I have been buying/selling fragrances for years to/from overseas. Today the Postal worker asked me specifically what type of "beauty products" I was sending, and she bluntly reminded me of a $25,000 fine if I lied to her. I stated it was 2 ounces of edt and she stated there was no way It could be shipped overseas... thoughts???
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Just Starting Out › Shippinf from the USA to overseas.
Recent Reviews
-
Elegant, subtle, and refined, For an introspective frame of mind. Close to the skin, it lingers on, I'll re-apply before it's gone. I wish that it would longer stay, But "Less is More,"...
-
Bentley for Men Intense opens with the faintest brief spray of dulled citrus mingling with a sheen of black pepper, before quickly adding laurel and cinnamon spiced smooth boozy rum-laced incense...
-
Skimming through the reviews of Habit Rouge it's apparent that this scent comes/came in many incarnations, wastly different. I've tried a current EdT. .. There's nothing masculine about this...
-
I dislike the original AdG, always have because of the bitterness and strange orange synthetic note. The Essenza after one wear won me over, smooth opening, soft woodiness once it settles down....
-
Disturbingly bad. This opens up obscure, smoky, spicy and what seems like an attempt of a jasmine flower note. I have smelt jasmine notes from higher end perfumery and this is utterly...
Shippinf from the USA to overseas.
post #2 of 12
11/5/12 at 12:57pm
- forfreddie
- offline
- Gender:

- 1,725 Posts. Joined 8/2011
- Location: Birmingham
- Select All Posts By This User
That sucks... I do get a little nervous when posting stuff. Sometimes I just say "perfume", and often they'll do it! Best is to say something quickly and complicated like "Oh it's ausedespritdeparfumeaudetoilette...", or write "eaudetoilette" in one small unreadable word :') One way of getting around the perfume thing is saying "Aromatherapy" - mind you, when I ordered from Aftelier, they listed the EDP as "Aromatherapy" and it still struck me with a £20 custom tax charge which sucked.
post #3 of 12
11/5/12 at 1:36pm
- JiveHippo
- offline
- Gender:

- 2,651 Posts. Joined 7/2011
- Location: Ontario, Canada
- Select All Posts By This User
- Possum-Pie
- offline
- Gender:

- 1,211 Posts. Joined 6/2012
- Location: Near Gettysburg
- Select All Posts By This User
I usually am "purposely vague" on the customs sheet, but she asked point blank, and to lie outright is illegal. Problem is my wife delivered a package a while back and mentioned it was fragrance. It is a small post office where they know their patrons. Since then I am questioned is it liquid? It doesn't matter on domestic mail, but obviously international is a hassle. The last time I had this hassle I tried to mail a handgun...I had to hand deliver it to the Fed Ex headquarters, fill out a zillion forms and still I left feeling like a criminal. I never dreamed that Creed Original Vetiver would elicit the same concern as a Glock.
post #5 of 12
11/5/12 at 2:07pm
- galwaygirl001
- offline
- Gender:

- 299 Posts. Joined 10/2010
- Location: Galway
- Select All Posts By This User
post #6 of 12
11/5/12 at 2:13pm
- PalmBeach
- online
- Gender:

- 1,650 Posts. Joined 4/2012
- Location: South Florida
- Select All Posts By This User
Unfortunately, this is the world we live in since 9/11.
Your best bet is to send it out via USPS.com and do everything online. When they request the contents, just mark it as cosmetics. If worse comes to worse, and you still have concerns, throw in a cheap lipstick from Walmart.
If you print out the label and customs forms online, then all you have to do is drop it into the mailbox without every having to speak to the counter person.
Every shipment that I get from overseas is marked as cosmetics.
Shipping a firearm is a PITA. That is why I use my local FFL to do so, unless it is a factory return, where they send you a label.
Your best bet is to send it out via USPS.com and do everything online. When they request the contents, just mark it as cosmetics. If worse comes to worse, and you still have concerns, throw in a cheap lipstick from Walmart.
If you print out the label and customs forms online, then all you have to do is drop it into the mailbox without every having to speak to the counter person.
Every shipment that I get from overseas is marked as cosmetics.
Shipping a firearm is a PITA. That is why I use my local FFL to do so, unless it is a factory return, where they send you a label.
post #7 of 12
11/5/12 at 2:33pm
- Buysblind
- online
- Gender:

- 1,990 Posts. Joined 1/2011
- Location: New York
- Select All Posts By This User
I was caught completely off guard at the post office too when the guy suddenly asked me "What's in the package?" and stupidly I answered him with "Cologne." And he refused to ship it out. I left having wished I lied or told him how invasive his question was.
It's also a little strange that she explicitly warned you of the $25,000 fine you could face if you lied. I would find that very insulting.
I think the advice about taking care of everything online is good...or find another post office close by where they're not so nosy and obnoxious.
As for me, I think I'm just going to write 'dildos' on the customs slip from now on and hope that keeps their intrusiveness at bay.
It's also a little strange that she explicitly warned you of the $25,000 fine you could face if you lied. I would find that very insulting.
I think the advice about taking care of everything online is good...or find another post office close by where they're not so nosy and obnoxious.
As for me, I think I'm just going to write 'dildos' on the customs slip from now on and hope that keeps their intrusiveness at bay.
post #8 of 12
11/5/12 at 3:43pm
Next time remind her of the felony associated with opening someone else's mail (although...prosecution on a case like that would be humorous).
To avoid such a hassle, my boss always marked the customs form as a gift, and under the box he just wrote something extremely vague, "case" or "cosmetics."
Buysblind, I have always wanted to put down, "Adult Toys" but have wondered if anyone at customs would get curious and well...
To avoid such a hassle, my boss always marked the customs form as a gift, and under the box he just wrote something extremely vague, "case" or "cosmetics."
Buysblind, I have always wanted to put down, "Adult Toys" but have wondered if anyone at customs would get curious and well...
post #9 of 12
11/5/12 at 3:52pm
- galwaygirl001
- offline
- Gender:

- 299 Posts. Joined 10/2010
- Location: Galway
- Select All Posts By This User
post #10 of 12
11/5/12 at 5:13pm
- 30 Roses
- offline
- Gender:

- Trader Feedback: +185
- Lifelong Sniffaholic
-
- 10,474 Posts. Joined 10/2007
- Location: Connecticut
- Select All Posts By This User
Only First Class letters and packages are protected from search without a warrant.
4. Can Postal Inspectors open mail if they feel it may contain something illegal?First-Class letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/faq.aspx
4. Can Postal Inspectors open mail if they feel it may contain something illegal?First-Class letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/faq.aspx
post #11 of 12
11/5/12 at 8:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 30 Roses 
Only First Class letters and packages are protected from search without a warrant.
4. Can Postal Inspectors open mail if they feel it may contain something illegal?First-Class letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/faq.aspx

Only First Class letters and packages are protected from search without a warrant.
4. Can Postal Inspectors open mail if they feel it may contain something illegal?First-Class letters and parcels are protected against search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, and, as such, cannot be opened without a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mailpiece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence, and therefore may be opened without a warrant.
https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/faq.aspx
That's why I always send via first class
. Actually...I use first class simply because it's cheaper.
post #12 of 12
11/6/12 at 2:55am
Eh, as much as it sucks to be limited to some fragrances and potential swapping partners, I respect the postal office's regulations. Things jostle around on a plane and even if packed carefully liquid could leak, glass could break. Although the regulations have more to do with safety/flammable items I would hate to have someone expect a nice fragrance, open up the box, and it's either been taken or leaked out/broken. I know that's a risk even domestically, but at least shipping and returns would be a lot faster and convenient than internationally. Plus ground shipping is OK with fragrances.
Return Home
Back to Forum: Just Starting Out
- Shippinf from the USA to overseas.
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Just Starting Out › Shippinf from the USA to overseas.
Currently, there are 570 Active Users
(94 Members and 476 Guests)
Recent Discussions
- › Drake song from upcoming album entitled "Tuscan Leather" 29 seconds ago
- › COTDhow are we caffeinating today? 33 seconds ago
- › Sexy masculine perfume for pic-up clubbing 45 seconds ago
- › YSL L'homme going back to Macy's. Any ideas? 51 seconds ago
- › Creating a Fragrance 1 minute ago
- › Bought a Creed Millesime Imperial tester, not sure if real? please... 1 minute ago
- › Creating a fragrance 3 minutes ago
- › Fragrance for a first date, same-sex edition 3 minutes ago
- › SotD: Wednesday 19th June, '13 4 minutes ago
- › Vetiver-phobia 4 minutes ago
View: New Posts | All Discussions
Recent Reviews
- › Eau De Cartier by Cartier, 2001 by SirRaymond
- › Bentley For Men Intense by Bentley, 2013 by drseid
- › Habit Rouge by Guerlain, 1965 by Ronaldtimmermann
- › Acqua Di Giò Essenza by Giorgio Armani, 2012 by nyguy
- › Indian Night Jasmine by Body Shop, 2012 by IsaIsabella
- › Dark Aoud by Montale, 2011 by seeminglytransparent
- › Set Sail St. Barts For Men by Tommy Bahama, 2007 by marcuslaughter
- › Set Sail Martinique For Men by Tommy Bahama, 2010 by marcuslaughter
- › Bulgari Man Extreme by Bulgari, 2013 by marcuslaughter
- › Lime Sec by Pinaud by marcuslaughter
View: More Reviews
New Fragrance Articles
- › Aoud by M.Micallef celebrates its Tenth... by Judith Brockless
- › Dueto Parfums release new fragrance, Citiver by Judith Brockless
- › Guerlain ‘Les Parisiennes’... by Judith Brockless
- › Iris Prima: ‘The Spirit of the Ballet. ... by Judith Brockless
- › Pell Wall Releases 1953 Pour Homme and Eau de... by Judith Brockless
- › Serge Lutens by Grant
- › An Interview with Christopher Sheldrake -... by Grant
- › Aedes de Venustas launch Iris Nazarena next... by Grant
- › UK FiFi Award winners 2013 by Grant
- › UK FiFi Awards tonight. by Grant
Home | Fragrance Product Guide | Forums | Fragrance Articles | My Profile
About Basenotes | Join the Community | Advertise
© 2013 Basenotes is powered by Huddler Fashion & Lifestyle
About Basenotes | Join the Community | Advertise
© 2013 Basenotes is powered by Huddler Fashion & Lifestyle




