Estervals Question

[Leomania]

Hello everyone,

I’ve recently been hearing the praise about Estervals, and thinking about ordering to Japan.

The main question and concern I have is regarding customs, as all tobacco is taxed at around $100 USD/kg.

In order to make the purchase worth it, to make up for the shipping, I’d probably order around 750g worth of tobacco.

Have anyone outside of the US had any success not getting charged by their country’s customs?

Up until now, I have been buying most of my pipe tobacco from Smoking Pipes, and seem to get dinged on most of my purchases. I know Estervals uses DHL, so maybe things will be different.

Sorry if this post is not allowed, and please delete or message me if so.

Otherwise, if people can message me through PMs as well.

Thanks a lot!

 

[Leomania]

I’m thinking about doing the following as my first order, as I generally prefer Virgina and VaPers, and hear that HU tobacco is amazing.

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

At the rate you listed how much do you think you will be taxed on 750g?

 

[bluegrassbrian]

I've had countless great experiences ordering from Estervals, but my latest has been an issue.
The customs with DHL wouldn't pass the parcel and I couldn't get ahold of anyone to learn more.
They shipped it back to Estervals.

When that happens you have two choices:
1. A partial refund. That's the money you paid for your tobacco, less the initial shipping cost AND (what I assume) the shipping cost DHL charged Estervals to send it back.

2. Estervals will send it to you again after you pay for the return shipping AND new shipping.

Is it fair? I guess.
Definitely feels like I'm getting bent over a barrel though.

Essentially doubling the price of the order at no fault of my own.
Just the cost of doing business?

 

[seanv]

You need to understand the risks associated with importing tobacco without a license to do so. Each order is a gamble, some more risky than others based on the destination country. Calculate the rate of duty, add 15% and decide if it is worth the risk.

 

[Leomania]

At the rate you listed how much do you think you will be taxed on 750g?

I believe I will be taxed close to the equivalent of $80, on top of $180 for the tobacco and around $50 for shipping.

 

[Leomania]

I've had countless great experiences ordering from Estervals, but my latest has been an issue.
The customs with DHL wouldn't pass the parcel and I couldn't get ahold of anyone to learn more.
They shipped it back to Estervals.

When that happens you have two choices:
1. A partial refund. That's the money you paid for your tobacco, less the initial shipping cost AND (what I assume) the shipping cost DHL charged Estervals to send it back.

2. Estervals will send it to you again after you pay for the return shipping AND new shipping.

Is it fair? I guess.
Definitely feels like I'm getting bent over a barrel though.

Essentially doubling the price of the order at no fault of my own.
Just the cost of doing business?

Wow, it makes me reconsider ordering from them if it’s such a hassle. I emailed Estervals about shipping to Japan and this is what they replied:

“We can ship directly to Japan. Unfortunately, DHL Express is currently having problems that we cannot pinpoint correctly. Maybe you should try normal (and cheaper) DHL shipping.”

 

[HeavyLeadBelly]

I believe I will be taxed close to the equivalent of $80, on top of $180 for the tobacco and around $50 for shipping.

Ok soo not too terrible I guess. I just hear of the nightmare stories from our friends in Canada and just shudder.

I guess it’s up to you to decide if the stuff you want off if Estervals is worth it. Let us know how it goes!

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Wow, it makes me reconsider ordering from them if it’s such a hassle. I emailed Estervals about shipping to Japan and this is what they replied:

“We can ship directly to Japan. Unfortunately, DHL Express is currently having problems that we cannot pinpoint correctly. Maybe you should try normal (and cheaper) DHL shipping.”

What kind of problems?! lol

 

[Leomania]

What kind of problems?! lol

I wish I knew. Hopefully this is a stand-alone incident, and doesn’t keep happening to you or other forum members.

 

[lupy1234]

My first order with them and no issues:

1 x​	Devil´s Holiday Pipe tobacco 250g Economy Pack	$ 24.97​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Coming Home Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 9.34​
3 x​	Choo Choo Train Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 16.79​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Sunset Flake Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 6.27​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Dockworker Flake Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 8.78​
1 x​	Ascanian No. 2 Castle Blend Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 17.10​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Balkan Passion Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 16.68​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Chinas Heaven Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 15.24​
1 x​	HU-tobacco English Breakfast Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 15.04​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Flanagan Flake Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 8.38​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Nyala Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 18.27​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Nashville County Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 16.68​
1 x​	Raven Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 15.13​
1 x​	Fred the Frog Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 9.32​
1 x​	Germain´s Mixture No 7 Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 16.67 total: $275​

 

[Leomania]

My first order with them and no issues:

1 x​	Devil´s Holiday Pipe tobacco 250g Economy Pack	$ 24.97​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Coming Home Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 9.34​
3 x​	Choo Choo Train Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 16.79​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Sunset Flake Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 6.27​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Dockworker Flake Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 8.78​
1 x​	Ascanian No. 2 Castle Blend Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 17.10​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Balkan Passion Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 16.68​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Chinas Heaven Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 15.24​
1 x​	HU-tobacco English Breakfast Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 15.04​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Flanagan Flake Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 8.38​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Nyala Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 18.27​
1 x​	HU-tobacco Nashville County Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 16.68​
1 x​	Raven Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 15.13​
1 x​	Fred the Frog Pipe tobacco 50g Tin	$ 9.32​
1 x​	Germain´s Mixture No 7 Pipe tobacco 100g Tin	$ 16.67 total: $275​

Thanks for your reply. What country are you from?

 

[OzPiper]

I believe I will be taxed close to the equivalent of $80, on top of $180 for the tobacco and around $50 for shipping.

Consider yourself lucky.

The import duty into Oz is @USD$1000/Kg (yes, one thousand)
And you have to have an import licence.

DHL ships through legal, official channels. So there is no escaping Customs Checks and paying duty. And they slug you for shipping and handling (ie getting the package through Customs).

 

[Leomania]

Consider yourself lucky.

The import duty into Oz is @USD$1000/Kg (yes, one thousand)
And you have to have an import licence.

DHL ships through legal, official channels. So there is no escaping Customs Checks and paying duty. And they slug you for shipping and handling (ie getting the package through Customs).

Definitely, and I’m in no way complaining about customs duties in Japan, as I realize it’s far more expensive in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and other places, like you mentioned.

Have you ever ordered from Estervals, and if so, what was the result of buying from them and customs?

 

[kcghost]

This a very confusing thing to read. Folk's list what country you are in when dealing with customs fees.

 

[sablebrush52]

I've had countless great experiences ordering from Estervals, but my latest has been an issue.
The customs with DHL wouldn't pass the parcel and I couldn't get ahold of anyone to learn more.
They shipped it back to Estervals.

When that happens you have two choices:
1. A partial refund. That's the money you paid for your tobacco, less the initial shipping cost AND (what I assume) the shipping cost DHL charged Estervals to send it back.

2. Estervals will send it to you again after you pay for the return shipping AND new shipping.

Is it fair? I guess.
Definitely feels like I'm getting bent over a barrel though.

Essentially doubling the price of the order at no fault of my own.
Just the cost of doing business?

When my shipment got hijacked by the USPS in 2020, and sent back to Germany, Esterval’s didn’t offer me any of those options. Instead, they blamed me, and told me that they would be charging me for German customs impound duties and that it was my problem to deal with. So I filed a dispute with my credit card company, emailed them the correspondence with Esterval’s, and the company clawed back my payment.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

When my shipment got hijacked by the USPS in 2020, and sent back to Germany, Esterval’s didn’t offer me any of those options. Instead, they blamed me, and told me that they would be charging me for German customs impound duties and that it was my problem to deal with. So I filed a dispute with my credit card company, emailed them the correspondence with Esterval’s, and the company clawed back my payment.

You paved the way for my despair..

 

[username]

I only had one package not arrive to me from estervals it went back to them and I was able to get it when they tried to send it back to me. I'm in the states for the record. But after that hassle of my last order getting sent back and forth I haven't tried again.

 

[OzPiper]

Have you ever ordered from Estervals, and if so, what was the result of buying from them and customs?

I’ve been stung by the shipping and “handling” charges by DHL both on a pipe purchase from Japan and wine&spirits from the UK/EU

In the case of the pipe, the delivery and handling charges added an extra 25% (on top of Customs duty) to the price of an already expensive pipe
Likewise several shipments of wine and spirits from the UK and EU
The handling charges for “filling in Customs Forms for the item” came to over AUD$120

Customs Duty is a fact of life we have to bear given the country we live in.
But excessive handling charges…………

I won’t order from any retailer using DHL as a shipper now.
Unless it is something I absolutely have to have (not too many of those) or there is no other alternative.

 

[Ebarber]

I hate to hear of all of the recent problems with DHL/Estervals. I've ordered a lot of tobacco and pipes from them in the past with very fast shipping and no issues. My last order was a bunch of St. Bernard (250G bags) when they were on sale this summer. They were insanely cheap. I think they were around 18$ ea. I hope they get it straightened out. I'm in the US.