- Joined
- Mar 30, 2008
- Messages
- 581
I have been asked recently several questions via text,PM, or phone conversations about, "Brown boxing" and if I could post a new discussion even though there is previous threads on the topic. First of all, the term simply refers to any item recieved that is suppose to go through legal customs via the exportation process and does not. This does not mean the item has to be in a brown box as I had to explain to one individual. It can be shipped in any container and is still considered "Brown boxed" or received with out proper paper work.
The process of importation, simplified, takes the communication of buyer and seller to determine what is exactly agreed on and then the paper work starts on the exporters end with air way bill, ivoice, and packing list. On the importers end a broker is often used to aid in clear communication with Fish and wild life/customs to make sure all paper work is there and items are being checked and i.d. appropriately. After many days of preparations the actual shipping process takes one day, is recieved the next day, and then is hopefully cleared quickly and ready to go home that same day of arrival. In my case the legal importation goes from Europe to LAX.
The question I was asked specifically related to this was, "why would it take so long to receive my item from a "import" and why would the weather matter if it would get to the location in 1 day."
My answer is that at times it can be very cold over seas and a seller may want to wait until the temperatures pick up a bit. However, I have recieved imports, like this last one, that was shipped in very cold temperatures and as long as the seller knows what they are doing, packs appropriately using heat packs, the results were and are healthy happy tarantulas recieved. The point is no import process should take weeks in shipment transit and a buyer should immediately question this. When you see reviews that individuals post that they were shocked that a pack took several weeks to arrive (unless pack was lost) typically the only conclusion is the package came in illegally and happened to not get seized at customs. If a tarantula does arrive after weeks in transit and happens to be o.k., I often ponder what about a few weeks down the road or a month later, molt later,..... are there effects?
From my understanding there was a recent CITES confrence in Mexico and illegal importation was discussed. It was stated new laws for illegal shipments received would no longer be a slap on the wrist, but serious consequences would result similar to drug trafficking charges. I welcome and look foward to anyone who was at the confrence to add information or opinion.
I will conclude by quoting my last response I sent via text to a recent hobbiest, "I am just calling it the way I see it and to each their own risk. I am not willing as things run much smoother legally."
The process of importation, simplified, takes the communication of buyer and seller to determine what is exactly agreed on and then the paper work starts on the exporters end with air way bill, ivoice, and packing list. On the importers end a broker is often used to aid in clear communication with Fish and wild life/customs to make sure all paper work is there and items are being checked and i.d. appropriately. After many days of preparations the actual shipping process takes one day, is recieved the next day, and then is hopefully cleared quickly and ready to go home that same day of arrival. In my case the legal importation goes from Europe to LAX.
The question I was asked specifically related to this was, "why would it take so long to receive my item from a "import" and why would the weather matter if it would get to the location in 1 day."
My answer is that at times it can be very cold over seas and a seller may want to wait until the temperatures pick up a bit. However, I have recieved imports, like this last one, that was shipped in very cold temperatures and as long as the seller knows what they are doing, packs appropriately using heat packs, the results were and are healthy happy tarantulas recieved. The point is no import process should take weeks in shipment transit and a buyer should immediately question this. When you see reviews that individuals post that they were shocked that a pack took several weeks to arrive (unless pack was lost) typically the only conclusion is the package came in illegally and happened to not get seized at customs. If a tarantula does arrive after weeks in transit and happens to be o.k., I often ponder what about a few weeks down the road or a month later, molt later,..... are there effects?
From my understanding there was a recent CITES confrence in Mexico and illegal importation was discussed. It was stated new laws for illegal shipments received would no longer be a slap on the wrist, but serious consequences would result similar to drug trafficking charges. I welcome and look foward to anyone who was at the confrence to add information or opinion.
I will conclude by quoting my last response I sent via text to a recent hobbiest, "I am just calling it the way I see it and to each their own risk. I am not willing as things run much smoother legally."
Last edited:
