Import/Export Laws On MTG

[dragsamou]

Hi Members.
Having a look at that auction,I read something interesting about exporting MTG Cards.Have a look.
Does some US Members knows something about that
or the Seller doesn't understand something on The Road?Thanks for replies.
http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... gory=19115

[Archivist]

The US Postal Service website lists that - http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immicl/immiclhk_012.html .

"Playing cards" is a little vague though. I think what is meant by that is Poker-style cards and not collectible trading cards.

I have sent many items to Italy and marked them "trading cards" and never have they been rejected.

[AXIOS]

i saw that auction,
i once sended a playing card to italy, didn't write on the enveloppe that there were cards inside.

i ttook over 2 months for the enveloppe to arrive!

Hopefully not the same as France--->Netherlandia  :'(

[silver.paladin]

Hi Members.
Having a look at that auction,I read something interesting about exporting MTG Cards.Have a look.
Does some US Members knows something about that
or the Seller doesn't understand something on The Road?Thanks for replies.
http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... gory=19115

This is the first I have ever heard of this, and I just finished an auction with a fellow from Italy  (actually, that is the most recent feedback I have in my Ebay account).  I had no problems with this seller, though I know he told me that he could not send cash or use PayPal.   Had to use a MoneyGram to pay - I had never heard of MoneyGram before this.  But all worked out well.  
Maybe it is just something between US and Italy?  Buyer received my item no problem, though that is Canada and Italy.   Maybe this prohibition list is to try to stop the mafia from sending presents home?  (such as the arms/weapons and human remains  :))

[bigfatkitty]

This could be something similar to the laws in Greece which prohibit video games.  I guess there was a big problem when cell phones started coming with games.

[mintcollector]

I got one of my Euro land sets from an Italian seller.  No problems at all to report.

[felagund]

I think it is even forbidden to play games on your mobile on the street in Greece, they consider it a form of gambling!  ::) Has anyone heard something similar?

And a question to dragsamou: have you ever had Ebay auctions of 3000+ cards arriving from the US? I am waiting for 2 deliveries, 3500 and 6000 cards, both reliable US sellers, and I paid for priority air mail + insurance. I ordered them both around 10th of January. I was told they should be here in 10 days. Do the customs hold those for inspection or what?

[Gryfalia]

Never had a problem shipping to Italy.

Now the ground shipment of several thousand L5R cards to New Zealand..I still dunno..

Gryfalia

[GraueEminenz]

I think I can make things more clear:
motorcitymagic is on the right trace !
It IS indeed forbidden to import Gambling cards like Poker cards into Germany, too.  :o Pure Stupidity !
I had to make a personal declaration at the german "Zoll" for a few cards that I bought from Canada. Taxes were raised: 16%(fix)+2,7%(toys,playing cards,rpg and so on)
By the way to all of you sending to Europe:
Keep in mind that the value-stated on the package- must be beneath 22 Euro ~ 25 USD or otherwise buyer had to pay above taxes (for Germany). EVEN if 'gift' is marked !!!
Back to topic:
There was a discussion at a german board, if it is illegal to import sealed booster packs. Not for tax reasons but
for Wizards policy. As far as I remember, the conclusion was that shops/traders has to be aware not to sell US booster packs rather than european ones.

Greetings
JAN

[rg]

By the way to all of you sending to Europe:
Keep in mind that the value-stated on the package- must be beneath 22 Euro ~ 25 USD or otherwise buyer had to pay above taxes (for Germany). EVEN if 'gift' is marked !!!

22 Euro ~ 25 USD if it's commericial (shop, invoice)
40 Euro ~ 49/50 USD if from privat sellers (include no invoice!)

Back to topic:
There was a discussion at a german board, if it is illegal to import sealed booster packs. Not for tax reasons but
for Wizards policy. As far as I remember, the conclusion was that shops/traders has to be aware not to sell US booster packs rather than european ones.

The wizard policy is only ment for european resellers not for privat buyers.

Sorry Jan  :)

[GraueEminenz]

THAT i meant by 'shops/trader'
;)
And for that limit : I'm not quite sure ...
I had a package of 40 USD and the 'Zoll'
says:
"Due to ebay etc there is no difference between private and commercial use."
I asked:
"What if I get a gift from my grandmother living overseas ?"
They:
"No difference though !"
Clue:
"NEVER EVER write down what's the real value of it !!! Insert no bill nor make any statements on the envelope !"

JAN

[rg]

For germans at the custom office:

Never say it's from ebay. Say "I just traded with a friend".

If they ask why it's worth up to 40 EUR. Say "My friend had to give a value else he could not insure it."

;) ;) ;)

[rick21n]

I had seen the same auction Dragsamou, and I came to a similar conclusino as the rest.  It is a seller who is afraid of breaking the law so he doesn't want to chance it.

- Rick

[sylvanstu]

I have sent to to several countries and never had a problem with them arriving

[silver.paladin]

I remember another thread not so long ago talking and asking about sending/receiving items international, which ended up being a good informative discussion.

I am of the same mind, that I do not want sellers stating any value on their packages, as Customs will often charge taxes on it, as well as charge an Admin fee + taxes.  I have a couple times refused acceptance of a package, because for a low cost item, the taxes (and admin fees) are much more than the value of what I won.
I also do not send out any cards with value on it, for the same reason.  I recently sent envelopes to both Axios and Dragsamou, and both reported no problems.  All it was, a plain envelope with a card(s) inside in a hard protector.  I have never had a problem with doing things this way, and I have never of a problem with Customs either, because they just 'assume' its a letter with a photo or two inside.