International Shipping & Ordering: Stories/Tips/Tricks/Advice

[tennispl]

Are boxes consistently clearing LAX customs now? Or should I still be shipping through a proxy?

I've been looking at 3F volume packs wondering the same thing

Believe Etre is okay, but not BIAB.

As recently as a month ago I had a box refused by LAX from Etre. They may be letting some stuff through, but definitely not all.

 

[RayP]

Can anyone tell me or point me in the right direction to finding out what the deal is in traveling with beer and taking it into another country? Headed to New Zealand and there are a few beers I'd like to bring with me.

 

[Rock31]

Can anyone tell me or point me in the right direction to finding out what the deal is in traveling with beer and taking it into another country? Headed to New Zealand and there are a few beers I'd like to bring with me.

Hope this helps, link at the bottom.

On entering New Zealand you are entitled to bring in the following quantities of alcohol products free of Customs duty, provided that you are aged 17 years* or older and that the goods:

• accompany you through the Customs arrival process
• are for your own personal use, or intended as gifts
• are not carried on behalf of another person.
• are not intended for sale or exchange

If the above is applicable the following amounts are allowed duty free:

• 4.5 litres of wine or 4.5 litres of beer.
• Three bottles (or other containers) each containing not more than 1,125ml of spirits, liqueur, or other spirituous beverages.

Any amounts over the above will be liable for Customs duty and goods and services tax (GST). This includes bottles which are of greater volumes than the one described.

* Please note that New Zealand law prohibits the sale of alcoholic drinks and tobacco products to anyone in New Zealand under the age of 18 years. This restriction applies to New Zealand duty-free outlets.

http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/charges/dutyfree/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/charges/feetypes/Pages/default.aspx?s=21

 

[LukeAleTime]

Can anyone tell me or point me in the right direction to finding out what the deal is in traveling with beer and taking it into another country? Headed to New Zealand and there are a few beers I'd like to bring with me.

NZ customs are pretty much the friendliest people in the world.

If you are over the limits just declare how much you have. Chances are if it's only a small amount over they'll wave you through to save the paperwork.

 

[BusinessSloth]

I've had a box that hit JFK customs 5 days ago on the 30th of september. No updates since then. I'm figuring they probably haven't scanned it in or something, and it is likely going to be delivered any day this week.

Either that or they've found the lambic stash inside and are confiscating/shipping it back.

 

[Beerologist]

I've had a box that hit JFK customs 5 days ago on the 30th of september. No updates since then. I'm figuring they probably haven't scanned it in or something, and it is likely going to be delivered any day this week.

Either that or they've found the lambic stash inside and are confiscating/shipping it back.

My last box to go through JFK sat there for ~7-10 deays before heading out for delivery. That was maybe 2 weeks ago at most. Just a bit slow, but I don't think you have any reason to worry

 

[BusinessSloth]

My last box to go through JFK sat there for ~7-10 deays before heading out for delivery. That was maybe 2 weeks ago at most. Just a bit slow, but I don't think you have any reason to worry

Yeah I'm definitely not worried yet. I've had similar instances where the box was scanned as leaving customs, and then no more tracking updates until it shows up on my doorstep a few days later. It is still nerve racking though. Why does our country have stupid beer rules?

 

[Xul1]

FWIW, FineDrams recently stopped shipping to the US entirely. He wasn't entirely clear on whether he was getting packages returned or simply got nervous as his volume to the US increased, but he has been looking for options to legally ship alcohol to consumers here and running into a brick wall at every turn.

 

[sherm10161]

Etre box arrived yesterday. Etre never sent a shipping notification or tracking number.

It's so much less stressful when you think your box hasn't been shipped yet.

 

[thebrewracho]

Any updates on shipping to the West Coast? I've heard of a couple people in CA receiving packages ordered from Belgium but I have no idea if it's dumb luck or if something changed.

We received a package from Belgium to California. Might have been good luck or good karma.

 

[bahnfire]

Just dropped a 12 shipper of VT goodies off at the post office destined for Belgium. Followed the online label instructions in this thread and picked Number45 brain for some additional tips. 34lb box to Belgium was $116 and change. Fingers crossed all goes well!

 

[Number45]

Just dropped a 12 shipper of VT goodies off at the post office destined for Belgium. Followed the online label instructions in this thread and picked Number45 brain for some additional tips. 34lb box to Belgium was $116 and change. Fingers crossed all goes well!

Nice work! Sorry I didn't reply to that last message...been an insane couple of days. Post Office has been quick to just take the box from me in the past, sounds like the same for you. Can't wait to see the haul post from the box coming your way!

 

[thejukes]

Just dropped a 12 shipper of VT goodies off at the post office destined for Belgium. Followed the online label instructions in this thread and picked Number45 brain for some additional tips. 34lb box to Belgium was $116 and change. Fingers crossed all goes well!

Wait, you picked the only illegal means of shipping alcohol?

What kind of instructions are in this friggin thread? I hope it makes it; we all love VT goodies.

 

[nophunk]

Wait, you picked the only illegal means of shipping alcohol?

What kind of instructions are in this friggin thread? I hope it makes it; we all love VT goodies.

Have you ever gone international? It seems the overwhelming majority of us that have use USPS...

 

[bahnfire]

Wait, you picked the only illegal means of shipping alcohol?

What kind of instructions are in this friggin thread? I hope it makes it; we all love VT goodies.

Have you ever gone international? It seems the overwhelming majority of us that have use USPS...

^What he said. International boxes are almost exclusively shipped USPS. Of course if shipping domestically I would've used my trusty Fedex account, but thanks for assuming I'm an idiot.

 

[andrewdrinks]

Yep, USPS is the way to go - I've had a box from Number45 to Luxembourg with no problems so he knows what he's doing.

 

[Number45]

Wait, you picked the only illegal means of shipping alcohol?

What kind of instructions are in this friggin thread? I hope it makes it; we all love VT goodies.

If you check the price of shipping internationally using FedEx or UPS, you'll understand why USPS is most commonly used.

 

[thejukes]

Have you ever gone international? It seems the overwhelming majority of us that have use USPS...

No, but I have worked in customs law for almost 13 years.

I guess it's the way to go until your package gets inspected, seized, and destroyed. At that point, the cost savings will probably be negligible.

 

[bahnfire]

No, but I have worked in customs law for almost 13 years.

I guess it's the way to go until your package gets inspected, seized, and destroyed. At that point, the cost savings will probably be negligible.

Don't UPS and FedEx shipments go through customs as well? If customs is this issue what does it matter which carrier is used?

Also, why come into the "international shipping advice" thread (something you admit you've never done), clearly not read it, and tell us all we're doing it wrong?

 

[Shakedwnst]

Also, why come into the "international shipping advice" thread (something you admit you've never done), clearly not read it, and tell us all we're doing it wrong?

I thought this was how you do beer these days? Don't ask too many questions and make sure you act like you know everything already.

 

[thejukes]

Don't UPS and FedEx shipments go through customs as well? If customs is this issue what does it matter which carrier is used?

Also, why come into the "international shipping advice" thread (something you admit you've never done), clearly not read it, and tell us all we're doing it wrong?

I posted about this topic several pages back, but I'm definitely the one not reading it.

Why did I come into the thread? Gee, I don't know; maybe I have a bit of actual statutory knowledge to add to all the anecdotal trial and error.

I never said customs was the issue, I said it is illegal to use USPS, even domestically. Again, I commented on the legality with reference to customs several pages back. Yes, common carriers are subject to customs inspection, but alcohol shipped via common carrier wouldn't necessarily be subject to summary seizure as contraband as it would via USPS. It is at the discretion of each individual port director on the weather to levy duty against personal use alcohol being shipped internationally outside of the postal service.

 

[Shakedwnst]

"wouldn't necessarily"?

So you're saying there's a chance?

 

[RyanG1]

Don't UPS and FedEx shipments go through customs as well? If customs is this issue what does it matter which carrier is used?

Also, why come into the "international shipping advice" thread (something you admit you've never done), clearly not read it, and tell us all we're doing it wrong?

Someone likes the "sound" of their own voice. Also, telling people why they are wrong is also popular on the internet.

 

[thejukes]

Someone likes the "sound" of their own voice. Also, telling people why they are wrong is also popular on the internet.

What, me? Okay.


My bad for trying to add some actual knowledge in here. Please return to "I put my first gen charizard in the box for luck with some paper clips to make noise. Worked like a charm!"

 

[RyanG1]

What, me? Okay.


My bad for trying to add some actual knowledge in here. Please return to "I put my first gen charizard in the box with some paper clips to make noise.

You did, as you admitted already. Thank you for that, but I think people have been successfully sending boxes to and from Europe without ending up in Gitmo.

Lots of good info in here.

 

[thejukes]

You did, as you admitted already. Thank you for that, but I think people have been successfully sending boxes to and from Europe without ending up in Gitmo.

Lots of good info in here.

Again, I never said anyone was going to get in trouble. I said your box might be seized and destroyed and you might be out a couple hundred bucks and kick ass beer. I guess that could actually be worse than going to Gitmo for a beer obsessed nerd like myself. I've driven way over the speed limit a bunch of times well and I've never gotten a ticket. Doesn't mean it is a good idea.

 

[nophunk]

I never said customs was the issue, I said it is illegal to use USPS, even domestically.

We all know this I think it's also worth noting that maybe .0001% of USPS packages get seized. USPS is the way to go, undoubtedly.

 

[Shakedwnst]

I said your box might be seized and destroyed and you might be out a couple hundred bucks and kick ass beer.

You also said the same thing could happen with fedex or ups, right?

Thanks for the knowledge that mailing beer all over the globe isn't legal.

 

[thejukes]

We all know this I think it's also worth noting that maybe .0001% of USPS packages get seized. USPS is the way to go, undoubtedly.

Maybe one per 1,000,000 packages get seized? I don't know about all that.

Is it that much cheaper to make it worth the risk?

 

[bahnfire]

Is it that much cheaper to make it worth the risk?

Here's where the rubber meets the road. Yes it is that much cheaper. I got quotes through both my UPS account and Fedex account. FedEx was the cheaper of the two at $311. That's basically 3x what usps cost ($116) for the same box. We're not talking about saving $30 here, if that was the case is pony up the extra for FedEx.