Maharaja Shave and the US Customs Horror Show

[Kevan]

Guys, this is simply unacceptable.

First of all, disclaimer: I'd like to say that Manish (Beyboo) at Maharaja Shave is awesome and a true gentlemen. Fair prices and great service. He has offered to rectify this unfortunate situation with my next order, and for that, I applaud him. The following pictures of horror are NOT due to him at all, but rather US Customs. Apparently they use swords to open boxes and confiscate free blades and alum blocks.

My Maharaja Shave order came today after a FedEx delay. The box was covered in tons of annoying tape that said "OPENED FOR US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION." The box was completely sliced, as if no one paid any attention to the proper way to open it.

I ordered 11 items. Talcum powder, Old Spice AS, Vi-John shaving cream, Dabur Red toothpaste and an assortment of soaps.

THREE ITEMS were sliced open. One of my talcums, the toothpaste, and one tube of the Vi-John. Each one of the soaps was even opened and re-taped closed. And Manish's free blades and alum block were nowhere to be seen. All this depite a CLEARLY-DISPLAYED packing list on the OUTSIDE of the box for Customs to read. Even so, if they HAD to open the box, they could've done it with SOME modicum of care.

This is what I'm talking about:

What is the 7 levels of hell according to Dante would've possessed them to do this? Or take my blades? Can you believe this sh*t? I don't understand it, I really don't. I am soooo mad right now!

 

[Kevan]

Here is a pic of the products that made it unscathed. The stains on the tin Yardley talc container are from dried shave cream and toothpaste. But as you can see, still a quite impressive haul from our friend Beyboo!

 

[col conk]

Sorry that items were damaged due to customs.
I can't see any pics though.

 

[Kevan]

Damn. I thought posting the full-size images via Google would work. I'll try something else.

 

[The Nid Hog]

Use photobucket.

 

[Kevan]

Use photobucket.

I just uploaded to Picasa. Are they visible now?

 

[bradyarz]

yes. that's pretty bad.

 

[col conk]

Yep, I can see them now.
They really did a number on those tubes.

 

[Kevan]

Idiots. I'm filing a complaint, as if it will do any good. And why the hell would they take blades and an alum block? "Dangerous weapons"?

 

[ackvil]

You should complain to your Congressman about this treatment.

 

[Kevan]

We've got two local Customs places here. They're getting an earful and I'm asking for the number of the Memphis TN Customs office that checks all incoming FedEx stuff.

 

[Mr. Styptic]

Give 'em hell, Kevan, and don't let them intimidate you or blow you off!
Custom protections are necessary, of course, but we have a right to expect some thoughtfulness on their part!
Missing items? That called thievery.

 

[Kevan]

I should go and "confiscate" whatever swords they used to open my package too. Ugh.

 

[Bobtrumpet]

I just uploaded to Picasa. Are they visible now?

Yes, they are visible.

This is a cryin' shame. Our tax dollars at work.

Has anyone else bought blades from one of the Indian vendors and had Customs open the package? I would think the blades would be the only issue.

 

[Kevan]

I have bought bllades from an Indian Ebay vendor and I got them. Furthermore, several people here have ordered from Maharaja Shave and gotten their blades.

 

[Luc]

I don't want to defend someone that doesn't deserve it but it happens with plane pressure that sometimes, tubes like Toothpaste, explode like that. It happened to me in the past, I now already wrap everything in individual zip-locks...

In this case, it's quite silly indeed...

 

[col conk]

I have bought bllades from an Indian Ebay vendor and I got them. Furthermore, several people here have ordered from Maharaja Shave and gotten their blades.

I think your right Kevan. This is after all frieght =not a carry on going through TSA.

 

[paydepst]

It won't do you any good to complain to Customs. It might make you feel better but that is the most you can hope for. You are lucky that much of it arrived in decent shape if they had a "look" at it..

Was this a Fed Ex shipment?

 

[elveeskee]

WHOA!!
I got my package late last week and everything was intact! No traces that my package was inspected at all!
I feel for you man. I didn't have any blades in my order but I don't think that would have flagged your package for that kind of beatdown. Wow!

Maybe it was because the package was brown...
Sorry, couldn't help myself. Just making light of the Arizona stuff going on. Sorry

 

[manchambo]

Is that stuff that looks like clay toothpaste? I'm not sure I'd put that in my mouth.