Bah! I just got a letter from the friendly tax collector.

historygeek

Guess what... they stopped the coins that I sent for grading to PCGS. The worst thing about this is that they did not even provide me with the right phone number of the inspector who is handling my case, I had to call someone and find out my inspector's phone number and guess what... HE ISNT WORKING TODAY!!!! They did not even provide me with their email address!!!! They even spelled your last name wrong Michael.

Letter removed until I can edit it... since MSPaint is being cranky... What a great day!

drjules

Disposed of in 30 days ouch

Dr J

AuldFartte

Jeeezussss ... How often does this happen ???

spinaker2000

That's what you get with free health care. More regualtions.

theboz11

If it ends up being returned to the sender, Just have him send it again. Not likely they would stop it twice. Bummer

spoon

What a bunch of nazis!

So a simple ebay item number would suffice for them?? Odd.

Neptune

that sucks - but you really shouldn't post your physical address on the internet. That's just asking for trouble.

historygeek

<<< Jeeezussss ... How often does this happen ??? >>>

Recently... All of my packages.

Aethelred

This is insane!!!!!


I even noted on the customs form that this package was NOT a sale, only return of YOUR coins.

wybrit

In a similar vein, I returned coins back to a dealer in Canada last year and he was charged an insane amount of duty - for his own coins!!! I wrote "Return" on the form, but that didn't mean squat to them. The seller refused the delivery and had them sent back to me and we worked it out a different way.

Not to criticise from south of the border (but I am anyway, aren't I?), but the Canadian government just doesn't get it. The ridiculous customs laws they and the Brits have surely will result in more bad behaviour than good - in particular, smuggling by otherwise law abiding citizens. We have our share of stupid laws in this country, but Canadian Customs just about takes the cake. So much for "NAFTA."

historygeek

BTW, they spelled your name Michael Swoweland.

spoon

This reminds me.. in the 1930s Austria, Hungary and I'm sure a few other countries had absurd taxes on sugar. These taxes resulted in a quite profitable business of sugar smuggling. Doesn't have anything to do with the topic at hand, but I was reading a book recently that seemed to focus a lot on this trade in that area, quite hilarious. So I ramble...

historygeek

Oh... ramble on... it sounds interesting

canadiancoinguy

I don't normally defend the gov't, but what's to stop people from just labelling all packages as "return to sender" and not having to pay taxes on actual purchases.

The fact is, when taking/sending something out of country that will be returned, you're usually supposed to have documentation showing you already had the items in your posession previously.

canadiancoinguy

Probably the best example would be jewelry. You'd go to a shop, and get a certificate describing the item, and usually with a picture.

1jester

"If goods don't cross borders, soldiers will." That's an old adage but it does portray the importance of free trade. Free trade benefits everyone. Trade restrictions help noone (with the exception of government bureaucrats and the protected industry).

Southpark anyone?!

BigAlan

That's an old adage but it does portray the importance of free trade. Free trade benefits everyone. Trade restrictions help noone (with the exception of government bureaucrats and the protected industry).



The purpose of trade regulations is to protect internal industries from outside competition. We must then conclude that the Canadian government is working to protect the Canadian Mint.

spoon

The politicians have been bought by ICCS!! Damn TPGs! I told you they are evil.

spoon

<< <i>Oh... ramble on... it sounds interesting >>

The book was A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor. It really didn't focus so much on the sugar smuggling, but there were quite a few funny stories about it in the book as he approached Austria and Hungary. The book is a sort of travel diary.. the author went on foot from Rotterdam to Constantinople in 1933-34. Amazing book, detailing the cities and cultures before modernization gave them all the gift of McDonalds. It's a quick and easy read and really reads like an old-fashioned adventure book that young boys used to have (but it's all true!). Every page makes allusions to obscure European history and often goes off in fascinating detail. The above book is the first half of the journey, to the Hungarian border. It is continued in another book (which I haven't read yet). I highly recommend it to anyone!! Only catch is, the American edition is out of print thus the link to Amazon.co.UK, which still has the book available.