Auntie in England. What Should I Do?

[chopper]

G'day and welcome to the forum.

Have your aunt post the baccy to you. Declare it as 'hobby supplies' [which it is]

I'd recommend posting in packages no bigger than six tins or 1lb bags.

Since the scamdemic, it's not ever been easier to get baccy through Customs here in Oz [I got over a dozen orders through over the last year before one was intercepted]
AFAIK, unlike Nanny State Australia, it's not illegal to post tobacco to the U.S.

Just to add; if you go the postal route, always go with the countries postal service, basic rate with tracking.
Priority/express and private co's like DHL and FedEx get the most scrutiny at Customs for some reason.

 

[chopper]

If you keep her 'mission' reasonably conservative , it's just a matter of customs claims (keep it within the claims limit). That said, they may consider tobacco a food or agricultural product, which dear old Auntie would be obliged to claim, lest she actually be considered legally a smuggler if she lies about that question. How much do you like this aunt? haha

Only whole leaf tobacco is considered a risk like certain foods or ag products.
Processed tobacco is considered safe to cross borders from a quarantine perspective.

All Customs is concerned about is any duty which may be applicable.
Considering that pipe tobacco is not heavily taxed in the U.S. [and therefore is relatively cheap] I'd guess that baccy is not much of a concern, especially not in small quantities [1lb or less] to U.S. Customs.

Maybe someone who knows for certain can chime in.

 

[sablebrush52]

I have an auntie that is from London and will be there for about a month in the near future. I've been thinking of giving her a mission to pick up some native baccy that is fairly difficult to obtain here; thinking Esoterica & SG.

Esoterica isn't sold in England. It was created and licensed for the US. If you're looking for something interesting, pick up some Germain's Rich Dark Flake, which is a kissing cousin to Stonehaven.

 

[JohnClyde]

Good luck finding some RDF!!

Online over here RDF is selling out as fast as any Eso drop over your side of the pond. I'd be extremely surprised if you find any.

As has been said, we've been waiting months and months for Brown Flake, Medium Flake, 1820 Flake, etc

However, you can get Germain's Special Latakia Flake loose at one UK online shop (not in London) at the moment, which I consider one of their greatest flakes.

 

[Mr. Beauregard]

Good luck finding some RDF!!

Online over here RDF is selling out as fast as any Eso drop over your side of the pond. I'd be extremely surprised if you find any.

As has been said, we've been waiting months and months for Brown Flake, Medium Flake, 1820 Flake, etc

However, you can get Germain's Special Latakia Flake loose at one UK online shop (not in London) at the moment, which I consider one of their greatest flakes.

Yeah, I'm coming to realize that myself. Those blokes like the same stuff we do

 

[Mr. Beauregard]

Esoterica isn't sold in England. It was created and licensed for the US. If you're looking for something interesting, pick up some Germain's Rich Dark Flake, which is a kissing cousin to Stonehaven.

I wonder why Eso was created/licensed just for the US? I'd have to guess marketing, idk.

 

[mso489]

I know some individuals run marathons into their nineties, but I'd say 80-years-old is beyond the age of running other peoples' errands. You're supposed to run errands for her. Then, if she's peppy and as healthy as she wants you to think she is, maybe she'll pick up the tab for a nice meal out. I though we might be talking about some young sprig about 65.

 

[kcghost]

I'd mail order the stuff myself. Why bother your Aunt with carrying a package for you??

 

[Mr. Beauregard]

I know some individuals run marathons into their nineties, but I'd say 80-years-old is beyond the age of running other peoples' errands. You're supposed to run errands for her. Then, if she's peppy and as healthy as she wants you to think she is, maybe she'll pick up the tab for a nice meal out. I though we might be talking about some young sprig about 65.

Sounds like you're an ageist bigot! Kidding. No I hear you. Honestly I wasn't thinking anything over the top. Just locating a B&M near her place and having her bring back a few tins. Honestly it looks like it will be too expensive and not worth the effort anyway.

 

[--dante--]

Only whole leaf tobacco is considered a risk like certain foods or ag products.
Processed tobacco is considered safe to cross borders from a quarantine perspective.

All Customs is concerned about is any duty which may be applicable.
Considering that pipe tobacco is not heavily taxed in the U.S. [and therefore is relatively cheap] I'd guess that baccy is not much of a concern, especially not in small quantities [1lb or less] to U.S. Customs.

Maybe someone who knows for certain can chime in.

Yeah if it's not agricultural or food product, then you just have to claim if you are bringing in more than something along the lines of $300 worth of product.

 

[--dante--]

I think she's worth keeping around Starting to feel like I might need to become a part-time lawyer to figure this out. Anything for the special baccy, right?

She'll be fine bringing you back a few tins of something. At first, I thought you were going for a larger scale operation haha

 

[sablebrush52]

I wonder why Eso was created/licensed just for the US? I'd have to guess marketing, idk.

Steve Richman, proprietor of the Piedmont Tobacco shop in East Bay, wanted to create a line of tobaccos similar to the line of tobaccos the Smokers Haven had commissioned from Sobranie Ltd.
Richman contacted Germain’s and worked with them to create the Esoterica line of tobaccos for the US.

 

[Corcoran-Rooney]

It depends what part of London your aunt lives in. But she is very, very unlikely to live near a tobacconist. In London, these are all right in the middle of the city, where very few people live. Liklihood is, she would have to get the train into town. And when she got there, I very much doubt she would find anything that isn't available in the US. I believe some of the larger supermarkets will stock over the counter blends, but nothing more than St Bruno, and then only ever ready rubbed. In any case, why would you want tobacco from here, America is the land of tobacco. It's like me getting my cousin in America to send me over tea lol.