Buying Smokes Online

[Darren]

Hey there Guys,
Just wondering whether anyone has bought cigarettes online, my brother and I between us bought some cartons from www.cheapcigarettes.com.au, all seemed to be well until yesterday when I opened a letter from customs stating that x amount of cartons are being held and tax is payable. That I don't have a problem with but the next part which is really what annoyed me.

I ring up customs and explain that I've never had anything like this previously and asked them what to do, after she went through explaining what needed to happen she said it's going to cost around $60 per carton to have them released, I'm like wtf that means $100 for a carton of smokes, I know they are expensive as it is but I certainly wasn't expecting anything like that.

From here I don't know what to do, do I simply ignore their notices and it will go away or ring them and say send them back or just pay it?

Or the other alternative is does anyone work in customs who could help me out? j/k

So much for cheaper :b: It's one rather expensive lesson.

I really only have myself to blame but hey that learning curve in life just doesn't stop.


Cheers
Darren

[Infus10n]

Hey there Guys,
Just wondering whether anyone has bought cigarettes online, my brother and I between us bought some cartons from www.cheapcigarettes.com.au, all seemed to be well until yesterday when I opened a letter from customs stating that x amount of cartons are being held and tax is payable. That I don't have a problem with but the next part which is really what annoyed me.

I ring up customs and explain that I've never had anything like this previously and asked them what to do, after she went through explaining what needed to happen she said it's going to cost around $60 per carton to have them released, I'm like wtf that means $100 for a carton of smokes, I know they are expensive as it is but I certainly wasn't expecting anything like that.

From here I don't know what to do, do I simply ignore their notices and it will go away or ring them and say send them back or just pay it?

Or the other alternative is does anyone work in customs who could help me out? j/k

So much for cheaper :b: It's one rather expensive lesson.

I really only have myself to blame but hey that learning curve in life just doesn't stop.


Cheers
Darren

Just quit smoking and leave them with customs.

[Vs_sharlene]

The only thing I can tell you is that the limit for importing cigarettes is 1 carton (250 ciggies) at a time or you pay tax (duty) on the others. I'm thinking that it works on the same basis as the duty free shops and that these people buy them from overseas.

Solution: Only buy one carton at a time

[Trevor 062]

How many cartons did you buy & what were they each..

[kowan]

You can have them sent back to the company Darren, you have that option in that letter yes, well I did on another items bought overseas.

Next time you have something sent from oversea, get one carton, not 2 and have the word "GIFT" written on it. Most times this works, customs does not look in every package.

*Please note: Obey all Australian Custom laws.

[Tasmaniak]

lol when sending stuff internationally I have recieved parcels that have been listed as "Electronic equipment for furthter testing. The box wasn't touched. On the same hand...I've had stuff removed from customs never to be seen again.

[kowan]

Customs once took 4 different knives from my order and they got TNT to sent them down to ACT, thoses knives were never seen again.

[Darren]

I received an email earlier from the Mina person, interestingly enough they are going to send through a fax to customs declaring they were a gift, I then need to say one wasn't for me.

Either way I've learnt my lesson, 1 carton per week not 10 in a week

All up around $400 (rough figures).

[semi]

try buying a shipper carton- usually 45 inner cartons or 9000 cigarettes

[MOTIV8]

The price of smokes, beer and petrol in Australia can't be too high.

Life is still good in the lucky country!