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UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 11:25:53
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mjguy
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UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com
I was searching the internet for the best Protein Isolate for building muscle mass and I came across the website bodybuilding.com
I live in England, UK and the products on offer at bodybuilding.com were substantially cheaper than their UK equivalent, in fact they were half the price. After reading a review of the best protein products on bodybuilding.com, I decided to place an order of 4 2lbs tubs of Syntrax Nectar.
Having read the shipping section on the bodybuilding.com website, I noted that they listed various substances that are banned from import into the UK. Since none of these substances were contained within this product and since this product was on sale in stores in the UK I had no reason to believe that ordering this product would cause any problems.
My order finally arrived over 1 week later, but what arrived was a large empty box!!!!!
After opening the box, I found a piece of paper on which was written “Seizure Information Notice” from HM Customs and Excise.
The notice stated that the items have been seized by customs as they contained the following substances:
Dairy Products from outside the EU
Any product made from or containing dairy and/or containing dried milk or cream are banned.
Egg Products from outside the EU
Any product made from or containing egg including dried forms are banned.
Meat Products from outside the EU
Any product made from or containing meat or dried meat products are banned.
On further the enquiries I was told that the products had been seized in the UK and will be destroyed!
After contacting bodybuilding.com, they were less than helpful. They told me that it was my responsibility to check with customs before ordering the goods.
I pointed out that there was no warning on their website stating that Dairy, Egg and Meat products or derivatives cannot be shipped to the UK. I suggested that they place such a warning on their website but they have yet to do so.
Since almost all protein powders and almost all bodybuilding supplements contain or are made from dairy, egg or meat products I can understand their reluctance to warn any UK customers. They would probably lose too many sales.
I have lost over $200 by ordering products from the USA company bodybuilding.com. They don’t care, they are happy to take your money and ship the goods you order, yet they are unwilling to warn UK customers that dairy, egg and meat products or derivative are banned from import into the UK. I found their website very misleading and feel that I have been tricked by this company.
In my experience, if you live in the UK, it is best to order any bodybuilding supplements from a UK supplier. Do not be tempted to order any protein goods from bodybuilding.com in the USA.
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 11:28:13
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The Graduate
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Unfortunatly the onus is on the buyer to check what is and what isnt availabe. Most sites dont have any info at all, so BB.com are better than most. Additionally the T&Cs will state that the risk is yours not theirs.
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 11:33:01
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mjguy
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Yes but they are aware of the rules so they should warn their customers.
How many more people will get ripped off?
They seem quite happy to stay quiet on the issue and take peoples money.
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 11:37:32
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theiopener
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mjguy
Yes but they are aware of the rules so they should warn their customers.
How many more people will get ripped off?
They seem quite happy to stay quiet on the issue and take peoples money.
Your responsibility to know about customs procedures in YOUR country.
Sorry mate i feel your pain but TBH you screwed up by not checking what you could and could not import
< Message edited by theiopener -- Apr. 26 2008 11:39:27 >
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 11:44:13
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mjguy
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Thats why i am posting this warning to other people.
If you are living in the UK do not order any protein products from outside the EC as they will contain or be made from dairy, egg or meat.
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 11:58:16
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The Graduate
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mjguy
Yes but they are aware of the rules so they should warn their customers.
How many more people will get ripped off?
They seem quite happy to stay quiet on the issue and take peoples money.
They lose as well as they dont get the goods back either so its not a case that they want it too happen!
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 12:03:42
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Puzzle
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I've had a look at their site, it doesn't pretend to be a comprehensive list, but they will know that dairy import into the EU is banned. It obviously a deliberate ommision.
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 12:05:03
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mjguy
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quote:
They lose as well as they dont get the goods back either so its not a case that they want it too happen!
How do they loose? They get to keep your cash!
They take your cash and ship.
What arrives is an empty box at the other end.
There is nothing you can do about it. I am just warning other people so that they dont get ripped off either.
They should put a warning on their website about dairy, egg and meat products.
They have warnings for other Substances, so why not dairy, egg or meat? Is it beacuse they would loose too many sales from UK customers?
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 12:05:41
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tigernut
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i good point. it would be useful if webbies like this had up to date info on customs rules though from site sales outside the EU, and even rules for the rules within it. again it needs someone up to date with law tho and that cost money usually. anyone know of any decent links though to such info? that would be handy for all of us
quote:
ORIGINAL: ThaiFighter
Yes. Protein sups always get seized - you need the official (expensive) paperwork to bring them in.
The reason they seize them is to protect / subsidise EU farmers - so it's basically a tax.
And the price dif between US stores and the UK on other goods?
That's mostly import taxes like duty, and VAT. VAT is 20% of the difference, added onto duty (which is a variable).
BB.com can't know all the rules that exist - it's not what they pay people to do. We get asked by people from Norway, Denmark etc. if Mass FX is legal over there. How do I know? I'm a UK citizen, who sells stuff in the UK. Paying someone to research that wouldn't be worth my while because customers would still expect low prices, whilst also expecting me to be an international law expert.
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 12:12:45
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The Graduate
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From: Eastbourne United Kingdom
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mjguy
quote:
They lose as well as they dont get the goods back either so its not a case that they want it too happen!
How do they loose? They get to keep your cash!
They take your cash and ship.
What arrives is an empty box at the other end.
There is nothing you can do about it. I am just warning other people so that they dont get ripped off either.
They should put a warning on their website about dairy, egg and meat products.
They have warnings for other Substances, so why not dairy, egg or meat? Is it beacuse they would loose too many sales from UK customers?
They lose because you want shop with them again.
The stuff listed on their website is probably ingredients that are illegal such as eph, etc. Diary and egg isnt illegal in this country just not allowed to import it.
However, at least others on this forum wont have the same issues so thanks for putting this info up!
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 12:25:39
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Lucky_jim
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im gutted for you mate but thanks for posting this up.
are thre any other BB products that are banned from importing? I have just ordered some greens plus from the US - will this be ok?
< Message edited by Lucky_jim -- Apr. 26 2008 12:26:13 >
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 12:43:43
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firest0rm
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Responsibility aside, I think if you refuse to take delivery of the goods and then claim a chargeback with your credit card company you will get your money back. You could actually claim the transaction as fraudulent and as there isn't a signed delivery slip confirming receipt of the goods you 'should' get your money back.
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 12:51:57
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mjguy
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It is easy for companies like bodybuilding.com to hold their hands up and say it is not their responsibility to know the rules.
If they didn't know the rules then fair enough - they do now...
The fact is, they will continue to take orders from UK customers for products they know are banned from import to the UK.
We must ask why this is; is it because in not doing so it would hurt their bottom line?
I could understand if the customer was importing illegal steroids or drugs and they were aware of the risks, but we are talking about 99% of bodybuilding supplements (ie. Protein)!
These companies may not have a legal obligation to warn their customers but they do have a moral obligation if they are aware of the rules.
By not posting this information they are just blatantly ripping us off.
< Message edited by mjguy -- Apr. 26 2008 12:58:29 >
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RE: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - Apr. 26 2008 12:59:33
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ThaiFighter
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From: Manchester
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mjguy
It is easy for companies like bodybuilding.com to hold their hands up and say it is not their responsibility to know the rules.
If they didn't know the rules then fair enough - they do now...
The fact is, they will continue to take orders from UK customers for products they know are banned from import to the UK.
We must ask why this is, is it because it would hurt their bottom line?
I could understand if the customer was importing illegal steroids or drugs and they were aware of the risks, but we are talking about 99% of bodybuilding supplements (ie. Protein)!
These companies may not have a legal obligation to warn their customers but they do have a moral obligation if they are aware of the rules.
By not posting this information they are just blatantly ripping us off.
it's probably more a case of it not being high on their priority list.
they'll have tons of things to do, and their just moving from being a "web" company to a "real" company with magazine adverts and all sorts of stuff like that. they also just got sold to a venture capital firm for mega bucks - all of which will mean they have higher priorities than looking at EU law, for the 2% of customers or whatever it is, that buy from the UK / EU.
I agree they should warn people, but in reality they will be exceptionally busy doing other stuff they get paid for. Would you spend time and pay people to look into EU law if you weren't getting paid for it? Me neither, hence why they haven't as yet done it...
It'll become high priority if they ever consider putting a depot in the EU (which they probably won't because they'd get killed through not knowing the market, and having a bad rep with EU customers through non-write downs of UK orders, lack of disclosure on protein etc.).
Anyways, long story short...I think they probably will eventually do it....but at the mo....how do we know France etc. does seize them? If they don't, do they just write:
- we think the UK seize's most of the time, France doesn't, Italy...er.....?
Then no one would buy their sups cos they'd look like they don't KNOW what get's taken. In that case, they'd be warning people to never buy off their site...when you can probably import...sod knows...hot rox really easily from it.
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