How Much Hassle & Risk When Buying a Pipe From Italy?

[georged]

I've dealt with a lot of repair-related international shipping over the years, but never purchased something (a pipe) directly from Italy for myself.
Customs, duty, hold-ups, additional taxes, etc. etc. can anyone here fill me in? Avoid? No biggie?
Thanks ::
(This tag is what got me worried):

 

[balkisobrains]

I've had some delivered a couple days after ordering, usually DHL and needs a sig. Some take longer. No VAT tax or customs problems buying from the US. Had good luck with Bollito, Moretti, Pascia.

 

[elpfeife]

Ditto. No problema. Great service.

 

[saltedplug]

I've read that ordering from Al Pascia is easy and that delivery is very quick.

 

[Civil War]

No problems

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I purchased 9 Morreti pipes. All arrived within 2 days before noon. Zero problems.

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I've read that ordering from Al Pascia is easy and that delivery is very quick.

:rofl: Understatement of the century! :rofl: No joke, two days to Texas. I'm still mindblown on how that's even possible.

 

[cortezattic]

No problems with multiple purchases from both Al Pascia (Fedex), and LePipe.it (regular snail mail).

 

[georged]

Looks like clear sailing, so I did the deed...
:D :D :D
Muchacho gracioso, Kevinboarders ::

 

[anthonyrosenthal74]

I did the deed...

The suspense is killing me. What did you purchase?

 

[lasttango]

Bought several. Al Pasica is easy.
Sending anything to Italy is the scary part. My last shipment was seized. The buyer was out $100. I was protected by ebay/paypal.

 

[pappymac]

I've bought briars from Italy and Meerschaums from Turkey. It did take about three days longer to get the Meerschaum but no problems.

 

[npod]

Can’t wait to see what you got.
I buy from Italy often. Floppy Pipe, Finest Lighters, Al Pascia. All are great and I have never waited more than 5-7 days for delivery.

 

[georged]

The suspense is killing me. What did you purchase?

This be the critter:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/DUNHILL-SHELL-ODA-848-F-T-UNSMOKED-NEW-FROM-1985-PIPA-PIPE-PFEIFEN/263572650557?hash=item3d5e277a3d:g:hh8AAOSwwARat6K3
I've been past collection-growth pipe buying for a long time, only adding a lucky find outlier every 18 months or so, but found myself actively looking for "cherry on top / possibly final pipe" over the past several weeks. Something symbolic to help me power through some health problems I've been dealing with the past year. (How, I'm not sure, it just felt right somehow, and fitting.)
Anyway, it looks perfectly cut, and has that lovely, uniform "pebble" blast that's both desirable and uncommon. Figured it would make make a sweet trio with these two:
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/1969-dunhill-bruyere-oda-shape-848
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/1962-dunhill-tanshell-oda-shape-848

 

[philobeddoe]

Nice looking Dunhill George, I’m glad it will already have two friends, I hate to see a lonely briar!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Oh, yeah!

 

[cigrmaster]

George, great looking pipe. Nothing beats a Dunhill for that classic look. I hope it smokes great for you and congrats on a fine addition to your collection.

 

[npod]

Congrats on the Dunhill. Cheers!

 

[lightmybriar]

My birthyear, what a beauty!

 

[tschiraldi]

No hassle at all! I regularly buy from Noli, Novelli, Corti, Bolito, Sisimbro, and Floppy Pipes. Never once had an issue.