Recently somebody sent a flute to me in Ireland, from the USA, via the United States Postal Service. It is quite a good flute. But the flute has gone astray. It is languishing in a customs office in Finland. Finland maintains a customs inspection facility for clearing non-EU items being sent to an EU country. I have never had this happen before. My fear is that the flute will be there, in a dry winter environment, and without proper care the flute could crack.
Is there anybody in Finland who is reading this who could call the customs facility and ask them about the flute? I will send the US tracking number and more details when it is appropriate.
It is a long shot. Thanks for any help I might get from this board.
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Here is some information from Finland:
Finnish Customs is subordinate to the Ministry of Finance. The central administration is formed by the National Board of Customs. The current Director General (since 1998) is Mr Tapani Erling.
The regional administration comprises five Customs districts. These are the Southern (direction in Helsinki), Western (Turku), Northern (Tornio), Eastern (Lappeenranta) and Åland Islands (Mariehamn) Customs districts. The Customs Laboratory is also part of Finnish Customs, and its operating range covers all of Finland. The Customs districts and the Customs Laboratory are subordinate to the Board of Customs.
Comiserations Cocus, I had something similar happen once with a fiddle I bought from the States, and when I eventually did get it, after a long delay, it was damaged, the neck had come unglued from the body. I had to take it to a violin maker in Cork to get it fixed. I hope you have better luck and your flute arrives safely and undamaged.
Thanks to everybody. Thanks for the encouraging words and thanks for the actual help.
Isn't the net amazing. I have been contacted in response to my frantic emails to the Finnish Customs.
The flute has left Finland, according their records.
They don't know who is carrying the flute, where it is at the moment, and where it is going, but I remain hopeful... 'tis the season after all ....
Ha, wait till it gets the Irish Customs - they'll be happy to slap a nice big fee on. I suppose somebody has to pay the pig barons for the wee mess they've got themselves into!!!
Hope the flute turns up safe and sound, and that your friend ticked the box "Gift" as opposed to "Merchandise" on it, for customs here, coming from America.
Flute lost in Finland
Flute lost in Finland
Please… I need help from somebody in Finland…
Recently somebody sent a flute to me in Ireland, from the USA, via the United States Postal Service. It is quite a good flute. But the flute has gone astray. It is languishing in a customs office in Finland. Finland maintains a customs inspection facility for clearing non-EU items being sent to an EU country. I have never had this happen before. My fear is that the flute will be there, in a dry winter environment, and without proper care the flute could crack.
Is there anybody in Finland who is reading this who could call the customs facility and ask them about the flute? I will send the US tracking number and more details when it is appropriate.
It is a long shot. Thanks for any help I might get from this board.
-----
Here is some information from Finland:
Finnish Customs is subordinate to the Ministry of Finance. The central administration is formed by the National Board of Customs. The current Director General (since 1998) is Mr Tapani Erling.
The regional administration comprises five Customs districts. These are the Southern (direction in Helsinki), Western (Turku), Northern (Tornio), Eastern (Lappeenranta) and Åland Islands (Mariehamn) Customs districts. The Customs Laboratory is also part of Finnish Customs, and its operating range covers all of Finland. The Customs districts and the Customs Laboratory are subordinate to the Board of Customs.
# Posted on December 9th 2008 by David Levine
Re: Flute lost in Finland
Comiserations Cocus, I had something similar happen once with a fiddle I bought from the States, and when I eventually did get it, after a long delay, it was damaged, the neck had come unglued from the body. I had to take it to a violin maker in Cork to get it fixed. I hope you have better luck and your flute arrives safely and undamaged.
# Posted on December 9th 2008 by cathycook
Re: Flute has left Finland
Thanks to everybody. Thanks for the encouraging words and thanks for the actual help.
Isn't the net amazing. I have been contacted in response to my frantic emails to the Finnish Customs.
The flute has left Finland, according their records.
They don't know who is carrying the flute, where it is at the moment, and where it is going, but I remain hopeful... 'tis the season after all ....
# Posted on December 9th 2008 by David Levine
Re: Flute lost in Finland
Ha, wait till it gets the Irish Customs - they'll be happy to slap a nice big fee on. I suppose somebody has to pay the pig barons for the wee mess they've got themselves into!!!
# Posted on December 9th 2008 by the wounded hussar
Re: Flute lost in Finland
Hope the flute turns up safe and sound, and that your friend ticked the box "Gift" as opposed to "Merchandise" on it, for customs here, coming from America.
# Posted on December 10th 2008 by Murrough