OMG this is an expensive lesson to learn...

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#31
If declared so, an exotic piece requires a permit of exportation to leave the seller's country, and a permit of importation to enter the buyer's country.
Both permits are delivered by local Cites in each country.

Trouble starts when customs agents do not master this process and are scared of making a mistake.

In this particular case, and since you are located in Austria, with is part of EU, and since the item is Hermes, made in France, I would INSIST that this is a MADE IN FRANCE piece , so the skins were formerly imported in EU from the country where they were produced originally. It is not as if you were importing a piece made in the country where it was shipped from. That makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE in regard to CITES.

This piece has crossed borders back and forward, but anyway the original CITES process was initially respected . By Hermes.

That might resolve the problem.

Good luck !
 
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#33
spicegirl said:
I do think a bit of responsability should be taken by the seller of your item. He should know the laws or at least enquire. It is his job !!
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Personally I think it's up to us as buyers to know laws of our own country. You can't expect a seller to know them. Are they legally obligated? I doubt that since it's the buyer who is importing something into his/her country and has to abide it's laws. Therefore if a seller asks/checks/makes sure I think it's really nice. Just my 2. :shrug:

I really hope that all works out for you Katinka! *fingers Please keep us posted.
 
#34
katika76 said:
You cannot imagine how stupid I have been.
I ordered a Mykonos lizard KD from let Trade matching to a scarf I recently bought.
I had completely forgotten that it is Not allowed to Import exotics.
When I went to customs today they refused to live it to me and also refuse to send it back.
I am so pupset and sad and cannot believe I spent so much Money on NOTHING!
this is just unbelievable!
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I would think the vendor who sent it to you would be savvy enough to forsee an issue.
 
#35
micheler said:
I would think the vendor who sent it to you would be savvy enough to forsee an issue.
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I agree !!! I looked at a pair of Alexandre Birman's python ballerinas on Nordstrom's website and a message came up : "This item is made from genuine python and is not available for shipment to Italy".

I would never have even thought this was a problem at the time, obviously I know now !!!
 
#36
I see notices all the time on websites about various restrictions to different territories. I do think it's buyer beware but at the same time anyone who sells exotics as part of their business should make it part of their service that they warn potential customers.

Sort of off-topic: I don't think that luxury brands give enough info at the point of sale in stores either, many tourists ask for VAT returns in the UK which involves showing a non-EU passport, a buyer of exotics should be given advice in writing about export/import of CITES covered countries at the same time.
 
#37
Coffee Addicted said:
Personally I think it's up to us as buyers to know laws of our own country. You can't expect a seller to know them. Are they legally obligated? I doubt that since it's the buyer who is importing something into his/her country and has to abide it's laws. Therefore if a seller asks/checks/makes sure I think it's really nice. Just my 2. :shrug:

I really hope that all works out for you Katinka! *fingers Please keep us posted.
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I agree 100% with this. You cannot expect the seller to know each and every rule in each and every country. That is for the buyer to know.
 
#38
perlerare said:
If declared so, an exotic piece requires a permit of exportation to leave the seller's country, and a permit of importation to enter the buyer's country.
Both permits are delivered by local Cites in each country.

Trouble starts when customs agents do not master this process and are scared of making a mistake.

In this particular case, and since you are located in Austria, with is part of EU, and since the item is Hermes, made in France, I would INSIST that this is a MADE IN FRANCE piece , so the skins were formerly imported in EU from the country where they were produced originally. It is not as if you were importing a piece made in the country where it was shipped from. That makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE in regard to CITES.

This piece has crossed borders back and forward, but anyway the original CITES process was initially respected . By Hermes.

That might resolve the problem.

Good luck !
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thank you so much for your long and interesting answer.
I have been impoving my english so much since I am at purseblog, new word: the "guys" at customs are called cutoms agents;)

the made in france thing made me wonder aswell. I thought I would be on the save side aslong the braclet had been produced "legally".
since all this happened I had never ever heared anything about CITES and now I don´t really have the time to go too deeply into this as we are leaving for our holiday and I can only contact customs via email now if I have email where I am going too.
However I will try to explain what you just posted to the customs agents:) via email!
I appreciate your advice very much! thank you for taking your time!!
 
#39
as I started this I really want you to know that I don´t blame the seller for anything. they sell what they have, ship it but what happens afterwards is not their buisness.
the only thing I agree about is that it would be nice if there would be a comment from the seller that you should check with your local laws according exotic leathers.
normally they inform about customs and duties, so this would be ok.
However I agree, they don´t have to.
 
#40
calexandre said:
I'm really sorry to hear this. I do wish any seller that ships internationally would know to mark packages "Return if undeliverable." That simple phrase often prevents this sort of thing from happening. I hope they make it right for you somehow. :flowers:
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I think they never would have returned it since they found out it is exotic leather.
this was what I sugested, then I would have had to pay the shipping and the 10% relisting but at least I would have gotten part of the money back.
just for the delivery issue it would not have been a problem to send it back, there was everything on the shipping papers they would have needed to know...
and it is always this EMS I am having problems with.
the first item I recived via EMS was my first box bag and they just cut the plastic wrapping off with something sharp. I thought I`d drop dead as I saw it but fortulately there was not even a little scratch.....
 
#41
papertiger said:
Sort of off-topic: I don't think that luxury brands give enough info at the point of sale in stores either, many tourists ask for VAT returns in the UK which involves showing a non-EU passport, a buyer of exotics should be given advice in writing about export/import of CITES covered countries at the same time.
Click to expand...

I agree with what I bolded. I buy Louis Vuitton exotics and have never ever received a CITES for my crocodile/alligator small leather goods. I got one for my python leather belt. I believe most sales assistants do not know what paperwork they should give their customers in addition to the receipt. Sadly this lack of knowledge could cause problems (one day) and the customer is the one out of luck.

Anyway, regarding the lizard bracelet, maybe it is best if the OP talked with a lawyer about this. They can research Austrian import laws and send a letter for her solving the issue with CITES and customs much faster.
 
#42
katika76 said:
thank you so much for your long and interesting answer.
I have been impoving my english so much since I am at purseblog, new word: the "guys" at customs are called cutoms agents;)

the made in france thing made me wonder aswell. I thought I would be on the save side aslong the braclet had been produced "legally".
since all this happened I had never ever heared anything about CITES and now I don´t really have the time to go too deeply into this as we are leaving for our holiday and I can only contact customs via email now if I have email where I am going too.
However I will try to explain what you just posted to the customs agents:) via email!
I appreciate your advice very much! thank you for taking your time!!
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I cross my fingers that it will work...and in the meantime, have a great vacation !
 
#43
Wentworth-Roth said:
I agree with what I bolded. I buy Louis Vuitton exotics and have never ever received a CITES for my crocodile/alligator small leather goods. I got one for my python leather belt. I believe most sales assistants do not know what paperwork they should give their customers in addition to the receipt. Sadly this lack of knowledge could cause problems (one day) and the customer is the one out of luck.

Anyway, regarding the lizard bracelet, maybe it is best if the OP talked with a lawyer about this. They can research Austrian import laws and send a letter for her solving the issue with CITES and customs much faster.
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I agree-- I have several exotic bags from LV and Gucci, no one ever gave me CITES for them, or even mentioned the issue. I also haven't had trouble traveling between countries with them... but threads like this make me worry.

And, it definitely doesn't seem like all online sellers address it either?
 
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