Hello! I have a quick few questions. I have shopped with 5stardvd before and got my envelope of goodies within 8 days. They now have a special $18 dollar shipping rate for guaranteed delivery. ~Has anybody had problems with them? Does most stuff get through customs, and would I be in trouble if they were to confiscate the package and open it? ~I would also like to purchase a few DVD's from erodvd.nl. How long does delivery take, and are customs extra strict because it comes from Holland? Thanks for your time. David
As I'm in Australia, I can;t help you with regards to Irish customs, but hopefully someone else will be able to offer you some assistance there.
If the $18 shipping rate for guaranteed delivery from Fivestar you mention is the Fedex flat rate envelope, I imagine it would only be a few days, as Fedex is usually very fast. Some of the specific questions about Irish Customs (at least finding out what's legal to bring in for personal use, etc) can usually be found out by making an (anonymous) phone call to the Customs offices.
david9647, good to have another Irish member on the forums.
Fivestar and EroDVD are good to order from, with no major problems. Laser's Edge and Bargain Adult DVD, I've used as well (Laser's Edge is the one I use most). Also, Dvdoo.dk.
However, keep your orders relatively small i.e. only a few discs. Ero usually send their orders without the cases. Delivery times for most retailers (when the titles are in stock) are relatively quick -- usually 7 to 14 days, sometimes quicker.
As regards Customs, up 'til recently, they have never been too bad, but I have had two orders from Ero stopped (but that was post 9/11), however a friend of mine had some stuff stopped recently and a guy from Customs ctually rang him at work and wanted him to come in for a chat. He wouldn't and countered his points over the phone e.g. if the stuff was illegal, how come there are sex shops all over the place selling the same stuff, etc. He's been targeted on ALL (or nearly all) his mail since and one or two items he still had in the post have been stopped. And none of the stuff was anything strange. So be careful, but go ahead anyway, in my opinion. I still am...
Let me know if you want any further info, just let me know. Hope this helps!!!
They do seem to be getting more heavy handed at present. But, heh, what can you do? I would agree with you as regards their priorities.
Incidentally, I was talking to a friend of mine the other day (the guy who got caught, as it happens) and in our discussions, we came to the conclusion, that Ireland was one of the few countries in the Western World, where you cannot legally buy hardcore porn. And thus import it either.
Actually, also, the major parcel post here in Ireland was contracted out to another company here and unlike in the past, where you could mainly get away with VAT and Duty on packages, like their English counterparts, they are screwing Irish customers for this charge and that charge, etc. lucky most of "our" dvd shipments are small!!
Over the past 7 months we have not had any lost or confiscated packages going to Ireland. This includes our popular flat-rate FedEx service where we ship up to 30 discs for $20.
I have to ask, if porn is completely illegal in Ireland (by the above post, at least), and NOT illegal in Australia, why is the Fedex flat rate parcel (which is both insured and an excellent shipping rate) available to Ireland yet not to Australia?
I'm in Ireland also, and I've been shopping with Amazing Tails this past eight months.
I've been lucky, I've had no problems with Cusoms at all. That's with getting four large parcels of DVDs. With cases and covers included.
This past week I've been shopping around for someone else to buy from, and I notice a handful of places won't supply the covers for fear of customs interference.
Anyone else have any scary stories of Irish Customs?
Dexter, any of the suppliers I mentioned above supply covers. Ero DVD don't supply the boxes, but can send them separately if you want, but I've had no problems with any of the rest. The rest will probably accede to any wishes with your shipping if you want.