International Shipping

[sprouts1115]

So I was poking around the USPS web site: http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immctry.htm Most countries prohibit radioactive material. Which makes sense, but I find it interesting some counties list "Playing Cards" as a prohibited item. I was wondering if anybody has experienced problems shipping playing cards to these countries: Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Madagascar, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sudan,Thailand, Tunisia.

I took screenshots of the countries in question for your viewing pleasure. It's neat to see some of the wacky things that are prohibited.

[sprouts1115]

and more...

[sprouts1115]

still more....

[Lotrek]

For Greece I guess it's an old non active law from the time playing cards was a state monopoly. At least I hope so...

[Don Boyer]

For Greece I guess it's an old non active law from the time playing cards was a state monopoly. At least I hope so...

More likely would be that it's an old form of protectionism for the locally-made versions of the products.  It often happens when local manufacturers of a product can't compete against cheaply-made foreign goods.  In this case, the cheap goods probably came from China - they make a LOT of playing cards there, from dozens if not hundreds of companies.  So to protect the local companies, they either restrict the foreign goods or charge high tariffs/duties on the imports.

I recall a rather humorous version of this in the US a few years back.  An American company, the only domestic company producing LCD flatscreen computer monitors, was having trouble competing with cheaper goods coming from Asia.  They requested and received protection from the government - and proceeded to move their manufacturing to China!  When newspapers got wind of it, it didn't take long to end the restrictions...

[Paul Carpenter]

I know this is an older topic, but I have shipped to many of those countries. Pretty much everything has arrived that I am aware of. I mark packages as "collectible cards and papers" and that seems to do the trick.

[Don Boyer]

I know this is an older topic, but I have shipped to many of those countries. Pretty much everything has arrived that I am aware of. I mark packages as "collectible cards and papers" and that seems to do the trick.

I question whether anyone has had these issues.  It could simply be a case of an old, forgotten and unenforced law, left on the books because it would cost more to remove it.  It's why in New York City, you have to use a leash when walking your alligator...(real law, still on the books...)

[BastianBJ]

I live in Denmark and I have, once, had problems with playing cards. The Genesis playing cards never arrived to me.. I though it was because of all the trouble I had with my bank, card and PayPal, so I never really cared too much about it. Later I backed the Allure Playing Cards. When that shipment arrived, I also received my Genesis Playing Cards! I contacted Noel Quiles about it, and he confirmed that he had trouble with the post office when he wanted to ship the cards to me in DK.

But that's the only time I've ever had trouble with playing cards