I placed a large order with Estervals in the spring. It made it as far as Tucson, and then the USPS sent it back to Germany. Estervals kindly shipped It back to me at their expense. After it arrived again in Tucson, the USPS sent it to California, then back to Tucson, then back to California, then back to Tucson, when I finally received it. One tin had obviously been opened by Customs. Total time: 5 months.
The problems with tobacco shipments from Estervals to the U.S. are entirely the fault of US customs and the USPS. I was fully aware of the risks when I placed the order, and everyone in the US that orders tobacco from abroad should be realistic about the fact that there is no guarantee that customs will not intervene or the USPS will not screw it up. Estervals has been kind enough to try to service U.S. pipe smokers, knowing full well that problems will arise. It’s nice that the would-be buyer got his money back, but he jeopardizes the relationship that US buyers have with Estervals. Tell me, where else are you going to go, to get HU tobaccos, once Estervals decides that US buyers are not worth the risk and the hassles?
The age of entitlement for us Americans is over, for good reason, and we will have better relations with our brothers and sisters abroad when we come to terms with it.