BitBacco - shipping internationally via mail forwarding?

[Anonymailer]

Hi all,

Despite the relatively high cost of tobacco in the UK, I've had a reasonable amount of interest in shipping to the USA (which looks like a bit of a legal quagmire to me)

But I got to thinking, if someone was to use a mail forwarding service such as:
http://www.londonpresence.com/mail.php

There would be no problems from my point of view right? Legally or otherwise - as I wouldn't be the one shipping internationally. It would be as though you bought the products here on holiday, and took them home with you?

I'm also curious whether I'd run in to problems with customers receiving import tax charges on delivery.

Can anyone enlighten me at all?

[1714949352]

1714949352

[1714949352]

1714949352

[1714949352]

1714949352

[miernik]

Hi all,

Despite the relatively high cost of tobacco in the UK, I've had a reasonable amount of interest in shipping to the USA (which looks like a bit of a legal quagmire to me)

But I got to thinking, if someone was to use a mail forwarding service such as:
http://www.londonpresence.com/mail.php

There would be no problems from my point of view right? Legally or otherwise - as I wouldn't be the one shipping internationally. It would be as though you bought the products here on holiday, and took them home with you?

I'm also curious whether I'd run in to problems with customers receiving import tax charges on delivery.

Can anyone enlighten me at all?

Pff 15 GBP per month?

http://www.ukpostbox.com/ has the same for free.

[Anonymailer]

Pff 15 GBP per month?

http://www.ukpostbox.com/ has the same for free.

I think one-off it costs a £20 deposit which the postage is taken out of, so if you have a few UK orders it would be worthwhile... It would be a good idea for me to find the most cost-effective mail forwarder though!

[Anonymailer]

Pff 15 GBP per month?

http://www.ukpostbox.com/ has the same for free.

I've done a quick google and this site appears to be a scam :/

[indicasteve]

I don't have a lot of experience in this field, but everything you ship overseas has to have a green customs label on it that describes whats in the package and it's value.

IFIK in Canada, you may bring 1 carton (200 cigs) into the country duty free when you enter Canada.   IDK if this exemption applies to imports by mail.  Most import fees by mail are waived if the value is less than $20.

In Ontario, the tobacco tax is currently 12.5 cents a cig or 12.5 cents per gram of cut loose tobacco.

There is also a GST federal tax that usually also applies to imports.

When a package arrives in Canada, it must also pass through a 'customs broker' who actually processes these fees.  They add an aditional 'brokerage fee' of $25 per package for their services.

As I can see it...  the government has made it prohibitively expensive to ship here.

[Anonymailer]

Doesn't sound too good... although maybe I can get some sub-$20 orders going if they're going to get through without any problems! I hope that's true elsewhere as well... any more friendly import laws in other countries?

[phase]

I suppose most countries, where the price is high enough to justify buying from you, will automatically enforce import taxes to discourage your traffic. Cheating is the only way around this really. You could declare your shipments as gifts to avoid import taxes, for smaller quantities this should work just fine. If you declare anything other than a gift, your customers could be subjected to customs clearance fees and import taxes.