UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

mjguy · 26-04-2008, 11:55 AM

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.

Don’t waste your hard earned cash like I did! :(

genesis · 26-04-2008, 12:03 PM

No need to double post mate.
Bad news about losing your money, but why did you order protein from the states, surely it would be would work out cheper and faster to get it from a uk supplier taken the cost of shipping and tax into account

CHUKS · 26-04-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjguy

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.

Don’t waste your hard earned cash like I did! :(

Hi mate, sorry you had all your goods seized. Importing meat/dairy products from the USA is prohibited, so in fairness to BB.com it would have been the same outcome no matter who you ordered from in the USA.

Lost Soul · 26-04-2008, 02:17 PM

Feel for you my friend in terms of money lost but ultimately i dont believe in taking our business elsewehere when we can support the companies in the UK

That is neither here nor there though and this is good information for those looking to bring supplements into the country

Captain Hero · 26-04-2008, 02:21 PM

what supplements were you ordering out of interest? I have ordered a number of things from a US site called bulk nutrition and never had a problem

Lost Soul · 26-04-2008, 02:48 PM

The issues come with food based items

wogihao · 26-04-2008, 02:49 PM

Depends if customs inspect your package as well, its just a role of the dice with stuff like that. Alough it could be much worse you could be in OZ there customs are very efficent. Loads of stuff from BB.com & other american sites get seized..

dmcc · 26-04-2008, 08:18 PM

Why did you not check hmrc.gov.uk before ordering? The vast majority of food items not produced within the EU is banned. You can appeal the seizure, but you have to do so within a specified time frame; check www.hmrc.gov.uk or call 0845 010 9000 to check.

leeston · 26-04-2008, 08:48 PM

old legal term:

'CAVEAT EMPTOR' - let the buyer beware.

Importing any foodstuffs from abroad is risky business. What with bird flu and mad cow etc all governments are edgy these days.

Unlucky mate but maybe should have done your homework.

noturbo · 27-04-2008, 03:09 PM

Just wait till you get your import tax bill, then you will be pleased lol. buying stuff mail order from the states looks cheaper to start with but costs pretty much the same once you add shipping and import tax. I ordered some diesel test from bodybuilding.com years ago as it looked so much cheaper, but in the end it cost about the same as it would have from a uk supplier.

Also that syntrax nectar stuff costs $30 for 2lbs when i've just ordered some good quality protein from myprotein.co.uk with no fillers, sweeteners, flavourings or thickening agents and i got 10lbs for £31.95 so you could have bought a good quality protein in the uk much cheaper. And the flavours of that syntrax stuff

mjguy · 27-04-2008, 03:50 PM

Thanks for all your messages.

I guess I am just really peed-off because this is the very first time I have ever ordered bb suplement products from the internet and it has been the worst experience!

Imagine paying all your hard earned cash and Fedex deliver you an empty box! It is like something out of a comic sketch!

I am really peed off with bodybuilding.com because I did check their site and they list various substances and products banned from import to the UK. But there is no mention of dairy, egg or meat products (including dried forms) . I feel that they so know the rules but decide to omit this information since 90% of products contains these ingredients.

I sent bb.com an email asking them to update their website so that nobody else fall prey and they just sent back a message saying:

"We try really hard to keep up with international customs laws but as they change so frequently that it is extremely hard for us to make sure that we have the most up to date information at all times. Once again we appologize for the hassle."

"Customs can be a crazy hassle. Thanks for spreading the word! We appreciate it man!"

"Have a great day!"

A simple fob-off email.

No mention of updating their website to warn other potential victims!

They should take more responsibility to warn people. Why take money from UK customers knowing for well that they are about to ship banned products. There should at least be a warning.

oh well - never going to use bb.com again thats for sure!

BSF James · 27-04-2008, 05:28 PM

I would have thought bodybuilding.com would have known full well about the implications of exporting dairy products to Europe. Most of the large sports nutrition retailers and distributors in the USA know all about it and a lot of them try their best to get around it. We get contacted all the time by big US distributors offering to sell us protein supplements and when I send them my pre-prepared email saying 'no thanks' I always ask them out of interest 'well how do you get around the protein issue' and their response is always along the lines of 'well thats the customer's problem/responsibility'.

The only legal way to import protein supplements from the USA is to go direct to the manufacturer and become an official importer/distributor (although for this you need to prepare to order in volumes of 1000s and get there before anyone else gets the UK contract first). They will then supply you with the necessary documentation to legally import the products (which are certificates to prove that the dairy produce has come from a safe animal). As the UK importers for AST, this is what we have to do and it involves a fair amount of hoop jumping. Once its all done, we can ship the products over and rather than seizing/destroying the goods, customs simply ransom them to us for tens of thousands of pounds instead. Once we pay, we get the stock.

I feel very sorry for customers like the original poster here, who are not made aware of the legality and lose their money, and I do believe the American retailers should be culpable for offering to ship them to Europe in the first place, but I actually wish Customs would crack down harder on importation laws because its unfair to UK sellers that the likes of bodybuilding.com can get away with selling to European customers without having to pay the taxes we have to pay, and thereby be able to undercut their UK counterparts. They should have to play by the same rules, and pay the same taxes, as the rest of us.

Beklet · 27-04-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSF James

I
I feel very sorry for customers like the original poster here, who are not made aware of the legality and lose their money, and I do believe the American retailers should be culpable for offering to ship them to Europe in the first place, but I actually wish Customs would crack down harder on importation laws because its unfair to UK sellers that the likes of bodybuilding.com can get away with selling to European customers without having to pay the taxes we have to pay, and thereby be able to undercut their UK counterparts. They should have to play by the same rules, and pay the same taxes, as the rest of us.

Unfortunately Customs can do nothing about companies outside the EU, just try to stop the goods getting in - ever more difficult when the Government has decimated Customs, and in fact just hived most of it off to the Home Office (and we all know how good THEY are....

)

The laws are EU laws and individual countries can't do a lot about them. It's the same the other way though - I can post anything I like to the US or Australia, but there's no guarantee it will get there.

dmcc · 27-04-2008, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjguy

I am really peed off with bodybuilding.com because I did check their site and they list various substances and products banned from import to the UK. But there is no mention of dairy, egg or meat products (including dried forms) .

They should take more responsibility to warn people. Why take money from UK customers knowing for well that they are about to ship banned products. There should at least be a warning.

It's not that reasonable to expect one supplier in the USA to be aware of the laws on importation of goods in almost 200 other countries, and why you would go by just what is on a website I don't know. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

davetherave · 27-04-2008, 08:04 PM

i got something seized once, quite rightly so ;)

i got a letter saying i could go and pick them up, i kindly refused

26-04-2008, 11:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
mjguy Newbie Trainer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2	UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com 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. Don’t waste your hard earned cash like I did! :(

26-04-2008, 12:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
genesis aka Marc Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 1,732	Re: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com No need to double post mate. Bad news about losing your money, but why did you order protein from the states, surely it would be would work out cheper and faster to get it from a uk supplier taken the cost of shipping and tax into account __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. new website launching soon

26-04-2008, 02:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
Captain Hero is really, really, ridiculously good looking. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 6,788	Re: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com what supplements were you ordering out of interest? I have ordered a number of things from a US site called bulk nutrition and never had a problem __________________ Captain Hero 1. Captain Hero To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 25 up, 3 down To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. One of the most messed up characters in To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , Captain Hero is a parody on Superman. He is also a To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , enjoys To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , is a bisexual, has a childish personality and possibly a mental disorder, is at times a To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , practices To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , had a romance with To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. , Bleh, and Unusually-Flexible-Girl. "By the time I get there, the girl is either already safe, or dead. Either way, there's going to be some serious fondling." ~Captain Hero. *"Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of experience comes from bad judgment."*

26-04-2008, 02:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
wogihao Banned Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,358	Re: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com Depends if customs inspect your package as well, its just a role of the dice with stuff like that. Alough it could be much worse you could be in OZ there customs are very efficent. Loads of stuff from BB.com & other american sites get seized..

26-04-2008, 08:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
dmcc 3rd-strongest gay on UKM, apparently... Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Tooting Posts: 2,452	Re: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com Why did you not check hmrc.gov.uk before ordering? The vast majority of food items not produced within the EU is banned. You can appeal the seizure, but you have to do so within a specified time frame; check www.hmrc.gov.uk or call 0845 010 9000 to check. __________________ Bitte beachten Sie beim einsteigen die Lücke zwischen Zug und Bahnsteigkante. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

26-04-2008, 08:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
leeston Any more chicken and I will start clucking!! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Birmingham, West Midlandshire Posts: 2,360	Re: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com old legal term: 'CAVEAT EMPTOR' - let the buyer beware. Importing any foodstuffs from abroad is risky business. What with bird flu and mad cow etc all governments are edgy these days. Unlucky mate but maybe should have done your homework. __________________ Gobal terror they say that we are at war................ but I dont have time for that 'cos them bills keep dropping through my door. Suburban Knights, Hard-Fi To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

27-04-2008, 03:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
noturbo Looking Freaky Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cumbria Posts: 672	Re: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com Just wait till you get your import tax bill, then you will be pleased lol. buying stuff mail order from the states looks cheaper to start with but costs pretty much the same once you add shipping and import tax. I ordered some diesel test from bodybuilding.com years ago as it looked so much cheaper, but in the end it cost about the same as it would have from a uk supplier. Also that syntrax nectar stuff costs $30 for 2lbs when i've just ordered some good quality protein from myprotein.co.uk with no fillers, sweeteners, flavourings or thickening agents and i got 10lbs for £31.95 so you could have bought a good quality protein in the uk much cheaper. And the flavours of that syntrax stuff Last edited by noturbo; 27-04-2008 at 03:12 PM.

27-04-2008, 03:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
mjguy Newbie Trainer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2	Re: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com Thanks for all your messages. I guess I am just really peed-off because this is the very first time I have ever ordered bb suplement products from the internet and it has been the worst experience! Imagine paying all your hard earned cash and Fedex deliver you an empty box! It is like something out of a comic sketch! I am really peed off with bodybuilding.com because I did check their site and they list various substances and products banned from import to the UK. But there is no mention of dairy, egg or meat products (including dried forms) . I feel that they so know the rules but decide to omit this information since 90% of products contains these ingredients. I sent bb.com an email asking them to update their website so that nobody else fall prey and they just sent back a message saying: "We try really hard to keep up with international customs laws but as they change so frequently that it is extremely hard for us to make sure that we have the most up to date information at all times. Once again we appologize for the hassle." "Customs can be a crazy hassle. Thanks for spreading the word! We appreciate it man!" "Have a great day!" A simple fob-off email. No mention of updating their website to warn other potential victims! They should take more responsibility to warn people. Why take money from UK customers knowing for well that they are about to ship banned products. There should at least be a warning. oh well - never going to use bb.com again thats for sure!

27-04-2008, 05:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
BSF James BodyShapers Fitness MD Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Telford Posts: 1,258	Re: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com I would have thought bodybuilding.com would have known full well about the implications of exporting dairy products to Europe. Most of the large sports nutrition retailers and distributors in the USA know all about it and a lot of them try their best to get around it. We get contacted all the time by big US distributors offering to sell us protein supplements and when I send them my pre-prepared email saying 'no thanks' I always ask them out of interest 'well how do you get around the protein issue' and their response is always along the lines of 'well thats the customer's problem/responsibility'. The only legal way to import protein supplements from the USA is to go direct to the manufacturer and become an official importer/distributor (although for this you need to prepare to order in volumes of 1000s and get there before anyone else gets the UK contract first). They will then supply you with the necessary documentation to legally import the products (which are certificates to prove that the dairy produce has come from a safe animal). As the UK importers for AST, this is what we have to do and it involves a fair amount of hoop jumping. Once its all done, we can ship the products over and rather than seizing/destroying the goods, customs simply ransom them to us for tens of thousands of pounds instead. Once we pay, we get the stock. I feel very sorry for customers like the original poster here, who are not made aware of the legality and lose their money, and I do believe the American retailers should be culpable for offering to ship them to Europe in the first place, but I actually wish Customs would crack down harder on importation laws because its unfair to UK sellers that the likes of bodybuilding.com can get away with selling to European customers without having to pay the taxes we have to pay, and thereby be able to undercut their UK counterparts. They should have to play by the same rules, and pay the same taxes, as the rest of us. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. -Now with FREE shipping available on all UK mainland orders! 5% off your first order - use discount code ukm6. The #1 choice for To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. with rapid, reliable service. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - research backed sports nutrition.

27-04-2008, 08:04 PM	#15 (permalink)
davetherave if you don't fancy me you must be a salad muncher Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 2,133	Re: UK customs seize goods from Bodybuilding.com i got something seized once, quite rightly so ;) i got a letter saying i could go and pick them up, i kindly refused __________________ my Journal - *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* PB's Works in progress SIA Badge paid for October 2007

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