A Case of Beer in My Checked Baggage?

[geoffl]

A Mate of mine bought in a case of Kokenay Ice, Glacier Beer from Canada, (sales pitch, made from the melted waters of Glaciers !!!) he just stuffed it into his packed luggage and surronded it with shirts and undies, but, they were Cans !
He had no problem at Customs. It was a good drop !!

 

[davidj-bell]

I'm going to have a crack at bringing one in... It was free anyway, and I think I'll only end up paying 15-20 bucks duty, if they bother to charge me at all... I wouldn't pay 70 bucks for it in Australia, just out of principle, it's a $15 case of beer in China.

I'll let you know on how I get on...

My only advice is to ensure that you declare it. I got away with excess alcohol (about 2 litres total, but this was before the rule change) because, as the guy said to me "I was honest", and as there were queues everywhere, he obviously had more important things to worry about than a returning aussie.

 

[Justinf]

What do you call "packed Sturdily"? I was just going to put the box of 24 - which has dividers in it - into the checked luggage... If it gets dropped, it gets dropped, and there is probably not much that will help that I guess...?

I just make sure there's plenty of cushioning around it. A windcheater on either side and a towel on the top and T-shirts on the bottom usually suffices.
I've also taken an 18-pack 'slab' from NZ and the security guys were most impressed at my selection - Speights. Had no troubles.
Cascade Draught is definitely only available in Tassie. Great beer.

 

[medhead]

The key to packing securely is to make sure there can be no movement. So even if you pack as suggested you really need to prevent movement of the bottles within the case, IMO.

Sounds exciting in a way and I like Speights and all. Did a brewery tour in Dunedin with Pip as our guide. It was rather entertaining, but I got evil eyes for laughing everytime Pip said her name or Speights.

 

[neon_crossing]

I once checked a carton of beer domestically on DJ. No wrapping, bag, nothing just glass beer bottles in the carton. DJ staffer said 'no worries'. Checked it on. Came out all in one piece, did feel kinda stupid watching it go around on the carosel!

 

[sr81]

I just make sure there's plenty of cushioning around it. A windcheater on either side and a towel on the top and T-shirts on the bottom usually suffices.
I've also taken an 18-pack 'slab' from NZ and the security guys were most impressed at my selection - Speights. Had no troubles.
Cascade Draught is definitely only available in Tassie. Great beer.

I have done this from HBA to MEL multiple times and no dramas. Last time I took an empty esxy down and a full one back up. I have also brought in wine/beer from OS and just wrapped it securly in my jumpers, socks etc. Customs wasn't fussed, in fact I think the lads were a little impressed with my dedication. That said make sure you do declare it.

Maybe we should start a committee to get Cascade Draught to the mainland? Would need a lot hard research and trips to Cascade HQ.

 

[danmancs]

So... I got to TAO airport and tried to check in the case of beer bottles, however the check-in lady suggested I use the airport wrapping service to put it in a box with some padding, otherwise it might get broken. I took her advice and did just that... the wrapping people didn't take cards, so I had to walk the length of the airport to find an ATM... I then went back and checked it in with a fragile sticker on it, and off it disappeared down the conveyor...

After a none too pleasant flight to HKG in whY followed by a few hours in the QF Flounge, then a much better J flight to BNE (despite a terrible duck shepard's pie for dinner!), I declared my case of beer on the form, and waited for it to come down the carousel. It arrived completely dry and unbroken and I continued on to customs...

I told the young customs chap that I was declaring a case of beer, and he asked me a few questions about whether it was bottles or cans, and what size, and then scanned all my bags. He looked a little embarrassed and sheepish as he told me that he would have to charge me some duty on it, especially as I joked with him that it was almost unaustralian to charge a man for bringing a case of beer home! Then, as we walked over to the duty counter, he stopped to speak to one of the senior customs officers, and I guess he must have asked whether it was worth the effort for 1 case of beer, because he came back over to me and said not to worry about it and just head straight through!

So, aside from the $7 it cost me to pack it in Qingdao, it arrived in one piece and cost me no duty... a great result!!!

 

[Flashback]

So... I got to TAO airport and tried to check in the case of beer bottles, however the check-in lady suggested I use the airport wrapping service to put it in a box with some padding, otherwise it might get broken. I took her advice and did just that... the wrapping people didn't take cards, so I had to walk the length of the airport to find an ATM... I then went back and checked it in with a fragile sticker on it, and off it disappeared down the conveyor...

After a none too pleasant flight to HKG in whY followed by a few hours in the QF Flounge, then a much better J flight to BNE (despite a terrible duck shepard's pie for dinner!), I declared my case of beer on the form, and waited for it to come down the carousel. It arrived completely dry and unbroken and I continued on to customs...

I told the young customs chap that I was declaring a case of beer, and he asked me a few questions about whether it was bottles or cans, and what size, and then scanned all my bags. He looked a little embarrassed and sheepish as he told me that he would have to charge me some duty on it, especially as I joked with him that it was almost unaustralian to charge a man for bringing a case of beer home! Then, as we walked over to the duty counter, he stopped to speak to one of the senior customs officers, and I guess he must have asked whether it was worth the effort for 1 case of beer, because he came back over to me and said not to worry about it and just head straight through!

So, aside from the $7 it cost me to pack it in Qingdao, it arrived in one piece and cost me no duty... a great result!!!

Good result! :mrgreen:

 

[samh004]

Lucky! Sometimes you do get good customs agents

 

[Grooba]

Great stuff danmancs.

I agree with your comments about the customs agentssamh004, with one small addition. It also makes a huge difference depending on the attitude you present to the customs agent. Bad attitude generally = bad agent.

 

[Justinf]

I have done this from HBA to MEL multiple times and no dramas. Last time I took an empty esxy down and a full one back up. I have also brought in wine/beer from OS and just wrapped it securly in my jumpers, socks etc. Customs wasn't fussed, in fact I think the lads were a little impressed with my dedication. That said make sure you do declare it.

Maybe we should start a committee to get Cascade Draught to the mainland? Would need a lot hard research and trips to Cascade HQ.

No chance of Cascade Draught coming to the mainland. Owned by CUB and they do now want i canibalising their mainland products.
Best enjoyed on tap anyway. I feel a HBA status run coming on.

 

[PineappleSkip]

I guess he must have asked whether it was worth the effort for 1 case of beer, because he came back over to me and said not to worry about it and just head straight through

Consistent with my experience with declaring goods a few $100 over the $900 limit. Yes different rule but similar result from their perspective - a paltry sum of duty

It also makes a huge difference depending on the attitude you present to the customs agent. Bad attitude generally = bad agent.

Marvellous what a difference it makes when you declare things

Cheers skip

 

[medhead]

Consistent with my experience with declaring goods a few $100 over the $900 limit. Yes different rule but similar result from their perspective - a paltry sum of duty



Marvellous what a difference it makes when you declare things

Cheers skip

Umm and yet inconsistent with my experience having declared something at $940.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Umm and yet inconsistent with my experience having declared something at $940.

:shockerhaps they're more pedantic these days... or were having a bad hair day or something...I had several over limit experiences but they are all a few years ago now.

 

[medhead]

:shockerhaps they're more pedantic these days... or were having a bad hair day or something...I had several over limit experiences but they are all a few years ago now.

It's a real lottery. Probably didn't help that I realised the real value once I got to the pay here counter. But they still charged $94 in GST. meh.

 

[docjames]

Interesting thread. Good result for the OP.

//OT//

has mental image of man refusing to pay duty, demanding to be allowed to drink full case in customs hall.....

//ot//

 

[danmancs]

//OT//

has mental image of man refusing to pay duty, demanding to be allowed to drink full case in customs hall.....

//ot//

Very Homer Simpson...

A very good result, and to be honest I was just happy that they arrived intact... the fact that they let me off the duty was a bonus!!!