CITES, travel and exotics

[Pias]

Pias, I had a similar dilemma a few years ago. There was a very special and rare H exotic being offered by a store in the Ginza area in Tokyo. My friend who was there for a quick work trip saw it, took photos and immediately knew I would love it - which I did. Since my friend had left by the time I saw the photos, I contacted the store but they refused to ship it outside of Japan because of the complicated process involved with overseas shipping for exotics.

I had to eventually find a Tokyo-based friend who would buy it on my behalf and then keep it until we would see each other.
There are so many incredibly beautiful and super rare Hermes exotic bags to be found amongst some of the Tokyo resellers, but the shipping complexities for exotics make it difficult to purchase from overseas and the Japanese are (rightfully so) stickler for rules.

Thank you, Leah, for your story. It confirmed my experience with resellers in Japan. You're very lucky to have a friend in Japan. I used to have Japanese friends when I was younger too. Too bad that we didn't keep in touch. (most of them are guys, so that's why we've lost in touch) Some days I may have to just hop an airplane there just to shop some Hermes purses with my daughter. I hope I will get pregnant this year.

 

[Leah]

Dearest Leah - I am wondering how did you bring it back stateside? Did you get a CITES certificate for it? Was the issue that the reseller would not ship the bag with the CITES certificate? I was recently eyeing an exotic plume that was being sold by a Japanese reseller but figured without trying first that it would be too hard to bring over.

Hi MrsJDS!
My friend brought the bag back with her, when she traveled to London (we were living in London then.) It did not come with a CITES certificate but apparently did not require one, since it was considered a local sale as the purchase/transaction took place locally. I believe the reputable Japan resellers will not send any exotic H bags outside of Japan without all the necessary CITES documentation, and often the onus is on the interested customer to obtain all the necessary papers.

Thank you, Leah, for your story. It confirmed my experience with resellers in Japan. You're very lucky to have a friend in Japan. I used to have Japanese friends when I was younger too. Too bad that we didn't keep in touch. (most of them are guys, so that's why we've lost in touch) Some days I may have to just hop an airplane there just to shop some Hermes purses with my daughter. I hope I will get pregnant this year.

Hi Pias, Japan has some of the most beautiful and rare Hermes bags I have ever seen - some are truly Hermes MUSEUM worthy. Rare colors, rare leathers, one-of designs, etc....Definitely worth a trip - Tokyo is an amazing city, one of my favorite cities!
Sending you LOTS and LOTS of Baby dust and best wishes for a pregnancy!!

 

[Suncatcher]

Hi MrsJDS!
My friend brought the bag back with her, when she traveled to London (we were living in London then.) It did not come with a CITES certificate but apparently did not require one, since it was considered a local sale as the purchase/transaction took place locally. I believe the reputable Japan resellers will not send any exotic H bags outside of Japan without all the necessary CITES documentation, and often the onus is on the interested customer to obtain all the necessary papers.



Hi Pias, Japan has some of the most beautiful and rare Hermes bags I have ever seen - some are truly Hermes MUSEUM worthy. Rare colors, rare leathers, one-of designs, etc....Definitely worth a trip - Tokyo is an amazing city, one of my favorite cities!
Sending you LOTS and LOTS of Baby dust and best wishes for a pregnancy!!

Thanks Leah for your input! To your point about Tokyo, it is probably my favourite city - very western on the one hand yet so eastern on the other. The Peninsula Tokyo is truly my second home LOL! I have been dozen times and have plans to go next year with the kiddies. I might ask you then for advice on shopping for one of a kind H in Tokyo. Ok, back to topic!

 

[Leah]

Thanks Leah for your input! To your point about Tokyo, it is probably my favourite city - very western on the one hand yet so eastern on the other. The Peninsula Tokyo is truly my second home LOL! I have been dozen times and have plans to go next year with the kiddies. I might ask you then for advice on shopping for one of a kind H in Tokyo. Ok, back to topic!

Anytime MrsJDS!! Happy to send tips on my favorite H sellers in Tokyo.

I spent a year in Japan training/working and you are so right, it is such a MAGICAL city. I LOVE Tokyo so much too - how wonderful to find yet another thing in common with you MrsJDS

Promise back to topic!

 

[Pias]

Hi MrsJDS!
My friend brought the bag back with her, when she traveled to London (we were living in London then.) It did not come with a CITES certificate but apparently did not require one, since it was considered a local sale as the purchase/transaction took place locally. I believe the reputable Japan resellers will not send any exotic H bags outside of Japan without all the necessary CITES documentation, and often the onus is on the interested customer to obtain all the necessary papers.



Hi Pias, Japan has some of the most beautiful and rare Hermes bags I have ever seen - some are truly Hermes MUSEUM worthy. Rare colors, rare leathers, one-of designs, etc....Definitely worth a trip - Tokyo is an amazing city, one of my favorite cities!
Sending you LOTS and LOTS of Baby dust and best wishes for a pregnancy!!

Thank you, Leah!! I really need all of the baby dust right now. I've been prayed everyday.

So, from what I understand is that if I go to Japan and buy some Hermes Ostrich purses, I will NOT need CITES, but if I buy Hermes Croc, I would need it in order to take it back to the US. Is this correct?? Thank you for any input!

 

[Leah]

Thank you, Leah!! I really need all of the baby dust right now. I've been prayed everyday.

So, from what I understand is that if I go to Japan and buy some Hermes Ostrich purses, I will NOT need CITES, but if I buy Hermes Croc, I would need it in order to take it back to the US. Is this correct?? Thank you for any input!

Hi Pias! For any exotic sold in Japan, if you are buying it there you would not need a CITES to purchase. The reseller will allow anyone to purchase - as they expect that any export license/CITES would be the buyer's responsibility.

If you live in the US, I was told by friends (in the export business) that you can bring in an exotic bag including croc and ostrich as long as it is for personal consumption (i.e. not for commercial sale.) I have NEVER been stopped or asked about my exotics or asked to present CITES when entering the US, nor do I know of anyone personally who has been questioned.

The CITES regulations are so confusing and dependent on where you reside. Having said that, I think if you purchase in Tokyo, no overseas shipping is required (since you will be carrying the bag with you) and that removes many of the complicated export obstacles. So that is a good thing!

One thing I am sure of, you will LOVE looking through the H resellers in Tokyo!

 

[Pias]

Hi Pias! For any exotic sold in Japan, if you are buying it there you would not need a CITES to purchase. The reseller will allow anyone to purchase - as they expect that any export license/CITES would be the buyer's responsibility.

If you live in the US, I was told by friends (in the export business) that you can bring in an exotic bag including croc and ostrich as long as it is for personal consumption (i.e. not for commercial sale.) I have NEVER been stopped or asked about my exotics or asked to present CITES when entering the US, nor do I know of anyone personally who has been questioned.

The CITES regulations are so confusing and dependent on where you reside. Having said that, I think if you purchase in Tokyo, no overseas shipping is required (since you will be carrying the bag with you) and that removes many of the complicated export obstacles. So that is a good thing!

One thing I am sure of, you will LOVE looking through the H resellers in Tokyo!

That's great!! Thank you so much, Leah for your information! Lucky me, I live in California!! And I'm sure I would get high shopping in Tokyo!!

 

[Masao]

Hello threads,

Does anyone bring your own croc or gator item, like Bearn or Kelly Wallet to EU??? Do I need to prepare something???

I will bring CITES with me, but is there have anything I should know??? Please let me know and thanks for letting me share this question

 

[afsweet]

I took my croc bearn wallet and just brought the CITES paperwork with me. Didn't encounter any issues, and no one asked for it though.

 

[QuelleFromage]

There should be no issue if you have the CITES and the item is on your person. My croc/gator things go back and forth many times a year. I've personally never even been asked about any exotic item anywhere in the world, whether bag/wallet/jewelry, even bringing something like python into California (you are allowed to own it, just not import it).

 

[Masao]

I took my croc bearn wallet and just brought the CITES paperwork with me. Didn't encounter any issues, and no one asked for it though.

Thank you, stephc005. I will bring it just in case

 

[Masao]

There should be no issue if you have the CITES and the item is on your person. My croc/gator things go back and forth many times a year. I've personally never even been asked about any exotic item anywhere in the world, whether bag/wallet/jewelry, even bringing something like python into California (you are allowed to own it, just not import it).

Thank you, QuelleFromage, yes, my gator bearn is my birthday gift, really good to know I can bring with. Thanks again!

 

[SandySummer]

Good morning, I passed through Munich airport earlier this week and purchased two small bracelets: hinged enamel and kawaii in ombre lizard. When I went to pay for the two items, the SAs were really REALLY REALLY trying to push me to purchase a CSGM but I wasn't that interested. The SA who helped me rang me up while the other was packing the bracelets. I noticed that there were no CITES.

They both looked for it, while mainly focusing on selling me the CSGM, to no avail and concluded that those types of bracelets, unlike the CDC, do not come with CITES. Is this true?

It was a really confusing shopping experience. I left actually wondering wait, did I end up buying that scarf?

 

[luckylove]

Good morning, I passed through Munich airport earlier this week and purchased two small bracelets: hinged enamel and kawaii in ombre lizard. When I went to pay for the two items, the SAs were really REALLY REALLY trying to push me to purchase a CSGM but I wasn't that interested. The SA who helped me rang me up while the other was packing the bracelets. I noticed that there were no CITES.

They both looked for it, while mainly focusing on selling me the CSGM, to no avail and concluded that those types of bracelets, unlike the CDC, do not come with CITES. Is this true?

It was a really confusing shopping experience. I left actually wondering wait, did I end up buying that scarf?

Exotic CDC bracelets do typically come with CITES certificates. It may be possible to get a duplicate from Paris, though I am not certain of that part.

 

[bedhead]

Good morning, I passed through Munich airport earlier this week and purchased two small bracelets: hinged enamel and kawaii in ombre lizard. When I went to pay for the two items, the SAs were really REALLY REALLY trying to push me to purchase a CSGM but I wasn't that interested. The SA who helped me rang me up while the other was packing the bracelets. I noticed that there were no CITES.

They both looked for it, while mainly focusing on selling me the CSGM, to no avail and concluded that those types of bracelets, unlike the CDC, do not come with CITES. Is this true?

It was a really confusing shopping experience. I left actually wondering wait, did I end up buying that scarf?

Both of my lizard Charniere bracelets came with a CITES certificate. They were both purchased in the US.