rectifythis
CP; may cause dependency
In January of this year, I shipped the spoils of a contest to the winner, Anvil.
Dave lives in Australia, I live in the States. I sent his package International Priority USPS. This requires a customs form to be filled out and declared. USPS told me this form could not be tracked once it left the U.S. THIS IS NOT THE CASE! I later discovered that the # on the customs slip can be tracked. I threw Dave’s slip away thinking nothing of it. Weeks went by; no package. Months went by; no package. This was very frustrating for both of us. After many months, I sent Dave a replacement package which arrived safely.
What arrives at my doorstep this week? Dave’s package that shipped on Feb 4th! Yes, almost 9 months later it comes back as ‘unclaimed’. The package was still in decent shape. I fully expected to see rock hard or mold ridden sticks. What I found was amazing. They were still in good shape and for the most part hydrated! No mold, no bugs, still a bit spongy.
When I ship, I bag the sticks, then put that along with a Fuente humi pack [if going long distances] in another bag, then wrap the whole thing in aluminum foil; a trick I learned from Wilkey. I bubble wrap as much as I can to fill the rest of the void in the box. The only issue is that they seem to have picked up the scent of the synthetic humi pack (possibly slightly molded, though not visible). I let them air out overnight and am putting them into a box, back into the humi to see if they will stabilize and lose the scent. If I am able to save these, I am going to pass them on to a local botl with Dave’s permission.
Lesson Learned #1: Save the friggin customs slip #, as it can be tracked.
Lesson Learned #2: Good packaging practices can ensure LONG travel times. I honestly expected this package to arrive in 2-3 weeks, and figured after 2-3 months that the cigars would be completely destroyed. I was wrong. 9 months; and I bet they could’ve gone a few more. The humi pack was still 80% moist.
Lesson Learned #3: I now declare to customs something other than cigars. Some countries custom’s and/or local mail have a reputation for taking cigars for themselves, never making it to it’s destination; which is what we had presumed. On Dave’s replacement package, I declared ‘handmade throw blanket/ homemade hot sauce’. I had to say ‘hot sauce’ to cover for the sound of the little liquid treat I sent along as well. It arrived to him even faster. Of course; why would anyone steal a throw blanket!
Well boys and girls, I learned something this year, I hope you did too.
Dave lives in Australia, I live in the States. I sent his package International Priority USPS. This requires a customs form to be filled out and declared. USPS told me this form could not be tracked once it left the U.S. THIS IS NOT THE CASE! I later discovered that the # on the customs slip can be tracked. I threw Dave’s slip away thinking nothing of it. Weeks went by; no package. Months went by; no package. This was very frustrating for both of us. After many months, I sent Dave a replacement package which arrived safely.
What arrives at my doorstep this week? Dave’s package that shipped on Feb 4th! Yes, almost 9 months later it comes back as ‘unclaimed’. The package was still in decent shape. I fully expected to see rock hard or mold ridden sticks. What I found was amazing. They were still in good shape and for the most part hydrated! No mold, no bugs, still a bit spongy.
When I ship, I bag the sticks, then put that along with a Fuente humi pack [if going long distances] in another bag, then wrap the whole thing in aluminum foil; a trick I learned from Wilkey. I bubble wrap as much as I can to fill the rest of the void in the box. The only issue is that they seem to have picked up the scent of the synthetic humi pack (possibly slightly molded, though not visible). I let them air out overnight and am putting them into a box, back into the humi to see if they will stabilize and lose the scent. If I am able to save these, I am going to pass them on to a local botl with Dave’s permission.
Lesson Learned #1: Save the friggin customs slip #, as it can be tracked.
Lesson Learned #2: Good packaging practices can ensure LONG travel times. I honestly expected this package to arrive in 2-3 weeks, and figured after 2-3 months that the cigars would be completely destroyed. I was wrong. 9 months; and I bet they could’ve gone a few more. The humi pack was still 80% moist.
Lesson Learned #3: I now declare to customs something other than cigars. Some countries custom’s and/or local mail have a reputation for taking cigars for themselves, never making it to it’s destination; which is what we had presumed. On Dave’s replacement package, I declared ‘handmade throw blanket/ homemade hot sauce’. I had to say ‘hot sauce’ to cover for the sound of the little liquid treat I sent along as well. It arrived to him even faster. Of course; why would anyone steal a throw blanket!
Well boys and girls, I learned something this year, I hope you did too.
