I’m looking to ship a pipe from the UK to the US. Those of you with experience doing so, what’s your preferred shipping method? Any advice that would help to make sure it arrives without issue? Thanks in advance for your input.
Question about Shipping Pipes from UK to US
- Thread starter n_irwin
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Depends on the value of the pipe I guess, but I usually use Royal Mail 2nd class, has insured value max of £250 and declared as tobacco pipes. If you’re shipping from a retailer, I’m not sure how it works with import tax (if any?).
Btw, I’m not in either UK or US, but have arranged for quite a few boxes of pipes to be sent across the pond without any hassles.
Btw, I’m not in either UK or US, but have arranged for quite a few boxes of pipes to be sent across the pond without any hassles.
Zero issues with Royal Mail
Global Shitting is a whole different can of toxic thievery and scumbaggery.
Global Shitting is a whole different can of toxic thievery and scumbaggery.
Agree with the recommendation for Royal Mail. I've had several pipes mailed to USA via Royal Mail and no issues. Can't say the same for FedEx. When I had a pipe shipped from Europe to USA via FedEx you wouldn't believe the paperwork hoops I had to jump thru. I had to send several signed forms to FedEx before they would release my briar pipe to me -- a Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) form certifying that my "Composite Wood Product" did not contain "any chemical substances in violation of government regulations", as well as additional information (to quote FEDEX "because the tobacco pipe requires an entry to the FDA") that included providing the manufacturer's full name and address and also certification that the pipe was empty. You just can't make this BS up...
Swings & roundabouts mate. I’ve ordered pipes mid morning from Italy & they’ve arrived at my door the very next day. That was with FEDEX, pipes from Al Pascia . I’m in the UK & have sent a few things over to the states & Canada, always used our Royal Mail & never had a problem. If you’ve had problems with receiving pipes from established businesses, they’d more than willing to change couriers for you i’m sure.
I've had pipes shipped other times with FedEx without issue (both from UK and Continent), but after last experience will from now on always request plain old International Airmail via each country's postal service over FedEx whenever possible...
Out of interest, which country was the ‘problematic’ one, using FEDEX?
Even for me, since Brexit I’ve not had any problem with FEDEX from Italy or DHL from Germany. Sending stuff ‘to’ Europe has become nigh on impossible though. Royal Mail or FEDEX, it doesn’t matter, that parcel is getting checked…..properly.
Global shipping confiscated my pipes before due to being a wood product. Royal Mail/USPS I never had an issue.
only issue it can be kind of slow because of poorly written custom rules. Make sure the person getting knows there is a real possibility it might sit in customs for a long time. But it should get through. Actually when the rule was passed I got a call from customs about a snus pocket container, which was weird by the way.
I get a pipe a year from the PCOL, UK to US. During covid it was worse, maybe 4-6 weeks, but they always showed up. Sent from there Royal Mail. Best story: after one pipe didn't show up for four weeks but, according to USPS website was stuck in Chicago, I alerted them that it was lost. Pipe arrived two weeks later but for another six months I'd receive, about every four weeks, an auto message from USPS, "We are still looking for your package."
I've never had an issue with Royal Mail. Global Shipping is a criminal organization that steals pipes to destroy or resell them.
Seems like a good summary of the group’s experience. Thanks for your input, everyone. Super helpful!
I've never had an issue with Royal Mail.
DHL is my favorite but more expensive.
For a pipe I'd go with the RM option. For alcohol I won't use anyone other than DHL.
The real issue is customs. DHL handles all aspects of customs meaning they take direct responsibility.
Other shippers tend to rely solely on customs agents. This is fine for most things as long as what's being shipped is allowed via the shipping method after customs (read USPS) which pipes are. Alcohol is not allowed via USPS and if a customs agent is aware and diligent the package will be held and/or returned. DHL is the shipping method on both sides of customs and, what FedEx and UPS won't do, they transport the packages from customs to their nearest distribution point.
Royal Mail ships to customs and relies on USPS after customs. Perfectly acceptable for a pipe.
DHL is my favorite but more expensive.
For a pipe I'd go with the RM option. For alcohol I won't use anyone other than DHL.
The real issue is customs. DHL handles all aspects of customs meaning they take direct responsibility.
Other shippers tend to rely solely on customs agents. This is fine for most things as long as what's being shipped is allowed via the shipping method after customs (read USPS) which pipes are. Alcohol is not allowed via USPS and if a customs agent is aware and diligent the package will be held and/or returned. DHL is the shipping method on both sides of customs and, what FedEx and UPS won't do, they transport the packages from customs to their nearest distribution point.
Royal Mail ships to customs and relies on USPS after customs. Perfectly acceptable for a pipe.
Not a wood product. Global Shitting deems all pipes “drug paraphernalia”.
Oddly enough many of those “drug pipes” show up on eBay about two months later.
I know this for fact as I was able to track down and purchase two of them.
as stated above.
global shipping are a bunch of thieves.
they confiscate stuff and then sell it on ebay later
Ashdigger has proof of this
I ordered a few pipes from uk retailer to take advantage of the exchange rate wit the dollar and had no trouble other than the a week/10 days longer to arrive than if I ordered domestically. Even with shipping charge I still found it cheaper than us retailers for Petersons. Didn’t really look to compare other brands
I keep tellin' you guys, this everything being mappably digitalize-ified these days works both ways.
The Global Shipping Robbery Organization must have a physical presence because they handle physical items.
Cruise missiles don't care who launches them or who's on the receiving end. They simply do as they're told.
The people who make those things don't care either. They just want to make money.
Harris has a shit-ton of money.
You do the math.
The Global Shipping Robbery Organization must have a physical presence because they handle physical items.
Cruise missiles don't care who launches them or who's on the receiving end. They simply do as they're told.
The people who make those things don't care either. They just want to make money.
Harris has a shit-ton of money.
You do the math.