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Location

Message

Date Posted

UK Gloucestershire

To all Auction arrangers. Please note that when declaring the value on packages, it can severely affect customs charges. I have just received a $30 bill on just $80 I paid for 2 seeds. The amount paid is not necessarily the value of the item. Though I paid $80 for the seeds, their value as seeds is close to zero.

12/29/2018 9:03:58 AM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

You want to be careful with your declarations and I will tell you this from experience.
I have had customs search prices more than once.
This goes for anything as the internet is full of information. A false declaration can result in a fine of up to $800.00 and or they will destroy your seeds. Plus they can go back to the sender and they can also be fined.
And actually if you paid $80.00 then that is the value of the item.
International shipping can be interesting at best.

12/29/2018 9:26:27 AM

Guelph, Ontario

It is a good idea to declare a lower price.
Eddy, your warning is correct for common produced items, or those purchased on e-bay etc. But the Pumpkin auction information is not available by a search. A lot of people with private purchase do me this favour, works well

12/29/2018 12:27:33 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Trust me when I sat across from the agent and he went through club site after club site and when a seed is sold for $40.00 on a web site you can rest assured they know.
With auctions selling seeds for double and triple in years gone by and the information is on the auction page, it's not hidden.
I don't get it, why buy it then

12/29/2018 12:48:09 PM

Guelph, Ontario

So where are the prices for auction sales posted?

12/29/2018 3:49:52 PM

Little-TON - Colorado

A simple google search for pumpkin seeds for sale is all that is needed. Its sad that localities are seizing on any way to make a buck from the common folk, but its only going to get worse.

12/29/2018 3:56:38 PM

Grittyville, WA

Wow well request a seed directly from a grower unless its one you feel you cant live without. I think its a legit argument on your end to say part of the price is charity but the clubs realistically should not be expected to juggle tax valuation issues. Hopefully all money is put to good use having customs agents looking at a pumpkin websites is a great use of government power... lol.

12/29/2018 4:00:43 PM

Barrington N.S. Canada

What ever happened to sharing seeds with other growers, it's all about money, money. Greed.

12/29/2018 4:24:29 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/msgboard/ViewBoard.asp?b=26

12/29/2018 4:29:07 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

there is 2700 or so listings

12/29/2018 4:30:15 PM

Guelph, Ontario

I looked at list . Not very useful for a customs agent. I couldn't find what has gone on on recent auctions.

Packages have a limited space to put information. So listed on packages I have received as basically 'Pumpkin', 'Giant pumpkin', or 'Atlantic giant'. To get specific information they would need to open package and look. Never had that happen. And no information in package usually, re what auction it was.

12/29/2018 6:17:15 PM

Guelph, Ontario

I breed plants of various types, so bring in seed from USA, and many other foreign countries over the years. Over 100 during past 20 plus years. Never had a bubble envelope opened or questioned re value. Packages with plants have been opened and inspected , but never bubble envelopes. And many packages with plants had invoices set up for low value, by courtesy of sender, not by request. They have always gotten through.

To see inspector checking, you had to be carrying them, and to have inspector check, you need to look suspicious.

They have too much to do to bother . Watch 'Border Patrol"

12/29/2018 6:21:48 PM

UK Gloucestershire

We seem to be speaking about US customs. If the seeds are being shipped to the UK, then isn’t it a UK customs issue???

12/29/2018 6:39:02 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

I'm not talking only about US customs. I have shipped and received literally thousands of AG seeds from all over the world and with that comes extensive paper work for many countries and yes I have had several bubbles opened and inspected from almost all governments along with personal inspections. All with little or no issues If you feel you need to take your chances, then good luck but I don't.

12/29/2018 7:00:01 PM

Weatherman

Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no ones to die.

12/29/2018 9:15:15 PM

Ontario

I can say from experience that Eddy is exactly rite I've had to deal with US and Canadian customs for years , just tell the truth its a lot less hassle

12/29/2018 9:48:40 PM

Guelph, Ontario

When it is large packages with lots of seeds, there is paper work. Not when a small number in a bubble envelope.

12/29/2018 10:37:41 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

Coming into Canada there is no paper work yet on small orders, going from Canada I have to do paper work for as few as 1 seed It all depends on the country they are going too. Because there are so many trying to BEAT the system and when we do everything by the book we get scrutinized and checked and I'm good with that.

12/29/2018 11:36:05 PM

Guelph, Ontario

Gray B Contact your sender when value is going to be over 15 pounds. Under this value you will not be charged VAT.

12/30/2018 9:42:12 AM

Guelph, Ontario

When shipping seeds from Canada, it depends on size of package. If it is a small bubble envelope that can go through the plastic guide they have in post office, then you don't need a value or contents sticker. You do if it does not go through the plastic guide, and is an official "package' . It also helps if you are on good terms with post office worker.

12/30/2018 9:45:37 AM

Deer Park WA

Well if everyone posts the auction results in the premium members section at least the customs police will have to contribute $15 to Kens website to find the data!

12/30/2018 12:26:34 PM

Watlington, UK

It makes no difference whatsoever to the US supplier whatever they write on customs forms. US customs officials do not check packages for their contents and their value. Why would they? They don't collect taxes on exports. And once the package has left the US, it's out of US jurisdiction. So there can never be any comeback to a US supplier if they incorrectly label the value of the seeds they're sending - fact!

12/30/2018 12:38:36 PM

Guelph, Ontario

Last couple of seed packages I received here in Canada from USA did not have a contents sticker or value on it. They came with letter rate postage. So smaller bubble envelopes can get by without a declaration, as long as it is not registered or has tracking number.

12/31/2018 9:28:35 AM

Weatherman

You're not a crook till you get caught.Lol :-)

12/31/2018 5:04:07 PM