elric
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Post by elric on Aug 15, 2019 8:54:06 GMT -5
Well this sucks.
Up until recently my on-line tobacconist declared my orders as 'Hobby supplies'.
My last order had the description declaring the tobacco for what it is. Luckily it still passed through Customs.
I've been told by my U.S. tobacconist that "Customs has tightened up and we now need to itemize each item." So they're cracking down on on-line tobacconists probably due to the new law changes in Australia.
It is what it is. At least I was able to build a decent cellar while still possible.
I'll just have to play it by ear and see what happens I guess.
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jitterbugdude
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Post by jitterbugdude on Aug 15, 2019 10:15:58 GMT -5
Bad news indeed... but you are growing your own if I recall correctly, right?
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Post by pepesdad1 on Aug 15, 2019 14:31:43 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that Elric...seems as though reality has raised its' ugly head. Hang in there and be glad you got your cellar where it is.
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Post by Legend Lover on Aug 15, 2019 17:37:47 GMT -5
I suppose it was a matter of time...
Still sucks though. I'm glad you were able to amass a decent amount before the screws were tightened further.
I wish I had the money to sort out my cellar quickly. Sadly it's at a rate of 50g per month.
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elric
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Post by elric on Aug 15, 2019 19:15:49 GMT -5
Bad news indeed... but you are growing your own if I recall correctly, right? Yes. Last year I grew a few pounds of Burley. This coming season I'm intending to grow Virginia. Growing tobacco for personal use is highly illegal here in Nanny State Australia. Bigger penalties than for growing my medicine that has kept me alive for 17 years beyond the doctors diagnosis and that treats my excruciating nerve pain. They've also disarmed law-abiding citizens after the ASIO/CIA black-op at Port Arthur. I'm a patriotic Aussie who loves his country but by God I hate how we're treated by our so-called 'representatives' and what they've done to the place. Which early U.S. president was it who said that immoral laws should be challenged/ignored by good men? I'm with him. Seriously, if they take away my medicine you will see me on the evening news holding a hunger strike outside state parliament. Without it I'm up shite creek anyway so I may as well go down swinging. The more I think about it the grumpier I get. Grrrrr ............ Please excuse the rant. |
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elric
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Post by elric on Aug 15, 2019 19:20:15 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that Elric...seems as though reality has raised its' ugly head. Hang in there and be glad you got your cellar where it is. Thanks Walt. You're right. I'm generally grateful for what I do have rather than worry about what I don't. I'm way better off than where I was 18 months ago. For this, I am extremely grateful. I'm more pissed at the way that we're treated with such contempt by our so-called representatives. |
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elric
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Post by elric on Aug 15, 2019 19:31:20 GMT -5
I suppose it was a matter of time... Still sucks though. I'm glad you were able to amass a decent amount before the screws were tightened further. I wish I had the money to sort out my cellar quickly. Sadly it's at a rate of 50g per month. Yes, it was only a matter of time Paddy. Not that it will stop me from trying. Only recently I received a 4oz tin of SPC Mississippi River SR from a fellow Patcher. Paying by PayPal makes the transaction easy as. So I'll be keeping a close eye on any sales from members selling off excess/unwanted blends. Sorry to hear that you're pretty much in the same position. It doesn't make me feel any better knowing someone else is in the same boat. Funny thing is is that when I first heard of the changing laws re; importing tobacco without a license, fellow Aussies on social media chided me for being 'paranoid'. Had I not struck while the iron was hot I'd now be in a desperate position. |
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Post by qmechanics on Aug 16, 2019 3:26:56 GMT -5
So you can still obtain delivery by private sale? If so, I think there are a few of us who can help until that loophole is closed.
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Post by trailboss on Aug 16, 2019 16:02:53 GMT -5
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elric
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Post by elric on Aug 17, 2019 4:47:14 GMT -5
So you can still obtain delivery by private sale? If so, I think there are a few of us who can help until that loophole is closed. That's very kind of you to say so. Yes I think that private sale is a better option. I recently received a 40z tin of SPC MR SR & a nice sample of PS LBF from a fellow Patcher. I'll be keeping my eye open for any members sales. |
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elric
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Post by elric on Aug 17, 2019 4:51:27 GMT -5
Thanks Charlie, I'll check them out. I'm not really sure why my regular purveyor has succumbed to the new rules which aren't that different than before. I presume that on-line tobacconists must have received a general mail-out update. It's not as if Customs checks the accuracy of item description before it leaves the U.S. |
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ben888
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Post by ben888 on Aug 17, 2019 6:18:11 GMT -5
I recently spoke to a well know online retailer. He told me that a Customs Agency from my country contacted him in regards of package description. He's been warned that any packages with misleading description will be turned away. So... that is new reality.
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BrunoT
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Post by BrunoT on Aug 17, 2019 6:22:59 GMT -5
Welcome to the customs fanclub. I did the same as you and, luckily, have enough stocked to last me years. Those I didn't/can't get, I can live without... or source locally from time to time.
Hope you'll still be able to get the good stuff privately.
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elric
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Post by elric on Aug 17, 2019 9:44:01 GMT -5
Welcome to the customs fanclub. I did the same as you and, luckily, have enough stocked to last me years. Those I didn't/can't get, I can live without... or source locally from time to time. Hope you'll still be able to get the good stuff privately. Thanks Bruno. The thing is is that Customs obviously doesn't check every parcel nor read the declaration as my last order made it to my front door. Having it declared as tobacco will mean that I'll probably lose more orders than previously. If no members have anything for sale I'll make another order and just play it by ear. I've got enough tobacco to last me a few years but I like to plan ahead. I'm growing several plants every year now to supplement my stash [I'll be making Kake and adding it to blends that I've already got] I'm much better of than most of my fellow Aussie pipe smokers. |
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elric
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Post by elric on Aug 17, 2019 9:55:45 GMT -5
I recently spoke to a well know online retailer. He told me that a Customs Agency from my country contacted him in regards of package description. He's been warned that any packages with misleading description will be turned away. So... that is new reality. Ah now that is interesting. I wonder if the Aussie Customs has done the same? It's not much of a threat though. I'd understand their concern if they'd been warned by U.S. Customs. Overseas Customs has no authority other than to just destroy the tobacco. Before the law changed, if Oz Customs discovered tobacco they'd send an invoice for duty [$544 for a pound] If ignored they destroyed the parcel. Any non-tobacco products got destroyed with the tobacco. Now they're just destroying any tobacco they find apparently. |
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