Customs ... Just Downright Stupid

[mcitinner1]

No one here buys their tobacco pipes from a bong store. Just sayin'.

 

[jefff]

Don't be so sure.

 

[deathmetal]

Democracy LOL

 

[stranger]

I always breath a sigh of relief when my package shows up in the mailbox. 4Noggins has been perfect to deal with.

 

[tobaccojoe]

No one here buys their tobacco pipes from a bong store. Just sayin'.

I thought this too when I've lived in cities, but outside of them, in these smaller towns...that's kind of the only place I can find pipes and supplies.

 

[pagan]

There is no common sense when it comes to the government in any country

 

[mcitinner1]

Don't be so sure.

Laughing...I get your point. In my haste to set a newbie straight, I didn't think it through, did I.

 

[mikeklumpp]

never had a problem in Hong Kong or China with mail or personal transport of tobacco

 

[mawnansmiff]

I got stung by UK customs a couple of months ago. Rather than have my package (model railway structure...wink wink) delivered I got a card telling me to go to the local postal sorting office to pay a £16 fee before I could have my package.
I was a bit freaked out that my 'model railway structure' had been opened up to reveal what was actually in the box, the value of which was something like £150.
It turns out my package was simply picked out randomly and I had to pay £8 VAT on the 'model railway structure' plus £8 admin fee...never was I so relieved to part with £16 ::
Regards,
Jay.

 

[mso489]

Now that many online retail orders are fulfilled through customs, I have to believe any regulatory function was long ago swamped beyond functioning. My wife will order hair pins (larger plastic ones about two inches long) and they arrive from China or India, as do other incidental products, without her having known they'd arrive from overseas. Screening this volume is not only unlikely but somewhat unthinkable.

 

[deathmetal]

They play it by the statistics.
Open 1% of packages, charge for those, hide the rest.
Really sucks for those who are subject to this, and my sympathy goes to them.

 

[admiral]

I also have a good one.

In this side of Europe all is about declared value whenever you receive something from US.

So a package with declared value of 29.76$ is passing through. The one declared as 30$ worth is a subject of VAT

Few weeks later, a package declared as 19$ gets stopped and ought to pay VAT on it either.
You tell me the logic behind.

 

[warren]

The logic? Collect sufficient tax to worry most without inconveniencing too many. I would the inspectors have a method, arcane as it may be, that insures the numbers are acceptable to the people who enacted the law(s) and meets their expectations.

 

[wyfbane]

^ Yup.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

Its all about declared value, all sort of outside of EU merchandise with declared values more than $ 30(limit for gifts is$50)are a subject of Vat amount of which does vary depending on the destination country,and when it comes to tobacco products,no matter from where your package or envelope is arriving I'd highly advise to keep quantities on the lower side unless you willing to face some possibly inconveniences'

 

[brendhain]

I have tried to find the rules for the US but ran into posts of problems just finding what I am allowed to send through and what the limits are. When I fly to the Us then 250grams is the limit but even their the rules get vague. Some sites have a list like "200 cigs, 100 cigars 250 gram pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco,of X amount etc" then it says that these amounts can be exchanged for each other. So if you don't bring any cigars then you can bring more cigarettes etc. Okay, then I wonder I bring No cigarettes, No cigars and no chewing tobacco then how much pipe tobacco can I bring in?
Does anyone know the limits? Are we allowed to take in on flights and how much we can mail to the US?
Or maybe someone knows where I can find this informative?

 

[tuold]

I just finished reading the applicable sections of 26 U.S.C. § 5702(c) trying to find an answer. Since that didn't get me anywhere what I've decided I'll do is enroll in law school. In two years I may have an answer for you.