Is Estervals the only German store that's good for US to order from, or are there others? With Mac Barens US being shut down, but seemingly European still operating (unless I'm mistaken) alongside some other blends from other brands being generally more available abroad, I'm surprised it's not more talked about if it is an open but unexplored option.
Estervals and UPS
- Thread starter lupy1234
- Start date
You should find out. Back in 2018 there were lots of German shops that would ship to the USA. I'd be curious whether any of the other shops are shipping. At one point I had a list, and I emailed and made friendships with lots of different shops, but I gather that list is fairly outdated now.
For example:
Says they ship to USA, but doesn't specify if anything is excluded or not.
The issue is not legal Its just a problem for the business. Some customers get charged high customs fees. Then they refuse their shipments. Then they have to process returns. For many its not worth the bother.
That seems to be a major catalyst for the Snus business that has shut down a lot of US shipments from Sweden this year too... Tough year for tobacco
Interesting, since they state that they do not sell tobacco to other EU countries, but list the US without any such restrictions.
The only other option that I was aware of is Gerd Jansens Pfeifendepot & Werkstatt e.K. – FINEST TOBACCO SINCE 1899 SMOKERS REQUISITES – TOBACCO & SPIRITS – SPEAKEASY - https://pfeifendepot.de/, and I don't know if that's still true. They were HU's distributor before Esterval's started selling HU tobaccos.
I've preferred to strike up friendships, to assume all risk and responsibility, rather than approach with accusations and rules and I have had considerable success in the past. It helps to use a little diplomacy and flexibility, particularly in these trying times, so that a shop owner does not write you off as can so easily be done via email.
Also I must underscore that I have never, under any circumstances, been charged tax on tobacco when shipped via USPS (via Deutsch Post) or any other courier handing off to USPS. It is the American arm of DHL and UPS that charge sinister "brokerage fees" which they say are on behalf of US Customs (and which I doubt very, very much).
Also I must underscore that I have never, under any circumstances, been charged tax on tobacco when shipped via USPS (via Deutsch Post) or any other courier handing off to USPS. It is the American arm of DHL and UPS that charge sinister "brokerage fees" which they say are on behalf of US Customs (and which I doubt very, very much).
I've been researching what might happen with the new trade arrangements in terms of importing certain pipe-related items from overseas, in terms of delays and taxes (import duties). This message from someone in an Alibaba (... Chinese "Amazon") faily well sums up what I've been saying all along:
"While UPS used the ... tariffs to their full advantage, others are struggling. FedEx management reportedly implored the ... to pause the end of de minimis because consumers were blaming the delivery company for surprise fees. The US Postal Service simply ignored the ... , passing through packages with no effort to pursue tariff payments from consumers, because it is not set up to process tariffs, nor does it have the technology to manage the data requirements associated with commercial shipments that require customs clearance. Some observers reckon the agency will have to partner with a customs brokerage, but even that would be an awkward solution."
I won't post the source here, and have censored portions that might get this post flagged as the intent is informing about shipping logistics only, but if you wish I can message the source link to you personally.
"While UPS used the ... tariffs to their full advantage, others are struggling. FedEx management reportedly implored the ... to pause the end of de minimis because consumers were blaming the delivery company for surprise fees. The US Postal Service simply ignored the ... , passing through packages with no effort to pursue tariff payments from consumers, because it is not set up to process tariffs, nor does it have the technology to manage the data requirements associated with commercial shipments that require customs clearance. Some observers reckon the agency will have to partner with a customs brokerage, but even that would be an awkward solution."
I won't post the source here, and have censored portions that might get this post flagged as the intent is informing about shipping logistics only, but if you wish I can message the source link to you personally.
Even if Estervals is all that's out there, if you just avoid UPS/DHL it sounds like, you can still get access to Mac Baren, SG, HU, Dan, & other stuff that's otherwise much more difficult to get from a smoking pipes etc domestically with what seems like not too much hassle. So unless I'm missing something I wonder why more people don't just do this in light of all that's occurring
If you’re ordering from Esterval’s, how do you avoid UPS or DHL?
You can't. Because it's at their insistence. Part of the frustration is I've been trying to explain to them what we're getting shafted with on the "brokerage" side, but the plus on the vendor side outweighs the minus on the consumer side.
That must be what I was missing then, which in that case it would be DHL > UPS
Yeah. Yeah that's my opinion too. DHL has people you can talk to, phone numbers, emails. UPS .... haha .... Good luck.
Update on the UPS charge from a while back. After initial refusal of package, they tried sending me a bill in the mail, which i wrote back saying i wouldn't pay due to package refusal. I was later contacted by a collection agency. One call to them to dispute the charge, again, due to never accepting the package and *poof*. Not another word. So far no issues with DHL. 
In an ever changing world, it's comforting to know that the UPS tradition of being screw ups continues.Update on the UPS charge from a while back. After initial refusal of package, they tried sending me a bill in the mail, which i wrote back saying i wouldn't pay due to package refusal. I was later contacted by a collection agency. One call to them to dispute the charge, again, due to never accepting the package and *poof*. Not another word. So far no issues with DHL.
In the multiple different addresses I've lived at over the years, they've consistently figured out how to always misdeliver my packages to my neighbors
It's in the training manual, along with tossing packages over fences, and sitting on fragile packages, whether in the truck or the warehouse.
Sorry this happened to you.Update on the UPS charge from a while back. After initial refusal of package, they tried sending me a bill in the mail, which i wrote back saying i wouldn't pay due to package refusal. I was later contacted by a collection agency. One call to them to dispute the charge, again, due to never accepting the package and *poof*. Not another word. So far no issues with DHL.
I paid the charges with PayPal (credit card works fine, too) as they were obviously blackmailing me with fake customs fees in exchange for my package. I call it the "brokerage scam."
Then I had the charges reversed once the package was delivered and gave as a justification that I opted to pay my customs fees directly to the USA government, forgoing the brokerage "service."
Of course, I had $160 brokerage fees assessed on what amounted to $0.67 "Customs Fees" determined by none other than UPS.
Do a little Google search. The do it all the time. Here and in Canada for goods from the USA. Lucrative little hustle they have going.