h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well I never! One of the 'import' orders that I thought had been seized arrived in the post today - 5 x 40gramme packs of Drum tobacco.

It's a pity that that is only half of the order, but I do think that the company ships in small quantities to avoid detection, so maybe there is another package out there somewhere. As for the smokes themselves, well they're taxed stamped in Slovakia and posted from Bratislava.

The saving over UK prices on this order isn't that great. The packs are smaller than the 50gramme Belgian variety and at £25.00 for five packs, represent a saving of only £1.60 over the UK price per pack or £8.00 on the order so far. Someone is making a handsome profit out there I think

I shan't be ordering from them again. I get a better price by buying direct, and I quite like Calais as a town to hang out in

That's not right, surely- isn't it £8.49 for a 40g pack in England? That means you're saving £3.49 per pack, a saving of £17.45 on the order. It's still not that good though- I just got 5 50g packs for £20

Today will be the day that the last of the from my trip gets drunk. Which is a bit worrying considering the quantity I brought back with me

No KA you weren't factoring im the pack size issue. It was £5.00 for a 40gramme pack which means I was paying £6.25 for 50grammes of tobacco which is no great saving at all. Plus as the original order was for two lots of tobacco, and one lot hasn't arrived I'm still well down on the deal


On a happier note I've still got just over 2kg from the original Belgian shipment left, so I'm still saving money

did you try appealing? amount seized was less than 3 months supply for average smoker try asking them what the permitted ammount is!

I did consider it briefly, but it wasn't really worth it.

The rules are quite explicit. Commercial transactions sent through the postal system with the intention of avoiding paying local tax duties are a no-no. And that to be frank, was exactly what I was doing - I was bang to rights

Now whether those rules are anti-competitive in a free-trade market such as the EU, and hence should be ruled illegal. Well that's another story and a battle for another day

yes but whoe's to say you did'nt order them via internet.
and all transactions are delivered via various means

It looks like I'm going to be hitting the road back to Belgium in the next couple of weeks

Oh a mini holiday!

If only I had a car.


And the ability to hand roll cigarettes.


And some time to go to Belgium.


And more than £2.50.

It's booked! I travel on Monday the 9th February

Lucky you!

It's today.

And I smoke cigarettes which cost less than €1 per pack.

I smoke cigars which cost less than $5 each


Once or twice a year

I'm back, but the car isn't unloaded yet. The pizza kids are blocking the end of the road up a bit at the moment, so I can't park close to the house.

A bit later I'll do all the sums and give a report back on the day

Pizza kids?

Pizza kids - the delivery drivers from the pizza delivery company that is at the end of my road.

So did you have a nice time?

And how was the maths?