Import Cue with Ivory from outside the U.S.A.

[azbicyclis85376]

Recently have noticed one of the members of this forum is selling Cues made in the Philippines, like Viattorree Cues also from the Philippines.

These Cue appear interesting, but I am asking if anyone has received them in to the U.S.A., as some have Ivory and I am not sure if you can import Ivory into the U.S.?

Anyone familiar with U.S. Custom Service Regulations on the importing of Ivory Inlayed, and Exotic Materials in Pool Cues?

What is on the U.S. Customer Service RRESTRICTED LIST? Would be a Nasty experience to buy a cue, and have it confiscated by U.S. Customs for restricted materials.

 

[catscradle]

Recently have noticed one of the members of this forum is selling Cues made in the Philippines, like Viattorree Cues also from the Philippines.

These Cue appear interesting, but I am asking if anyone has received them in to the U.S.A., as some have Ivory and I am not sure if you can import Ivory into the U.S.?

Anyone familiar with U.S. Custom Service Regulations on the importing of Ivory Inlayed, and Exotic Materials in Pool Cues?

What is on the U.S. Customer Service RRESTRICTED LIST? Would be a Nasty experience to buy a cue, and have it confiscated by U.S. Customs for restricted materials.

Seems to me it would be illegal and subject to seizure. See this article about illegal ivory imports. I also suspect based upon that same article it would likely get through customs if shipped to the US.

 

[azbicyclis85376]

Seems to me it would be illegal and subject to seizure. See this article about illegal ivory imports. I also suspect based upon that same article it would likely get through customs if shipped to the US.

Think the U.S. Customs Service is proned to look the other way many times, as where I live Bus Loads of Senior converge on Mexican Border Towns to buy Prescription Drug all the time. They cross the Border, and Customs Service Personal seem to ignore them. Reason they go to Mexico is prescription drug can be had for pennies on the dollar compaired to buying from the local Walgreens.

Also if you cross with Counterfeit Oakley Sunglasses, and other Counterfeit goods, Automatic Knives in reasonable quantities the Customs Personal look the other way. But all of theses item are subjected to seizure.

Like I said I wonder if the Customs Folks would intercept a Cue from offshore, and open the package, inspect it, and seize?

 

[ajrack]

Legal Ivory

Back a few years ago, I talked to a billiard player from Belgium who stated that there is a very large warehouse in Brussels that has "certified / old" Ivory that was brought out of the "Congo" long before the bans went into effect.
I am not sure of the name but I guess it is still selling "legal" ivory.

 

[hadjcues]

I get my materials from the US including exotics and some and have it shipped here (Philippines). It hasn't been a problem. No problem with US customs. And I don't think it'll be a problem for ivory inlaid cues. Saw an ebayer who sold more than a 100 cues all loaded with ivory to the US. If it's a whole tusk section, then that could be troublesome. Besides CM's wont be putting labels outside packages "IVORY INLAID CUES". FedEX and DHL do a good job making sure the cue gets to it's rightful owner.

Check out Mika888's thread in wanted/sale, the cues made in the Philippines are already in SoCal

 

[justabrake]

Recently have noticed one of the members of this forum is selling Cues made in the Philippines, like Viattorree Cues also from the Philippines.

These Cue appear interesting, but I am asking if anyone has received them in to the U.S.A., as some have Ivory and I am not sure if you can import Ivory into the U.S.?

Anyone familiar with U.S. Custom Service Regulations on the importing of Ivory Inlayed, and Exotic Materials in Pool Cues?

What is on the U.S. Customer Service RRESTRICTED LIST? Would be a Nasty experience to buy a cue, and have it confiscated by U.S. Customs for restricted materials.

just thought I would post this!

I was doing a search here and over at ccb for ivory imported cues and to see if any were confiscated then I checked an ebayer from germany and I see he sold a few cues to regular buyers and sellers from ebay(USA) and seems his cues with ivory made it thru to them!

 

[TATE]

Recently have noticed one of the members of this forum is selling Cues made in the Philippines, like Viattorree Cues also from the Philippines.

These Cue appear interesting, but I am asking if anyone has received them in to the U.S.A., as some have Ivory and I am not sure if you can import Ivory into the U.S.?

Anyone familiar with U.S. Custom Service Regulations on the importing of Ivory Inlayed, and Exotic Materials in Pool Cues?

What is on the U.S. Customer Service RRESTRICTED LIST? Would be a Nasty experience to buy a cue, and have it confiscated by U.S. Customs for restricted materials.

I know of one that was seized at the Canadian border from a cue maker who told them it was an elephant ivory joint. Otherwise, it is very difficult for customs inspectors to tell if something is elephant ivory, or warthog tusk, or bone, or antler, or synthetic.

I've shipped cues with ivory overseas to Europe, and so far no problems. I used US Postal service international express mail, insured. The volume is so high, the customs inspectors really don't have time to go through it all.

Chris

 

[justabrake]

I know of one that was seized at the Canadian border from a cue maker who told them it was an elephant ivory joint. Otherwise, it is very difficult for customs inspectors to tell if something is elephant ivory, or warthog tusk, or bone, or antler, or synthetic.

I've shipped cues with ivory overseas to Europe, and so far no problems. I used US Postal service international express mail, insured. The volume is so high, the customs inspectors really don't have time to go through it all.

Chris

Hi-Chris, I was checking an ebayer (cuecollection) about his sales of Ivory cues to the USA and see that they have gotten thru , I was going thru his feedback and I see you sold to him as well!

anyway I was wondering if a cue gets confiscated who takes the lost ? since a seller is somewhat responcible to deliver ?

 

[mjantti]

I've heard that in Japan, the export of ivory if forbidden. So, if you want to order a cue from a japanese cuemaker, they cannot put ivory parts in your cue if they are shipping it outside Japan. I'm not sure about this, but it's from a quite reliable source...

 

[Jack Flanagan]

anyway I was wondering if a cue gets confiscated who takes the lost ? since a seller is somewhat responcible to deliver ?

don't know how international law works, but if a person in one state orders a cue and pays up front (including shipping), the buyer suffers the loss; NOT the seller from the other state...makes me wish the good-old-days of the C.O.D. would come back !

 

[GeraldG]

Importing and exporting Elephant Ivory to and from the U.S. is legal as long as you have the proper CITES paperwork. CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. It is a unilateral agreement between countries to regulate the trade in Endangered and Protected Plants and Animals and animal parts. Importing or exporting Ivory without the paperwork is a crime, whether the Ivory is legal or not.

To get the paperwork, you have to be able to show documentation that the Ivory is legally obtained and held Pre-Endangered Species Act Ivory. It ain't convenient or easy to get, but it's not impossible either. There is almost no way that you are going to get a permit to import a tusk into the U.S. It's much easier to get permits to export finished products made of legal Ivory to other countries.

That being said, it's highly unlikely that a cue is going to get discovered and confiscated because of Ivory in the cue. It is possible, but not likely. If it does happen, it can be bad. Most of the time, they simply consfiscate the item and that's pretty much the end of it. However, if they choose to, they could prosecute under International Smuggling laws and make your life miserable for a while. From what I've heard, it's not fun to have the Feds after you for a felony.

I'm not willing to take the chance. I've turned down a few sales for that very reason. For me, it's just not worth the hassle to get the permits.

 

[TATE]

Hi-Chris, I was checking an ebayer (cuecollection) about his sales of Ivory cues to the USA and see that they have gotten thru , I was going thru his feedback and I see you sold to him as well!

anyway I was wondering if a cue gets confiscated who takes the lost ? since a seller is somewhat responcible to deliver ?

Justabrake,

That's Hermann - he's a good guy, a reliable contact, and he was an excellent customer for me.

If you are considering buying one of his cues, I am certain he would agree to guarantee delivery. I guarantee delivery of my cues when I sell them.

If he guarantees you delivery, he is taking the financial risk of shipping you the cue. Legally, he is filling out the customs declaration, etc. and importing the cue. I think the only risk is the longshot that the cues could be confiscated, which would be his loss.

Morally, there is no issue with endangered species. The cues were made here in the US so presumably the ivory originated from our (legal) stockpile from pre-ban ivory, or it was legally imported with certificates of origin.

While I don't think you need escrow service dealing with Hermann, this is the ideal situation for Proficient's escow service.

Chris

 

[cueman]

Do not be deceived into thinking that Game and Fish won't confiscate cues with Ivory in them. They will and have. They are even asking UPS to send them packages with high value that says "pool cue" as the description. Claiming a high value on a pool cue throws up a red flag to them. One guy told me they brought his Phillipine cue to Game and Fish in Alaska inspected it and sent it to him. He had the guy in the Phillipines paint the cue with a easy to remove black substance. So it looked like a cheap solid black cue to Game and Fish, but was loaded with Ivory. What he did was illegal and he could go to jail or be fined for it if caught. Best thing to do is obey the law and not encourage the import of Ivory that may not be legal.

 

[justabrake]

Justabrake,

That's Hermann - he's a good guy, a reliable contact, and he was an excellent customer for me.

If you are considering buying one of his cues, I am certain he would agree to guarantee delivery. I guarantee delivery of my cues when I sell them.

If he guarantees you delivery, he is taking the financial risk of shipping you the cue. Legally, he is filling out the customs declaration, etc. and importing the cue. I think the only risk is the longshot that the cues could be confiscated, which would be his loss.

Morally, there is no issue with endangered species. The cues were made here in the US so presumably the ivory originated from our (legal) stockpile from pre-ban ivory, or it was legally imported with certificates of origin.
While I don't think you need escrow service dealing with Hermann, this is the ideal situation for Proficient's escow service.

Chris

I was looking at his cues and was suprised that these are american made cues with the ivory in them and he's shipping them back to the USA for sale I thought there was a big market in europe for american made cues !