Esterval’s Tobacco Order On Hold

[LotusEater]

I recently ordered 15 tins of tobacco from Estervals and it is being held by customs. I’ve ordered from Estervals several times and this is the first issue I’’ve had so I’m not sure how this works. I received the following message from DHL:

Based on either the description or Harmonized Tariff Code (HTS) associated with your shipment, please provide the full name & address for the facility that manufactured each applicable commodity.
If there is a manufacturer ID (MID code) on the commercial invoice but you are still receiving this request, DHL does not have adequate information to match the code to an existing manufacturer in CBP's database.
Applicable items include but are not limited to: FDA regulated items (medical devices, cosmetics, consumables, etc.), textile apparel, textile accessories (handbags, scarves, belts, etc.), bolts of fabric, home goods (curtains, throws, rugs, etc.)

What happens if I don’t respond? Will my order be sent back to Esterval’s or will it be confiscated/ destroyed?

The tobacco I bought was on sale 40% off so I’d be willing to take my chances and ask Estervals to re ship it- I’m just wondering if I’ll have an opportunity to do that or not and if there is anything I can/should or need to do to make it happen.

Any assistance will be appreciated
Thanks

 

[shanez]

There should not be a duty on 15 tins for personal use. If they mis-apply the code you might have to pay anywhere from $0.33 to $0.66 in duty fees.

 

[LotusEater]

Thanks Shanez
I’m going to try to contact DHL and see what can be done.

 

[woodsroad]

Don’t ship DHL?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I quit ordering from Estervals when this happened to me.
Attempting to contact DHL didn't help.. eventually they returned to sender. I just said screw it and took a loss on a refund.

 

[LotusEater]

I quit ordering from Estervals when this happened to me.
Attempting to contact DHL didn't help.. eventually they returned to sender. I just said screw it and took a loss on a refund.

It just pisses me off
I’ve been smoking pipe consistently for about 6years and on and off before that, I finally found a couple of blends I really like and the are both HU. Joschi’s got discontinued and now I can’t seem to get any Flanagan Flake. I’ve got a six drawer dresser filled with tobacco - most of which I only kinda like.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Never purchased from them due to fear of customs headaches and their company name annoys me for some reason.

 

[sablebrush52]

Buying from Esterval's has always entailed an element of risk.

The USPS intercepted my 2020 delivery, after sending it around the US for 5 months, and then rocketed it back to Germany once it finally made it to California. The phony excuse they gave me was that it was ordered to be done by US Customs. I then contacted US Customs and the agent said they had nothing to do with it and patiently showed me on the transit record that Customs were not involved.

She wouldn't go so far as to say that the USPS was full of it, but she strongly intimated it.

Estervals were little shits about it, threatening to charge me for any and all impound fees accrued untii the shipment was destroyed by German customs, so I decided "fuck 'em" and filed a dispute through my credit card company, who, after examining the correspondence between me and Esterval's, ruled in my favor, clawed back the money and refunded my purchase.

Stuff happens.

 

[woodsroad]

All of my Esterval’s orders went through OK, though some sat in thr USPS Purgatory Pinch Point in NYC for an extended period.

Out of compulsion, I feel like I should order a kilo of St. Bernard Flake and see what happens.

 

[Sigmund]

I just wanna know where these 40 percent sales are. Maybe only available to US buyers? I have never seen the price deviate unless its an increase.

 

[Roach1]

I just wanna know where these 40 percent sales are. Maybe only available to US buyers? I have never seen the price deviate unless its an increase.

That's how it is in the EU. I bought a few tins of HU Dockworker for a cheaper price before the tax increase here. I also bought a tin of HU Aus dem Krater from 2020 for 11,90€ from Estervals. If it good I will buy more.

 

[LotusEater]

Buying from Esterval's has always entailed an element of risk.

The USPS intercepted my 2020 delivery, after sending it around the US for 5 months, and then rocketed it back to Germany once it finally made it to California. The phony excuse they gave me was that it was ordered to be done by US Customs. I then contacted US Customs and the agent said they had nothing to do with it and patiently showed me on the transit record that Customs were not involved.

She wouldn't go so far as to say that the USPS was full of it, but she strongly intimated it.

Estervals were little shits about it, threatening to charge me for any and all impound fees accrued untii the shipment was destroyed by German customs, so I decided "fuck 'em" and filed a dispute through my credit card company, who, after examining the correspondence between me and Esterval's, ruled in my favor, clawed back the money and refunded my purchase.

Stuff happens.

That all sounds terrible. I’m glad to hear you got your money back in the end.

 

[LotusEater]

I just wanna know where these 40 percent sales are. Maybe only available to US buyers? I have never seen the price deviate unless its an increase.

It sucks that you don’t get the deals we do here in the states. Every time I log on to their site there is some kind of discount. I paid 6 dollars and change per tin for the Flanagan flake I ordered.

 

[Sigmund]

Seems we dont. I get the tax but for whatever reason there are never sales. Maybe they are prohibited. Who knows.

In France only the government can sell tobacco.

 

[Roach1]

In Germany they can not reduce the prices on tobacco products. Someone might start a five pack a day habit. Beer and strong spirits are always on sale. Go figure. I would like to see the accident stats for driving under the Influence of tobacco.

 

[Roach1]

Seems we dont. I get the tax but for whatever reason there are never sales. Maybe they are prohibited. Who knows.

In France only the government can sell tobacco.

I would like to see the that.

 

[Sigmund]

It still beats france where a pack of cigs is 12 euro and the choices of pipe tobacco are few and sad

Im not sure how long the government had a monopoly on tobacco.

 

[greeneyes]

DHL Express has no restriction on importing tobacco and their customs agents have admitted as much to me in writing. Also says so in the DHL Express manual. Things like this happen but it's usually due to miscommunication of some sort, or inexperienced DHL agents.

 

[PipesRock]

DHL Express has no restriction on importing tobacco and their customs agents have admitted as much to me in writing. Also says so in the DHL Express manual. Things like this happen but it's usually due to miscommunication of some sort, or inexperienced DHL agents.

^^^ This ^^^ Call DHL sooner than later. My DHL discussion call was prompted by @greeneyes and others a few years ago and likely got my package delivered. My DHL conversation is here:

Estervals To Recommence Shipping to USA [5.23.21] :: Pipe Tobacconists - B&M's and Internet Retailers

You can call it hoarding. Except, that is, until you do it. But in the end, it doesn't matter and if people buy 5,000 lbs with their own money, it's nobody's damn business. In some cases, people buy tobacco for the same reason a dog licks its own balls. Because they can. Don't be jealous or...

pipesmagazine.com

Best of luck on delivery
-Rock

 

[sablebrush52]

That all sounds terrible. I’m glad to hear you got your money back in the end.

Things improved significantly after Greeneyes got Esterval’s to use DHL Express. Still, the occasional hiccup happens.

I did one last modest order last year just to to tickle the dragon’s tail and my shipment arrived in under a week.

Having satisfied my curiosity, I’m done.