International shipping from US Vendors being held/returned by US Customs?

[VapingInOsaka]

Hiya Folks,

New member here posting from Osaka, Japan. I was wondering if anyone else outside of the US is having trouble getting items from US vendors. I've made 4 orders from different vendors in the US and none of these shipments are making it through US Customs. I think the vendors are listing the package contents as "gifts," "Health and Beauty Supplies," or other things that US Customs is finding too vague. It isn't illegal to sell or purchase vaping devices in Japan. Nicotine, however, is only legal to purchase for "individual use," but cannot be resold. Just last month I received a large order of unflavored nicotine e-liquid, but my order I placed with a well-known west-coast vendor was sent back twice (these shipments aren't making it out of the US). Any else having this same issue?

 

[Wolfenstark]

Mine have all got through US customs and many have said gift.
Only issue I had was once on my end they looked in the package , all was clear and I got it but did get a 4 week delay.

 

[VapingInOsaka]

Hiya. How recent was your order? Mine used to get through too.

 

[Wolfenstark]

Well I made an order few days ago and its made it into the country.
Just waiting on it to get processed here and delivered.

 

[Wolfenstark]

Had no issues with orders for juice from

Nicoticket , itc vapes , heathers heavenly vapes , mount baker vapor , nicquid, high brow vapes , crystal canyon vapes , vaperite,

any issues are usually on the receiving countries end

 

[VapingInOsaka]

Hmm...I don't think the Japanese Customs are getting stricter. I've received all types of vaping gear from FT. I'd hate to have to vape that stuff they sell. Thanks for the replies.

 

[VapingInOsaka]

The shipments that aren't getting through US Customs are from MtBaker, VaporDNA and some smaller vendors.

 

[Wolfenstark]

Sorry to read that , don't know if anythings changed , or your just getting someone overly strict looking at the packages.

 

[VapingInOsaka]

The first shipment from VaporDNA went to US Customs listed as "health and beauty products" and was returned to the vendor. The customer service rep told me he'd send it out listed as "bike parts", I called him and told him to send it listed exactly what it was, because it's not illegal in Japan to purchase nicotine for individual use. Now, I'm looking at the USPS tracker and apparently it was returned to the vendor again. Same with MtBaker. It was probably listed as "gift" and sent back to them, now it's just listed as "Held in Customs".

 

[Wolfenstark]

Don't know whats going on , as vaping devices/products are criss crossing the USA and going from the USA to other countries every day.

 

[VapingInOsaka]

Yeah, true. I guess me and my vaping club will just have to figure out how to get supplies here to Japan by other means/vendors, since something is going wrong on their end.

 

[NealBJr]

Yeah, true. I guess me and my vaping club will just have to figure out how to get supplies here to Japan by other means/vendors, since something is going wrong on their end.

I don't have experience with shipments to Japan, but I have heard of a limit on QUANTITY of nicotine liquid... how much juice are you shipping?

 

[VapingInOsaka]

Actually, in the MtBaker shipment there's only one 30ml bottle of e-liquid. The rest are just base flavorings. From VaporDNA I ordered 2 Five Pawns bottles. The shipments aren't actually leaving the US.

 

[esavuke]

We have aal the time problems with Finnish customs. The easiest way is order those products to different european country and then ship it to Finland. Hopefully you have easiers ways to do that.

 

[VapingInOsaka]

My friends ordered huge nicotine shipments from MtBaker (three 235ml bottles of 36mg nicotine) and assorted base flavoring just a month ago and they got through no problem. I'm guessing that there's been some kind of recent decree or something regarding vaping products. I still receive all my vaping goods from Fasttech without any problems so I don't think it's a Japan customs problem. It would be really sad if Fasttech is my only option for my vaping needs.

 

[wetclay]

Customs only check shipments coming into the country. So it's likely that Japanese customs is the one who returned your packages. Your packages won't even go to US customs. Anyway, you are quite unlucky to have 4 packages returned as customs inspect some rather than all packages. My suggestions:
1- Don't label as "eliquid". This is a no no for customs and post/shipping services. "personal vaporizer supplies" works usually and is not a misrepresentation.
2- Ask shipper to declare a lower value. Customs tend to inspect higher value packages. Here the check anything above $100.
3- Courier service. More expensive, but more likely to bypass customs.
4- order from another or to a friend's add. Maybe your add. was flagged by customs

 

[Bunnykiller]

hmmm doesnt look good... I suppose nic will be put on the list of US Postal No-No's along with flammable, explosive,toxic, etc list.

 

[VapingInOsaka]

Customs only check shipments coming into the country. So it's likely that Japanese customs is the one who returned your packages. Your packages won't even go to US customs. Anyway, you are quite unlucky to have 4 packages returned as customs inspect some rather than all packages. My suggestions:
1- Don't label as "eliquid". This is a no no for customs and post/shipping services. "personal vaporizer supplies" works usually and is not a misrepresentation.
2- Ask shipper to declare a lower value. Customs tend to inspect higher value packages. Here the check anything above $100.
3- Courier service. More expensive, but more likely to bypass customs.
4- order from another or to a friend's add. Maybe your add. was flagged by customs

The USPS tracking says Held in US Customs. It went from "Shipping Label Created" to "Held in US Customs". This is the second time. The first time it went like this:
BELLINGHAM, WA 98225
May 22, 2015 , 12:26 pm Shipping Label Created

BELLINGHAM, WA 98226
May 22, 2015 , 4:37 pm Shipment Accepted

LOS ANGELES, CA 90009
May 24, 2015 , 4:25 pm Arrived at USPS Facility

Here it sits for 6 days before being sent back to MtBaker

LOS ANGELES, CA 90009
May 30, 2015 , 1:33 am Departed USPS Facility

FEDERAL WAY, WA 98003
May 31, 2015 , 11:53 pm Arrived at USPS Origin Facility

FEDERAL WAY, WA 98003
June 1, 2015 , 2:24 am Departed USPS Facility

BELLINGHAM, WA 98226
June 1, 2015 , 6:34 am Arrived at Unit
June 1, 2015 , 1:33 pm Delivered

BELLINGHAM, WA 98226
Your item was delivered at 1:33 pm on June 1, 2015 in BELLINGHAM, WA 98226.



Not sure what's happening. It could be a crackdown on the international shipment of e-liquids, like you said.

 

[VapingInOsaka]

Thanks for all the replies. I was just wondering if there were any other people outside of the US experiencing any problems with their orders.

 

[skoony]

this could be a test run.
oops our bad.sorry over seas people.
let us know what happens.
for our information item descriptions are not the only
way for your package to be flagged by customs.
they can be flagged by the 9 digit zip code which
usually gives the exact location an item was shipped from.
regards
mike