Problems with customs in L.A.

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by riko, Apr 3, 2015.

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  1. riko

    riko Pundit (756) Jan 18, 2008 California
    Trader

    I've received close to 20 boxes of beer from Belgium over the last several years (I have a Cantillon problem) and never had any issues. Until now. While all past shipments went through customs in N.Y., a box that was sent to me in early March went to customs in L.A. The box sat in customs for 15 days, then was shipped back to Belgium last week. First time this has happened to me.

    Then today I got this email from Belgium in a Box (I've never ordered from them but am on their email list):

    Has anyone else had problems with shipments from Belgium (or other countries) lately? Any insights as to why the crackdown?

    Anyone know any solutions aside from having a box shipped to another, non-West Coast address?

    Also, does anyone know if the same issues would apply to boxes being sent from California TO Belgium or elsewhere? I have a box to send to a friend in Belgium but am now a little hesitant.
     
    #1 riko, Apr 3, 2015
  2. Drift

    Drift Maven (1,295) Mar 26, 2014 California
    Trader

    I posted this in beer trading help

    I'm worried too I trade a lot with Belgium
     
    #2 Drift, Apr 3, 2015
  3. hopsputin

    hopsputin Grand Pooh-Bah (4,403) Apr 1, 2012 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    I haven't had a problem (haven't ordered beer online in a while), but I did receive that email as well.
     
    #3 hopsputin, Apr 3, 2015
  4. grilledsquid

    grilledsquid Initiate (0) Jul 10, 2009 California
    Trader

    Who do you trade with? The Prime Minister? :wink:
     
    #4 grilledsquid, Apr 3, 2015
    Black_Rider likes this.
  5. Keyser

    Keyser Crusader (457) Jan 27, 2015 California
    Trader

    A recent shipment was sitting for awhile, but has moved. I am not sure why it would be scanned back into the ISC. The BIAB email does concern me though...

    [​IMG]
     
    #5 Keyser, Apr 3, 2015
  6. Xul

    Xul Pooh-Bah (2,139) May 18, 2008 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes, I've had three boxes returned to Belgium in the past 4 months. I received three successfully, but those went through JFK, while the three that hit LAX all got returned. There are quite a few users on another forum who have run into the exact same problem, and one of them was able to speak with an LAX customs rep who confirmed that not only will they return alcohol shipments, they are actively looking for alcohol. No idea why LAX has a hard on for it when JFK and Chicago don't, but the west coast is pretty well hosed for receiving foreign shipments right now.

    I was considering looking into mail forwarding services, but I'm guessing it would be even less cost effective than routing it through a friend on the East Coast. It would also probably violate the ToS of most mail forwarding services, which doesn't help much.

    I've never shipped booze to a foreign address but if it will go through LAX Customs, I would consider it at risk (not sure if you have tracking info from past shipments you've sent, but they might help you figure out if it hits LAX Customs). If it goes through Belgian customs rather than American customs, I don't think it's at any elevated risk. From what everyone has been able to gather, it is entirely an LAX issue.
     
    #6 Xul, Apr 3, 2015
    riko likes this.
  7. riko

    riko Pundit (756) Jan 18, 2008 California
    Trader

    Sorry to say that my box that got sent back to Belgium got sent to the ISC after having "cleared customs." Then it showed a scan in Philadelphia, then Brussels. Your scan list looks just like mine but a few steps behind.


    Yep, past outbound shipments have all gone through LAX Customs. They've always passed through instantly, but it's been six months since I last shipped overseas.
     
    #7 riko, Apr 3, 2015
  8. Keyser

    Keyser Crusader (457) Jan 27, 2015 California
    Trader

    Yep, that's what I was afraid of.:slight_frown: My last box in mid January passed through LAX customs no problems in 3 days or so.
     
    #8 Keyser, Apr 3, 2015
  9. MarcM

    MarcM Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2011 California

    I would hope that this does not apply to alcohol purchased abroad and brought home in luggage.
     
    #9 MarcM, Apr 3, 2015
  10. Drift

    Drift Maven (1,295) Mar 26, 2014 California
    Trader

    Is this problem only with Belgium shipments? I have traders in Netherlands as well
     
    #10 Drift, Apr 3, 2015
  11. MCDForm

    MCDForm Initiate (0) Oct 13, 2010 California

    State law trumps federal law even on alcohol importations. For personal use CA allows people to bring in 60 liters (5 cases) but this is when they travel with it. I'm not sure about importing it through the mail.

    Are these shipments bigger than 60 liters?
     
    #11 MCDForm, Apr 3, 2015
  12. Keyser

    Keyser Crusader (457) Jan 27, 2015 California
    Trader

    ~1 case for me so much smaller.
     
    #12 Keyser, Apr 3, 2015
  13. mhksuccess

    mhksuccess Pooh-Bah (1,586) Jul 7, 2012 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I am going to cantillon in June
    Hope won't have any issues bringing bottles back with me
     
    #13 mhksuccess, Apr 3, 2015
  14. StoutSnob40

    StoutSnob40 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,611) Jan 4, 2013 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    This was last July, but I didn't have any issues. Brought back several bottles in my suitcase without a problem, even going through secondary scanning at my layover in Atlanta.
     
    #14 StoutSnob40, Apr 3, 2015
  15. riko

    riko Pundit (756) Jan 18, 2008 California
    Trader

    I haven't heard of anyone having problems with beer in luggage. Airlines allow that. I wouldn't sweat it, aside from making sure it's packed appropriately.

    The problems come with sending beer through USPS, which is illegal but generally not detected or enforced until recently, and only at LAX apparently.
     
    #15 riko, Apr 3, 2015
  16. rrryanc

    rrryanc Pundit (896) May 19, 2006 California

    Just declare it at customs. They're returning this beer because it's undeclared and untaxed alcohol coming through. If you declare it, as long as they believe that it's for personal use they'll usually just wave you through. Even if they decide to tax you, the fees on a case of beer are pretty damn small (way smaller than the retail markup).
     
    #16 rrryanc, Apr 3, 2015
  17. MCDForm

    MCDForm Initiate (0) Oct 13, 2010 California

    Spoke to a friend today who works in the field and he agreed that it is a USPS thing and not a Customs thing.
     
    #17 MCDForm, Apr 3, 2015
  18. dcbullet

    dcbullet Initiate (0) Dec 18, 2013 California

    Incredible waste of my tax money.
     
    #18 dcbullet, Apr 4, 2015
  19. clayfu

    clayfu Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2010 California

    very different. You can claim alcohol at customs when you leave. It'll cost you $2 maybe and you'll be let right through
     
    #19 clayfu, Apr 4, 2015
  20. LADaveBN

    LADaveBN Initiate (0) Nov 30, 2014 California

    Actually, when it comes to anything (or anybody) crossing the border (in or out), federal law is the only law that's relevant. State laws (and more federal if crossing state lines) apply once it's inside the country.
     
    #20 LADaveBN, Apr 4, 2015
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