Restrictions on import into Russia
Hi,
We have just had a used medical textbook sent back from the Russian customs. The shipper (TNT) told us that individuals in Russia are not allowed to receive goods, it has to be a company.
This is really odd as we’d had several orders for second-hand books from Russian customers over the years, all to private addresses, never any problems. The only difference seems to be, all previous orders were Moscow-bound, this one was going elsewhere (near the Kazakhstan’s border).
Anyone else has experienced anything like that with Russian custom authorities? Could that be a TNT-related problem rather than the destination?
Thanks,
kb
0 replies
Seller_EJIX7rqDNQJi2
There are no restrictions regarding books which can be shipped into the country.
However, if the value was higher, the book could have been stopped by customs and the buyer asked to pay an import duty, which is normally expensive.
In order to be able to pay an import duty, there are lots of necessary documents and paperworks which need to be provided to the customs so it sounds like your buyer was unable to do so.
Seller_EOmLRMFX8Oo9x
I shipped a small parcel value of £28.00 approx (through ebay) via Royal Mail to a residential address in North West Russia which was delivered this morning without any problems.
This is the tracking information for the stages around customs in Russia
Arrived at the local distribution center
05 August 2019, 01:19 102975, Марушкинское
Registered
05 August 2019, 02:43 102976, Марушкинское
Handed over to the customs
05 August 2019, 15:35 102976, Марушкинское
Released by custom house
05 August 2019, 15:36 102976, Марушкинское
Arrived at the local distribution center
06 August 2019, 04:48 102975, Марушкинское
Handed over for delivery within Russia
06 August 2019, 04:49 102976, Марушкинское
Seller_taDBgt7LctucW
TNT are, of course, quite wrong if that is what they said however there are strict regulations regarding private individuals importing into Russia and so many of the usual couriers will now only deliver to a business. We have experienced the same issues. The answer is to use a different courier and to ask in advance if they can deliver to a private address.
There are various articles online that explain the rules. Have a read of this for example: