Its my Turn for a problem wtih Ebay what would you do?

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Some Neo's are harder to come by in Europe. It's possible when international sellers come over here for shows and get all the paper work to transport them, but the are not as easy to come by as in the USA.

By the way, sort of off topic, but since you mentioned Neos you might like to know that New World Orchids is making another selling trip across the pond real soon. From their FB page:

ATTENTION EUROPEAN CUSTOMERS!!!
Glenn is returning to Europe Sept 3 which means that you can order orchids right now! Please submit your order by August 28.

[RosieC]

Thanks Jayfar,

Actually it's not an area of orchid growing I've tried yet. I know Camille has said she can't get them here unless New World Orchids makes a trip to Europe though, which is why I thought of Neo's as my example above

I'll let her know in case she's interested though I know her orchids have taken a back seat recently as she's been very busy.

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by Eskevingo

I do not need an import permit for the quantity that was ordering this time.

As RosieC has said, I believe that a CITES permit is required when bringing even a single orchid into the U.S.

Have you read "The Scent of Scandal"?
The Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal, and the World's Most Beautiful Orchid (Florida History and Culture): Craig Pittman, Raymond Arsenault, Dr. Gary R. Mormino: 9780813039749: Amazon.com: Books

Floralia in Brazil charges $30 for CITES permit and $10 for phytosanitary certificate. I will be buying some plants from them in September when they come to the U.S. for a show, that way all the plants that they import will be covered under a single set of documents and I will not have to pay for the documentation.

[Carpe Diem]

If one imports an item prohibited in the US, it's not the sellers fault if the item is confiscated by customs.
I send money to friends in Germany to buy certain food items and mail them to me. I KNOW anything with beef or pork is prohibited, but I love the Black Forest Ham. My friends list coffee, chocolate, cookies etc. on the customs declaration, which are also in the package. Sometimes I get a package that has been nicely taped up again and inside is a form that lists the confiscated, offending items. I've spent money on food I don't get to enjoy. It is a gamble, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
I have looked at sites from overseas orchid sellers and it is tempting at times, but I don't plan on giving in.

[PaphMadMan]

A comment on phytosanitary certificates...

Someone mentioned that pests or diseases will get into the country no matter what, so why bother?

Perhaps it won't make a difference in the long run, but do you really want to take personal responsibility for bringing in the pest or disease that wipes out the last native orchid populations in your area, or destroys the citrus industry for instance, or causes thousands of tons of pesticides to be used to wipe it out? And that kind of thing CAN happen. If you get the certificate at least it isn't your fault if it happens because you played by the rules. Take some personal responsibility for your actions.

[Bud]

Slovenia to Puerto Rico via Ebay is quite easy if the package had the customs stamp and permit is displayed on the box clearly. They will incinerate your plant if they found any crawling living stuff.
Most of my boxes that come from Japan and Taiwan are never intercepted because all paper-work are in order.
Thailand ships bareroot plants so it is not a problem. Malaysia and Philippines have bugs in the pot upon opening them and they have certificates and permits on the box clearly. The package is opened in front of me and the reason why it is not thrashed is: they are grown in a greenhouse environment not coming from the wild and it comes with the proper paperwork.
Also, I am in New York where sometimes the customs are too lazy to even bother to read the labels of the box from where they came from. All my boxes are not delivered to my doorstep= I have to go to the post office to retrieve it. I only have a very small slot mailbox on the first floor of the building. Anything bigger than 6 inches box = I get a yellow postal slip.

---------- Post added at 04:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:38 PM ----------

10 feet away from the back of the chinatown post office in Manhattan is a small cement building where they incinerate stuff and one can see the black smoke coming out of the chimney....I cant imagine how big the incinerator building of the main post office on 33rd street must be....

[AnonYMouse]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

A comment on phytosanitary certificates...

Someone mentioned that pests or diseases will get into the country no matter what, so why bother?

Perhaps it won't make a difference in the long run, but do you really want to take personal responsibility for bringing in the pest or disease that wipes out the last native orchid populations in your area, or destroys the citrus industry for instance, or causes thousands of tons of pesticides to be used to wipe it out? And that kind of thing CAN happen. If you get the certificate at least it isn't your fault if it happens because you played by the rules. Take some personal responsibility for your actions.

Erm, I do take responsibility. I don't circumvent the rules!

What I'm saying is the laws need rethinking or rather, better policing. What's to stop an unscrupulous agency in another country to take bribes to issue a certificate (nah, that doesn't happen). What about all the virused Phals that enter the country LEGALLY? Most of us at least suspect it.

I've received plants from very reputable phytosantitary certified US growers with pests. It happens because the process is a sieve.

[naoki]

Originally Posted by Bud

Malaysia and Philippines have bugs in the pot upon opening them and they have certificates and permits on the box clearly

Bud, if you don't mind, could you tell me which vendors you imported plants from? I've heard of Ooi Leng Sun from Malaysia, and Purification Orchids of Philippines which are supposed to be reputable. But it seems to be pretty difficult to communicate with them (they didn't reply to my email). Sorry, I don't mean to hi-jack the smuggling talk, but I'm curious.

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by Carpe Diem

If one imports an item prohibited in the US, it's not the sellers fault if the item is confiscated by customs.
I send money to friends in Germany to buy certain food items and mail them to me. I KNOW anything with beef or pork is prohibited, but I love the Black Forest Ham. My friends list coffee, chocolate, cookies etc. on the customs declaration, which are also in the package. Sometimes I get a package that has been nicely taped up again and inside is a form that lists the confiscated, offending items. I've spent money on food I don't get to enjoy. It is a gamble, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
I have looked at sites from overseas orchid sellers and it is tempting at times, but I don't plan on giving in.

So you're saying that you're smuggling food items that you know very well are banned and just taking a chance that it won't be discovered??

THIS IS WRONG!

[Bud]

Originally Posted by naoki

Bud, if you don't mind, could you tell me which vendors you imported plants from? I've heard of Ooi Leng Sun from Malaysia, and Purification Orchids of Philippines which are supposed to be reputable. But it seems to be pretty difficult to communicate with them (they didn't reply to my email). Sorry, I don't mean to hi-jack the smuggling talk, but I'm curious.

Ooi Leng Sun have a farm in Florida and they sell via Ebay they do not sell if you directly contact them= I don't know why.

heres some infos on international sellers ( some will allow a dozen rare exotic plants; some will not sell if less than $500 )

OrchidWire - Orchid Vendors in Malaysia
OrchidWire - Orchid Vendors in the Philippines
The Orchid Mall - Plant Sources ( from different countries)

---------- Post added at 11:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 PM ----------

you may want to team up or go under the umbrella of a big successful Florist/Flower shop in your area= they can order bulk cut orchids from Asia and they can request one or two plants that they can send with the large bulk order for you....shipping is free and sometimes the plant is free....