tracking numbers. People with later order numbers are receiving their units before earlier orders. Send out the tracking numbers to everyone, like you promised.

Thank you.  Added.  Keep em coming.

Chinese order don't have any tracking number either. I don't know why they keep ignoring the request for sending numbers.  how long would that take?
 Bitsyncom

Was this the order with the incorrect canceled status?

Yes.  I was told everything was ok on 3/11.

order 1xx & order 7xx

order 7xx is waiting.

I cannot believe it is the real thing, until this morning SF-Express called me and my package has arrived at my door. I am in Tianjin, China. Order number was like 1xx or so.

he he ;)

Congratulations!  :) Seems I have to wait for a long time to get my batch #2 machines.

Now it should be 3 devices in Russia ;)
Received mine box today, flashed and it's already calculating hashes at amazing speed (i can't believe it myself even when all is working and device is near me). Soon probably need to move it in other place.

congratulations it seems we may only need another 100 to go perhaps by the 26th of March.

Well I'm 2xxx300 and I've stil got nothing :(

I ordered and paid at the end of part one before part two.

There's people past my order number who have gotten theirs. 2xx348 has been delivered to US.

Guess I just have to wait since "business done right" means to ignore the promises of tracking numbers and communication.

At one time, I had two order numbers that were very far apart.  I paid the higher number first.  Shipping, within the same priority class, depends on payment order, not order number.

Mine was paid at same time of order by bitcoin.

To
http://blockchain.info/address/1Q9LGRVTYDqBwXNmDpPNpinF1jQsSBeivY

http://blockchain.info/tx/0f86ae164c783d52830e4814a7cb032d6d2e7c11836d4c820b3fdb5d951bef4e

Updated.

Please add another 3 to Romania - my order was for 4 units. On the other hand, I don't know if all four of them are underway or only one of them... Anyone can tell me what value was declared for the units?

Yifu emailed me today to let me knows they were shipped.

for my 2 units  600 ron

my guess is they are mining with the units and selling them slowly. I bet I won't get my batch 2 order until may.

All right, thanks. I guess all four of them should be arriving then. When did you get yours, if you don't mind me asking? And what was your order number? Mine was #330.

Order was 126
After log talks with the guys from dhl yesterday at 8pm
I`ve paid extra (bribe ) to the operator ;D.

Just in case buy some Manhattan hubs from Real ~ 32 Ron .

If they ask you from custom tell them they are controllers for some robots (engineering sample)

Thorvald

After a few calls to DHL i managed to get hold of my tracking number.

The packade has been pciked up in Hong Kong , planned for delivery Friday if all goes well with customs.

My order number is 2xx417.

I will receive my next Avalon today!

order 7xx

The first Avalon (order 1xx) I received in early March running rock stable.

I have received my second Avalon, I will light it on tonight.

Both of my order have all received.

congrats. When order were shipped according tracking info or documents?

Thank you.   There's no tracking info before I received Avalon.

SF-express call me yestoday, tell me there have a big package to deliver tomorrow.

SF-express waybill must have number above barcode. Usually this number is tracking number... (at least at EMS, DHL and others companies...)

Yes, I just get the tracking number when I received the package.   But right now, waybill numbers are not here, so now I can't tell you when order were shipped.

SF-express usually deliver shipment within 1-2 days in China, 3 days at most, a lighting fast express company.

Dalkore, put me down for two received today, United States. Third one will be here on Friday, but I'll reconfirm at that time.

Congratulations.

Congrats, post order numbers pls... You can mask last 2 digits...

Sure: first order was 200000348 and second one was 200000402. Both were batch one, part two orders.

Mind giving your country of origin for the list?

China.

thanks :)

somebody make video of work Avalon ASIC, please

Why?

I've got my Avalons. ;)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MccfK4Ruw2c/UUtLHPSPkGI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/OSWxUTiEDjA/s716/IMG_20130321_204509.jpg

Stud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Enjoy, I am smiling for you.   Country of Origin or did I already add you?

I am from Belarus. ;)

I got a boner off of this.  :)

Blows my mind that those will be paid off within a week.

Well deserved rewards, hopefully they will invest their profits in upgrading and securing the network long-term.   

Not a week. The machines at current difficulty give about BTC 7 / day. He paid in September about BTC 110 / machine. So with some luck (BFL not shipping, Avalon batch #2 not shipping, ASICminer not jumping to 50 TH next week), it should take him 2 weeks to break even.

You are off by 100%

1. put them horizontal... they are made for stacking and not vertical positioning
2. turn them sideways so fans can actually in-take and vent air properly instead of getting blocked by a wall.

/facepalm

2 Avalons received in Sydney Australia
order number 3xx

I would think about pulling the Avalons away from the wall so they get better ventilation.

That's right, you could only order with btc. Sorry, I was thinking in terms of USD.  Need to break that habit  :P

Got mine early in the morning.

#5x4 (USA)

How many units total?  Enjoy your mining.

1 only. Good to see your 4 are churning hashes. :)

Thanks gillian.   joking....    the inventor of the machine took his time to get on line and already told him this.   please read the whole thread

there is many photo, but there is no video

hey dude, I advise you to follow the designer recommendations and stack them on top of the other.

do that and take another picture for us!  Thanks very much and good hashing!

Okay, I will follow your advice. However, they work just fine even in incorrect position. TempMax is just 42, with current is 39.

The work on mistakes is done. I am not really a hardware guy, just a programmer. ;)

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ljLfefJyowg/UUwCgiQNaiI/AAAAAAAAA34/FfDI36lACSw/s1092/IMG_20130322_095901.jpg

P.S. BitSyncom, I've facepalmed a lot of times on how you setup ecommerce site by the way.  ;)))) I am sure you need an advice here.

Dude,
Leave some space in between each two- preferable. I used some of the "rubber thing" from the package. Cut it to four small pieces and put in on top of the first one, then put second one on top. There must be some air between each other

this is incorrect, units are designed to stack directly on top of each other without additional things in between.

Maybe I am wrong but there are special holes/bolts at the top/bottom to stack two units. If you place something between, units holes/bolts will not be used. Am I wrong?

As I told before, the temperature is fine. I can't understand all these talks. The primary indicator is the temperature sensor, not our assumptions. Would you please share your data from the sensors? Here is mine:

Top unit 1: 1680/1800 fans, 17/47 temperature
Top unit 2: 2040/2040 fans, 16/44 temperature
Bottom unit 1: 1800/1320 fans,  14/38 temperature
Bottom unit 2: 1680/1560 fans, 15/41 temperature

Guys, give me some numbers to compare. ;)

P.S. Ooops, Bitsyncom has just clarified the question while I am typing this post.

OK...
Excuse me. That was what i was thinking. But you know better BitSyncom :)

Best

Same results here dude. Temp is ok.  

http://s18.postimg.org/cb4ter27t/mama1.png (http://postimage.org/)


As you can see when Fans operating at full speed it does not affect temp out at all or it affects it very little. I am worried what will happen when my room temp reach 35 Celsius ???

Hopefully it will happen after a couple of months  ;)

With such profit, you can install room air-conditioner and keep consistent temp whole year.

My setup is on the ground-floor and temperature there is always around 5-20 celsius. I also can place each unit in different room. I think I have some time to figure it out.

Дopoгoй тoвapищ Vicus,

We are discussing technology here not a profit right?

No matter what you do and how big your profit is you shall know how changes you make to your environment affect unit itself. And you have to think in a first place about it.
And do not worry to much about me i will take care of my units putting there my knowledge and efforts. So they will  feel good which will make me feel good also

Think about yours when they come and how you will take care of them

The funny thing is that i am able to put mu units in -20 C environment but unfortunately they will blow. No jokes here.

And remember not all of us are here because of the profit alone there are other important things involved also!

Дopoгoй тoвapищ loshia,
Tы чo быкyeшь? A ecли длиннe, тo:

ngzhang already said, that unit was tested under temp < 35C and was fine. Why are you searching problem, were it not exist?
What about my unit, I'll put it in data-center, with 20C constant temp, UPS+automated diesel generator...

Super! I am glad for you and wish you all the best. For the profit you are about to get it is a better idea to think about nuclear power reactor as backup - you have a lot of them in Russia, haven't you? ohh yea end they are cheap  ;D

Besides with diesel generator you have to check the petroleum level and there is a big chance that generator not to start up when you need it

What i was saying that in ambient 23 we are reaching almost 50 Celsius out and that Increasing fan speed does not make out temp to cool down.
At 35 Out temp will be about 65-70 or something which will shorten PSU live.

However i am not putting at any doubt in NG statements for sure. But better ambient will not heart anybody.

this is true.  I believe its wise to power them with the best quality PSU we can find.

Or to move psu outside :)

Ugly but i will see if the psu cable length will allow it. And to mount some aluminum on the big hole left when psu is not there so that we can keep the air pressure in the box

FINALLY good for you dude!

Yes!!!!!

I finally managed to get my device from DHL after ALOT of phonecalls.

It's up and running.

Country:Sweden
Ordernumber 2xxxx417.

I'm thinking to move everything outside of the box, just like an open GPU mining rig, and use an external blow fan to effectively cool all those huge heat sinks when summer arrived

Do not do that.You need a air pressure + flow inside the box in order to cool down the ASICS
 

I have a controlled environment with free power and a dedicated portable cooler, in addition to the building cooling... with high speed redundant internet, in Washington DC, with a brand new platinum 1200 watt PSU.  I'm not interested in making huge profits, but I am interested in setting an example for a long term deployment.  =)  Hopefully the price won't be so high on batch 3 that I'm excluded from the good ole boys club.  =)  I hope there is a way that I could give at least one of these things a good home.  =)   I am a hardware guy, helped build out one of the original data centers here on the east coast.  worked in a few others for a short time.  Sat next to a massive PDU and chiller in a secure basement facility near the NRO for a few years... damn , please don't let me see any pictures like that again... it just hurts me inside a little bit...

The case need air pressure because the PSU currently do not get enough airflow, that's also the reason they don't recommend you to install a exhaust fan since it further decreases air pressure for the PSU, but if PSU can get cold air when it is seperated from other components, it will be much more healthy

For the cooling of ASICs, I think a 200mm turbo blow fan will provide much more airflow then those 120MM fans

Anyone know how to fix the avalon fan speed at a constant rate? I think current variable fan speed control sometimes cause cgminer to restart

I have to agree.

The whole thing seems to be very well designed. The positive air pressure does its job even without running at full tilt.

I don't think Mods are really necessary. What might be interesting is someone making a third party water or liquid cooling system. Though honestly, without being able to take it past 300mhz....I don't really see the point.

At 300mhz mines fluctuates between 29C and 34C and the fans rarely ever speed up. The hashing rate changes wildly between 80GH/s and 66GH/s. Perhaps it is doing some kind of internal rate adjustment?

I also agree with Ngzhang and Bitsyncom about raising the price. These devices if used properly can make back it's cost in less than 2 days at current BTC prices.

If you do Solo mining...perhaps even shorter than that as Jeff Garzik seems to be a pretty lucky guy at that.

You know what's not well designed..the mechanism for holding the top case cover on.

 :D

No Kidding! It was a nightmare to put it on.

Confirming 4 units here in Romania. I finally came in their possession today. All four of them are hashing away and work fine so far.

I would be shocked if you managed to put it back on without dropping those support screws/washers many many times.

Just. Use. Pincers.

Anyone is thinking about getting A/C like this for the summer?
http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/model.cfm?txtModelID=4462  and just point the hose towards avalons?

That statement alone proves you've actually done it before.

God that was a frustrating experience. I wonder why they made it that way.

I think it was because of the stacking system they designed, which I think is quite ingenious for cooling purposes. I realized early on I needed some pincers, unfortunately I didn't have any at the time, so it made for a pretty frustrating experience for mee too :P

Anyway, Darklore, add another 2 units for Romania (for a total of 6) - Thorvald mentioned he got 2 units too earlier this week.

Holy shit,

I was order 20000038x of first batch, they don't know where it is nor they have the tracking number. I've opened a support ticket which got an answer immediatly, but no tracking so far after nearly two days. 

DHL does not search for it without a number, so my trust in them and my gamble in having batch one units is getting spoiled by the hour, and difficulty keeps growing...

:/

spiccioli

I'm 2000300 still no units here either. DHL doesn't see them, and my awesome mail guy can search EMS and they have nothing either.

I thought of that but unfortunately I have no pincers on hand. I managed to get two in at each corner so it's stable. I guess if I want to be screwing around with the insides more often I will have to get pincers.

Do you know where I can read more about their ingenious stacking system?

I forgot to mention but I received my batch 1 Avalon yesterday. So add one for Canada.

No idea, I just remember Yifu or Zhang posting at some point about how the casing is designed to be part of the heatsink. And I noticed how well the units clamp down on each other if you stack them. It was obviously intended that way - when you stack several units on top of each other, the outer casing of the stack becomes one giant heatsink.

This is correct, the "bolt" exclusion from top of one unit's case fit directly into the "socket" of another unit's bottom plate.

How many units high can you safely stack?

Excellent. That will make for one very practical setup - just stack all your units on top of each other. There might be minor differences in temps as the one at the bottom will draw in relatively cooler air, but the differences should be minor.

By the way BitSyncom, I must say I like the case design and appreciate the fact that it's solid aluminium - it is very sexy in an raw industrial design sort of way :)

Now excuse me while I go and rub my hands all over it...

In pictures from their warehouse with units being prepared for shipping they've shown stacks 6 units high. But if you have a solid base that's not wobbly I guess you can probably stack even more... It all depends on the weight the bottom unit can support. I think Yifu or Zhang know the real numbers here.

Rub it for me too!

ewww... don't do it! the oils from your dirty hands will destroy the heat dissipation properties of that lovely aluminium.

(*joking of course*)  ;D

I recommend 5 per stack.

I will disinfect it, and afterwards burn candles and incense to cleanse the area of my unworthy presence. All hail Lord Avalon who bringeth the hashing goodness. lool

now don't go and lose $500,000 worth of BTC this time. ;)

No Sir I shall not. Now try to imagine how many Avalons 25K BTC could buy.

Received Avalon batch 1 today unfortunately at my old address in another state (Australia). Will post picture when I finally get it hopefully tomorrow!

Congrats! Make sure you stroke it gently - I hear it hashes better that way lool

http://chrono.firex.org/images/dhl.jpg

Woo hoo!   ;D

Is that really the DHL van that delivered your unit or just some random occurence :)? If the first then congrats! :)

cool, you spotted them first,  thats what I call hashing anxiety  :o

Finally hashing!
http://leotreasure.com/images/Avalon.jpg
Now I can concentrate on what's important. Making Bitcoin music

Crysis??

In customs clearance for the 2nd day in a row, delayed.  Was contacted by Avalon representative and told to contact DHL, was provided tracking number, did talk to DHL imports dept.  Was promised to be contacted by DHL at 5:00 PM today with update.

Big Time Coin,

can you share with us your country and order number? 

Thanks.

spiccioli

Got my Avalon, U.S. customer.

It will be total fail if BFL start shipping before my unit will arrive. Yifu, are you hear?

Got interesting conversation between me and one customer with 4 avalons already mining. He said, that he choose EMS delivery (wrote support tickets), but his units were shipped via DHL. For his country this is acceptable. But if Avalon team shipped via DHL for me, its total fail, cos DHL is not working with individual persons in my country and all goods forwarding back to sender. Might be that the reason, my order were in problem list?
YIFU! GIVE ME INFO PLEASE!

like this
https://i.imgur.com/VIYz5Qd.jpg

I got two from batch 1 last week by DHL.
Germany.
I didn´t get a tracking number in advance.

How much Import tax did you pay

I wonder what the declared price in USD was specified by sender in customs papers? There is limit in my country above which a private person just can't import any goods and the package is simply returned to sender (maybe even silently).

This has been posted a few times now, the units are declared as Industrial Controller (Eng. Sample) at USD 299 each
and the shipping cost is USD 80

This has caused in at least one case problems where customs asked a proof of order/payment (like printout of the
order website) and the numbers do not match up. I'm still waiting to get my corrected IM4 documents from DHL...

I can see here at least two possible points of fault:
1) The word 'industrial' may cause problem for private person in countries with strict customs inspection (Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Russia to name a few), especially with DHL as a carrier. That's because gov's don't like when private persons do business outside of corporate entities.

2) The declared price is suspiciously low for the piece of electronic hardware weighting 15 kg -> customs wants the proof of purchase. In case if Batch #2 and #3 there is no such a proof in fiat currency -> problems with customs clearance -> possible stuck at customs warehouse -> possible return to sender.


So DHL handles this issue for you? I wonder how?

Sorry but that is bullshit. Customs just looks at the declared value. They don't judge what you import, as long as it's within the law.


DHL handles the issues for me as I am their customer and I pay them on a weekly basis. They are handling the customs clearing and they do the paperwork.

Sorry, but that's just not the case for some countries. There are a lot of limitations for private persons. And these are all defined by laws.

Do you agree about 2)?

Do you agree about 2)?
[/quote]

I think the only problem with two is it is $1 under the figure that the USA holds things at.   But, so much crap comes in each day the odds are pretty low they will hold it for that (they would need to look at it first).

Do you know other countries than USA exists out there? :)

Probably more than you do, but there is no reason to be a dick here is there?

Not in Europe


No, I don't agree

Customs looks at 2 things:

0. the declared product, by using the unique code as defined in the Combined Nomenclature (google for Common Customs Tariff and Integrated Tariff of the European Communities (Taric)). EEC No 2658/87
1. the declared value
2. sometimes the weight if it affects 1.

If 0. is not clear, then they will just google around and try to figure out what is inside your shipment. Most likely they will end up on the vendors order site and use that information

Anyways, the costs attached to importing an item (both VAT and import tax + customs clearing handling) are all fixed rules and not subject to interpretation.

Which country are you referring to? Surely not Germany...

Don't you say. I point the problem for some countries. Learn to be polite.

Basically all ex-USSR.

I shipped a package to a private account customer (not a company) in Kiev Ukraine a few weeks ago.

It had invoice attached with the full value:


I just checked with the guy and he states:


So one Avalon at USD 299 is even less than the hardware I declared in EUR.

We ship mostly with UPS, but I guess DHL is no different.

By the way, if we do large shipments into Russia, we drop ship it first to Finland where a psychopath with a white van drives it over the border. Nada taxes, just some beer money required...

Next time ship your Avalons to Brussels, we'll forward them on to you in Mother Russia ;-)

Nice trick :)

In case of Avalon I'm afraid the price USD 299 for 15 kg electroinc freight will be suspicious for customs. They are very suspicious in these countries, believe me :)

I want to be a White Van psychopath.

I'm going to be "on air" in polish largest business tv station... CNBC TVN
But they have a hard time to believe that ASICMINER or AVALON ASIC exist... and how it looks...

May I ask some of you... just 1 or 2 people - to make a picture, please...
holding a piece of paper with

"for Satoshi.pl and CNBC TVN" ?
If 1 of you could make a small video... it would be even cooler... :D
It would be great to show something like this in TV... :)

Thank you and cheers :)

received avalon 4/12/2013
United States

"Total: 73"

and that's it?

Me too. Where should I apply?

Beer money in BTC, please.

Hi everyone, I'm glad to announce that just received today my ASIC unit =D

http://postimg.org/image/mycbkerab/
http://postimg.org/image/cbp48qp69/

Although I'm concern about the conditions of my received unit. Anyone else had received his unit in poor conditions? mine seems to be used before... even worst it's damaged!.  >:(

http://postimg.org/image/wgyl3jgkp/
http://postimg.org/image/tgl4jdz31/
http://postimg.org/image/tg3fzgz5r/
http://postimg.org/image/a10pffa41/
http://postimg.org/image/4o2o9t7f7/
http://postimg.org/image/dj0cs91ld/
http://postimg.org/image/g62ndnvyn/

Also came with an unexpected buddy:

http://postimg.org/image/quoynpf81/


I already wrote Mr. NG Zhang regarding this unpleasant issue..

Someone REALLY mined the shit out of them..

not just that. By simple mining you wouldn't chop off of a part of plastic casing. It looks like some rodent took a bite on this stuff!

looks like overheating / melting to me

if you mean this damage:

http://s21.postimg.org/bej5j8ul2/005.jpg

then no, that looks just like from being banged with the large heatsink.

Were the plastic parts still present in the box?

Also, it would be interested to know the tracking (dates) of this box, how long has it been shuffled around in customs warehouses?

The dust looks greenish-yellow to me.  I wonder if it is pollen, and if it could be useful to locate the unit has been.

Is the module closest to the power supply raised because you unscrewed it to take pictures of the other boards, or did it come like that?

looks similar to a unit that has been run in a chinese warehouse for about 4 weeks.   Strange the HR of the network dropped so much in the last days, does that mean Yifu is getting ready to ship about 200 units?   Hope he blows my out first.

dafuk DHL guys mined your avalon and after weeks deliver you?

Yeah... DHL...

I do think the pollen could identify the location to within 50 km.

Very believable that some random DHL driver KNOWS about bitcoin and KNOWS that the box he has in his truck has an Avalon in it and then he risked his job and prosecution to steal the package and mine with it for a month.   Then, after mining for a month, he decides to risk his job AND prosecution to repackage the shipment AND HE WOULD NEED TO PRINT NEW LABEL (express labels do not work if the date is wrong) and then smuggle the box back into DHL's system.
Does not seem very likely does it?   So, why don't we look toward someone else who could have STOLEN this pre-paid unit and MINED with it?   
Or, alternatively, why don't we try to figure out why an avalon that was COMPLETELY wrapped in the plastic (look at the un-boxing photos) could have gotten full of dust.  And how the dust could have been spread so nicely around (not just piled up near the holes), almost like the fans were running?
Any ideas?

This guy is onto something! But I can't for the life of me figure out what it is... hold on...

/facepalm

That's no pollen, it's pixie dust! NOW I KNOW! YOU'RE ACCUSING FAIRIES OF MINING WITH AVALONS!!

very unpleasant, when I picked up the parcel at the custom office I could feel the noise of detached component parts.. when I first opened the case at my place It was a mess, a lot of plastic parts, detached screws, scratches, spots of silicon grease all over the case. here:

http://postimg.org/image/pcanq674d/ (http://postimg.org/image/pcanq674d/) 
http://postimg.org/image/gpuw5uhmt/ (http://postimg.org/image/gpuw5uhmt/)
http://postimg.org/image/h5npvpnd9/ (http://postimg.org/image/h5npvpnd9/)

I forgot mentioning that one of the screws of the detached module is missing, never received it. Even worst, I'm unable to adjust the screws properly on that module. It seems like the bagels of the heatsink are distorted. This may explain why I received it detached and damaged...

It was sent 18-Apr, left China 08-May. It arrived at my country 14-May, I received 16-May. via EMS Priority.


yeah, It looks like that because of the flash of my camera. But It was dark dust, I used a duster to clean it and became dirty entirely of grey/dark dust. here:

http://postimg.org/image/lxxfwj3hx/ (http://postimg.org/image/lxxfwj3hx/)

Are you saying a competitor paid off DHL, took the package, mined with the unit while they tested and reverse engineered it, and then put it back into DHL's system?

What company would be so desperate to have a working ASIC that they would resort to such measures?  Maybe if they were trying for months and kept promising shipping soon or next week...
Any ideas?

It would have had to of been running for a significant time to build up that level of dust.

So someone in china mined with your avalon 20 days?  Avalon sent to EMS Priority 18-Apr and only 08-May left china....

But did you tested the avalon? does it run correctly?

So this was EMS (not DHL). Mess!
I think BitSyncom may want to reconsider the channel they used for shipping with EMS. And it will not harm to stick big f-ng red label FRAGILE on each box sent via EMS.

No just saying there is no way plausible to think the courier company stole these units.  Interesting that it sat somewhere in the process so long though.   Read his post about dates and movements.

Don't do that. The hose is the exhaust.

hmmm. I've always seen similar units hooked up with the hose going out the window. Maybe those units were different.

18-APR: Shipped
08-MAY: Left China
14-MAY: Arrived in country
16-MAY: Received shipment


So my thoughts about the for the delay from 18-APR to 08-MAY are about the Chinese Labor Day.  If I understand correctly, many businesses are closed for the better part of a week.  I can see this adding to the delay. 

I don't suspect foul play, but that dust certainly makes me curious. 

The dust being concentrated on the edge of the fan blades means that the fans were working: http://postimg.org/image/lxxfwj3hx/ (http://postimg.org/image/lxxfwj3hx/). Clearly someone used this unit before this picture was taken and it was not in Avalon's labs.

clearly those fans were whirring away for quite some time.

and this is batch 1! paid for in August??

there are only 1-2 possibilities of who is responsible.

why all the 'dhl/ems/bfl/pixies' did it nonsense?

Maybe the fans were used prior to being placed inside the unit?