New Russian Import Laws and Kickstarter (and normal shopping)

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**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

This has just popped up on the CMON Rum & Bones: Second Tide KS

Update #74 ℹ

Jan 16 2017

Shipping Update: RUSSIA

This Update is specifically for RUSSIAN backers. Please Read!

We have been informed of new Russian Import Laws, which have been recently passed. As a result any packages over 2kg are being returned to sender unless being sent to a Business Address.

Over the last week we looked into methods of establishing a Russian fulfillment center to avert this issue but unfortunately that option has not worked out. This has left us only the option to refund all Russian backers- we have no means of delivering your pledge.

We apologize for the news and are currently unsure of how this will impact future projects, but at this time due to these laws we have no means of fulfillment in Russia.

We will update if anything changes or new information becomes available.

taken at face value this seems crazy, but presumably is a fairly blunt way to prevent Russian citizens spending their money abroad

but worth keeping in mind if your Russian (sorry folks) or if your planning to run a KS that's going to deliver any sort of heavy box (CMON can afford to absorb the refunds to the unluck backers, a smaller company with a decent number of Russian backers might not be able to do so after spending all the money on actually making the stuff)

**wuestenfux**

Russian government seems to make life not very ease for their citizens.
Makes me laugh.

**SnotlingPimpWagon**

@wuestenfux

Thanks, nice to see people laughing at our problems

**Gitzbitah**

It does seem like an excellent opportunity for a Russian entrepreneur to launch a re-shipping business. Simply charge a certain amount to import items through your address, then reship to your clients.

**kestral**

That sucks. Hopefully it won't start happening in reverse. That said, 2Kg is quite a bit. Most miniatures should be under that.

**Lorek**

That's interesting in the wake of the current sanctions by the US and whatnot. Is this a Russian response to these sanctions?

SnotlingPimpWagon, for what it's worth, I feel bad for you. That SUCKS.

-=Edit=- I just realized I put some kindling out there. NO political talk in this thread! We're all gamers here, and we're talking about gaming only.

**Oldmike**

Odd if it's to to the US as it effects all shipping not just US

I wonder if they are having a lot of problems with counterfeit goods and this is to try to slow that down

**MLaw**

Oldmike wrote:
Odd if it's to to the US as it effects all shipping not just US

I wonder if they are having a lot of problems with counterfeit goods and this is to try to slow that down

Russia has been a hotbed for counterfeit items for quite a while. I know people that were ordering FW knockoffs for extremely cheap. However, I don't know that this has anything to do with these sanctions (or not). Without more info, anything is speculation past the facts we're seeing in the initial post.

**Rippy**

MLaw wrote:
Oldmike wrote:
Odd if it's to to the US as it effects all shipping not just US

I wonder if they are having a lot of problems with counterfeit goods and this is to try to slow that down

Russia has been a hotbed for counterfeit items for quite a while. I know people that were ordering FW knockoffs for extremely cheap. However, I don't know that this has anything to do with these sanctions (or not). Without more info, anything is speculation past the facts we're seeing in the initial post.

That is the other way around, friendo, Russia doesn't mind us buying their stuff, it's about their money leaving Russia.

**Desubot**

wuestenfux wrote:
Russian government seems to make life not very ease for their citizens.
Makes me laugh.

And then things got worse.

**Laemos**

Is this retaliation for sanctions?

**Shieldwolf Miniatures**

kestral wrote:
That sucks. [...] That said, 2Kg is quite a bit. Most miniatures should be under that.

I agree it sucks.
That said, 2Kg isn't only the weight of the package but you must also consider the volume; once the volume of the parcel exceeds certain limitations it "counts as" and considered much more than 2Kg, even if effectively the parcel itself may not weigh that much. On top of that, for board games that contain a myriad other things besides miniatures the 2Kg limit is fairly easy to reach I would think.

**Zywus**

Laemos wrote:
Is this retaliation for sanctions?

It mostly hurts Russian citizens so I don't think it could be called that. Of course for any Russian buyer that get's shafted by this, there's a foreign seller that is too. But these sellers will be spread out all across the world so it's far too diluted to be percieved as retaliation by any country.

It's probably like Orlando speculates in the OP: "a fairly blunt way to prevent Russian citizens spending their money abroad".
The Russian government hopes to stimulate the national economy by having russian citizens spend more of their money domestically. This could be a reaction to the sanctions I suppose, but it can hardly be called retaliation.

**Kirasu**

With a weak currency it's not very efficient for russian citizens to buy foreign goods anyway.

**ArranHawk**

Sorry for my bad English.
I am from Russia, I see about this problem in Russian forum, and people don't understand what's going on, because there is no new Import Laws in Russia. About new Import Laws we got only two things.
1. Some vague goverment plans of taxing parcels from middle of next year.
2. Some mail-forwarding companies says customs demands receiver passport scan from beginning of this year, customs says it's old practice and only small percent of parcels needs it.
But 2kg parcel limit is something new.

**RiTides**

kestral wrote:
That sucks. Hopefully it won't start happening in reverse. That said, 2Kg is quite a bit. Most miniatures should be under that.

Most should easily, but definitely something to keep in mind for big KD / CMON / etc pledges!

Most US-originating packages will automatically be under 4 pounds, though, as that's the limit for First Class International. Anything heavier has to go Priority, and costs a fortune! So, that at least means this shouldn't come up as often for US-based shipping.

Edit: And welcome to Dakka, ArranHawk!

**Grot 6**

OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
This has just popped up on the CMON Rum & Bones: Second Tide KS

Update #74 ℹ

Jan 16 2017

Shipping Update: RUSSIA

This Update is specifically for RUSSIAN backers. Please Read!

We have been informed of new Russian Import Laws, which have been recently passed. As a result any packages over 2kg are being returned to sender unless being sent to a Business Address.

Over the last week we looked into methods of establishing a Russian fulfillment center to avert this issue but unfortunately that option has not worked out. This has left us only the option to refund all Russian backers- we have no means of delivering your pledge.

We apologize for the news and are currently unsure of how this will impact future projects, but at this time due to these laws we have no means of fulfillment in Russia.

We will update if anything changes or new information becomes available.

taken at face value this seems crazy, but presumably is a fairly blunt way to prevent Russian citizens spending their money abroad

but worth keeping in mind if your Russian (sorry folks) or if your planning to run a KS that's going to deliver any sort of heavy box (CMON can afford to absorb the refunds to the unluck backers, a smaller company with a decent number of Russian backers might not be able to do so after spending all the money on actually making the stuff)

Welcome to the world of International intrigue... It's not as Sexy as James Bond makes it look IRL.
It will end up going both ways, BTW.
I suggest that if your going to get some stuff from cats like Brother Vinnie, you might want to hustle it up before the end of the month/ FEB. The Russian Haxxors are going to be taking up more of our time, subsequently stepping on our hobby toes. "All your minis belong to us!"

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Laemos wrote:
Is this retaliation for sanctions?

Its a response of sorts...

**RiTides**

Let's stay on-topic to wargaming related news, please... Thanks all

**Theophony**

Even if it's not blocking outgoing packages from Russia, it could easily affect products Russian companies used to produce materials that they ship out. I hope it does not affect brother vinni or other sellers.

**BrookM**

With regards to Brother Vinni, get on with the program..! He emigrated to Slovakia quite some time ago, IIRC mainly because he wasn't allowed to attend foreign trade shows as a Russian citizen without a shedload of paperwork and the like for each trip.

**Azazelx**

That's seriously messed up for you guys in Russia. I wonder if it will affect Russian Alternative - makers of some very nice Chaos Dwarves.

**Zywus**

Azazelx wrote:
That's seriously messed up for you guys in Russia. I wonder if it will affect Russian Alternative - makers of some very nice Chaos Dwarves.

Presumably they have a business adress, so they won't be affected.

**Azazelx**

As long as they can send items out of the country, I guess.

**Zywus**

I don't see how import laws would affect their ability to send items out of their country.

**Azazelx**

Understood, but these seemed to take everyone by surprise, and who's to say that there's not another issue with them exporting items that hasn't seen the light of day on this forum yet?