Shipping wine from France to Pennsylvania
#1
Shipping wine from France to Pennsylvania
Hi, Does anyone have any info on doing this? Pa is a no-ship state, but if we ship it ourselves from France, what would be the best way too accomplish this? And is it really expensive? Thanks for any info.<BR>
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Suki,<BR> US Customs regulations forbid the importation of alcohol by anyone without a license. You can ship stuff home, but if it is checked it will be confiscated.<BR><BR> You might be able to have a merchant in France ship it to a local merchant for you.<BR>
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If PA is a no ship state you may have trouble finding a vendor to ship it to you. We had 2 cases shipped to us in MA but the vendor first asked which state we were in before agreeing to the shipment. If you are close to a ship state and can pick it up there it would be possible. It is not against US Customs to ship alcohol to yourself for your own consumption. You do need a license if you are going to distribute alcohol but not for personal use. When we shipped two cases to ourselves they were passed through Customs in Boston and we only had to pay the duty which was minimal for the quality of the wine we had shipped.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If we wanted to purchase wine and ship it to PA ourselves, are there shipment places similar to Mailboxes, etc. where we could accomplish this? For the folks who pack many bottles in their luggage, do you declare it at customs, and is the duty charged very expensive?
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Zeke,<BR><BR>Here are the regulations from the US Customs Service<BR><BR>http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/trave..._exemption.xml
#7
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Zeke,<BR> Here is some information from www.customs.gov<BR><BR>Shipping alcoholic beverages by mail is <BR>prohibited by U.S. postal laws. If <BR>alcoholic beverages are mailed to you, <BR>Customs could detain them at the mail entry <BR>branch where they arrive and you will have to make <BR>arrangements for the shipment to be picked <BR>up in person (you may send a letter to the <BR>port director authorizing someone to act on <BR>your behalf - on a one-time basis. <BR><BR>Shipping alcoholic beverages through a <BR>courier is permitted, however, duty will be <BR>collected on the entire shipment (there is <BR>no duty exemption for alcohol not <BR>accompanying a traveler), and the courier <BR>will probably charge handling fees that <BR>could significantly raise the cost of the <BR>shipment. <BR><BR>Please be aware that State ABC <BR>laws govern how much alcohol a person may <BR>import without a license and those laws are <BR>enforced by Customs. You must check with <BR>the state ABC board where your shipment <BR>will enter the country to determine their <BR>limits. There is no federal limit on the <BR>amount of alcohol someone may import into the U.S. <BR>for personal use, however, large quantities <BR>might raise the suspicion that the <BR>importation is for commercial purposes, and <BR>a Customs inspector could require you to <BR>obtain an ATF import license before <BR>releasing it. If you intend to have a <BR>large quantity shipped to you for personal <BR>use, we suggest you contact the entry <BR>branch of the port where your shipment will <BR>be entering the country to discuss your <BR>situation in advance. Duty rates on <BR>alcoholic beverages can be obtained in <BR>Chapter 22, "Beverages, Spirits and <BR>Vinegar," in the Harmonized Tariff <BR>Schedule. If you intend to bring in a wine <BR>collection as part of your <BR>household/personal effects, you will be <BR>subject to these same regulations.<BR>