Silk Road forums

Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: vesp on August 25, 2011, 03:37 am

Title: Is International Too Risky?
Post by: vesp on August 25, 2011, 03:37 am
I've seen plenty of listings where the item can ship to 'worldwide', but is this something we should really try to avoid? Have there been any studies showing that international packages are more likely to be seized?

Even if a package is triple vacuum sealed and disguised, it just seems like too much could go wrong. I'm bummed because a decent amount of products I'm looking for don't seem to be stocked heavily in the US, but I'm really apprehensive about taking the plunge on a foreign venture.
Title: Re: Is International Too Risky?
Post by: joeblow2 on August 25, 2011, 06:17 am
I've had things shipped from dozens of different countries to me in the USA for over 10 years and never had a problem.  Just keep the quantity as something that is personal size.   An oz or less on weed, 200 pills or less in one package.   And when you talk to the overseas vendor, if they speak good english then they can pack well too.  IF their English is terrible, they probably won't do a good job on packaging and you will likely lose your money.  This is not meant to sound racist, one of my exes is Chinese and one is half black, I just state this as a simple fact.

Also, there are many good sellers from Amsterdam/NL but those packages *frequently* get snagged by customs.  Try from another country.

good luck! :D
Title: Re: Is International Too Risky?
Post by: NevilleNobody on August 31, 2011, 02:14 am
Everything carries risk. You simply minimize the risks as best you can. ie using trusted vendors whom have a track record of shipping to where you are, not moving large quantities of product et. Then you decide if the risk it worth it or not. Simple.
Title: Re: Is International Too Risky?
Post by: doc on August 31, 2011, 03:10 am
I am not aware of any 'studies,' but discovery of contraband is certainly more likely if your pack has to go through customs. People have been receiving packs from foreign sources successfully for many years now and they continue to do so.

I would avoid ordering internationally if you can find a domestic source instead, particularly if you are interested in things that dogs are commonly trained to detect.
Title: Re: Is International Too Risky?
Post by: captainjojo on August 31, 2011, 04:19 am
A lot of things depend on where you actually reside.  If you are in the US or Canada and you can find a local seller for the item you wish to buy, then it is usually best to buy locally.

Any item that goes through customs has a greater chance of discovery.

But just because there is a greater chance of an item being lost or seized if it goes through customs, do not let that stop you from buying international.  There are a number of reasons to buy international.  The product might be better or the seller may be very highly rated and recommended.

I truly professional international vendor, one who double or triple vacuum packs, sends priority and really knows how to disguise a package may well be a better bet than a local vendor who cuts a few corners.

Remember that unless you are talking about trying to send a pound of weed or something through customs, the package is most likely to be a simple business envelope, flat rate priority envelope or possibly a bubble envelope.  As long as the item is properly vacuum packed there isn't really anything that will set off any flags at customs with the exception of the country it is coming from.

That brings us to the one thing to watch for.  An international package traveling to/from the UK/US/CANADA is going to be fairly safe.  Millions of business envelopes go back and forth from these countries every day, so the chances of your one envelope getting caught in transit is pretty low. 

However, if the package is coming from the Netherlands or some other country where customs may be suspicious, then the chances of detection go up.  But not by very much, unless the vendor packages the product poorly.

There is a greater chance that your package may simply be stolen if it is coming from some International countries than it will get seized in customs.

So do your research.  Check the forums to see if the international seller you are looking at has a good track record, ask around if anybody has lost packages coming from him.  Also, be patient.  Depending on the country it could take twice as long to get to the US/CANADA than something coming from the UK.  A UK package can get to the US/CANADA in 5-6 days while a package from somewhere deep in the EU can easily take 18-25 days (I know, I have had a couple of packages take that long).

So don't be afraid to order from International vendors because you are afraid the package will never arrive.  The odds are not that much higher than if you ordered it locally.  Look for vendors that have a record of refunding some or all of your BTC if the package gets lost (and work with the vendor, don't yell at them if the package is a few days late).  And if they do refund you, and your package eventually arrives, pay them, don't just remain silent and think its Christmas.  If you treat the vendors right they will treat you right.

Well, I've run off at the mouth enough for now.  Get out there and spend those BTC's.  :D
Title: Re: Is International Too Risky?
Post by: Mr Nice Guy on August 31, 2011, 04:48 am
Well said captainjojo.
Title: Re: Is International Too Risky?
Post by: NevilleNobody on September 01, 2011, 01:10 am
Here here for the Captains great advise. Very well put.
Title: Re: Is International Too Risky?
Post by: oxyhoot on September 01, 2011, 01:38 am
listen to captianjojo! I had a dilemma recently where I wanted to order something but almost nobody in the US had it in any decent quantity. I was nervous about ordering from the UK, but I did my research and the vendor had an excellent track record, a few interceptions where he either gave a large portion refund or re-sent, and had a really good rate at getting some tough items here with no troubles. I took a chance and it paid off big time! it took a few days longer than both the seller and I expected, but I am convinced it was the hurricane. His tracking # was shown at a dead end, so he started to talk resolution because he thought it had been seized by customs and then BAM it showed up that very day!

Don't be afraid to order internationally, just do your homework on the vendor and listen to captianjojo's points. It can pay off big time!
Title: Re: Is International Too Risky?
Post by: eurgbp on September 02, 2011, 12:31 pm
I had success rate 100% 4 out of 4 orders from USA to UK.
Main thing is to note is that you must not overvalue package - less value declared is better (had to pay massive Customs Fee ~21 GBP for adderall, because of declared value and type of package)
Never send package as EXPRESS -> this increase value of the package,  have to pay taxes + massive delays in delivery
use priority USPS padded envelope with some decoy crap in it and you should be fine
conceal stuff properly in padded inner envelope + vacuum

no worries, hope USA vendor are going to be more willing to send stuff to UK.
Ready to pay extra markup price + risk on me