Just received this email from a Chinese supplier...

[jac1599]

I bought some atomizers for my 402 yesterday, and this is the email I got today:

Dear Jeff C*:
Thanks for your purchase:
Atomizer for Mini E-cigarette series M401,402,403,6,7x3
Please read this note carefully :
We will mark all your parcels as 'gift' with low price (US$10) just to help you avoid the customs charge via HK air mail with registering number.
We have successfully shipped items to your country ever,but that does not mean 100% guarantee the safe of your item,so please you know more about your customs.

So far, I haven't had anything hang up in customs, even though 2 packages (a DSE084 and DSE103) were both marked as "Electronic Cigarette". This does kind of worry me though as to it becoming increasingly difficult to get parts.

At least I already have 4 e-cigs now, so all I will need in the future is liquid and atomizers...which I am trying to stock up on now as well.

 

[HopelesslyAddicted]

Honestly, I'm not surprised. This is a common trick to get things through customs. When I've shipped paintball tanks (45ci @ 4500psi fiber wrapped tanks) to buyers in canada, I've marked them as 'gift' to aviod customs hangups.

You should probably start to order from US based companies. May be more expensive, but at least you are guaranteed to recieve the product.

 

[Elwin]

Can I ask what company this was? (just curious)

 

[DJGoogone]

Honestly, I'm not surprised. This is a common trick to get things through customs. When I've shipped paintball tanks (45ci @ 4500psi fiber wrapped tanks) to buyers in canada, I've marked them as 'gift' to aviod customs hangups.

You should probably start to order from US based companies. May be more expensive, but at least you are guaranteed to recieve the product.

Ooo.. Paintball...

Sorry for off topic post.. just had to be done..

Anyhow, I have heard the horror stories, but still haven't seen a verified refusal in the US over the last few weeks. I'm sure it happens, and I assume it would happen on larger commercial orders, But I personally don't have any issues ordering $250 of stuff from China and expecting to see it at my house within 7-14 days.

Dj

 

[taz3cat]

My supplier in china markes each package differnt with almost accurate descriptions. I prefer that because if it get opened and they think the supplier lied you will probaly loose your stuff. I just got some USB adaptors.

 

[jac1599]

Can I ask what company this was? (just curious)

hxxp:// www . e-cigarette-supply . com

they are about the only place i can find "in stock" atomizers for my 402

 

[Alanae]

I order from absolutely e-cigs which is china based and get my stuff within 7 days of ordering. They have the 402 atomizers in stock for $8.

www.absolutelyecigs.com

Just in case you need a back up company to order from. I keep a list of different places I can find spare parts "just in case".

 

[aldo]

Let's hope no customs agents read this thread.....

 

[Denni]

Marking items as gift is a common ruse which customs have long since picked up on. If the package is held and examined--and in that case they will demand to see supporting documentation--and the label is found to be misleading then it will automatically be confiscated. Honestly, it doesn't pay to lie.

A better approach would be to label the thing as 'personal vapouriser parts' or something along those lines. The sooner international suppliers follow these simple pointers the better it will be for their business and their customers.

 

[jac1599]

I order from absolutely e-cigs which is china based and get my stuff within 7 days of ordering. They have the 402 atomizers in stock for $8.

.......................

Just in case you need a back up company to order from. I keep a list of different places I can find spare parts "just in case".

awesome, thanks for the tip. i don't know how long i spent going through the supplier's list just browsing. i tried to bookmark several sites, but ended up not remembering which was which.