Just saw this thread again and realised I hadn't updated. The Kalm with Kava order arrived more quickly than I had expected - I think it was 7 days. A nice big box of Kava with no BS from customs/extra charges or any of that malarkey. Currently tucking into Fijian Loa Waka and some Borogu. It's all very nice. I'll try to get reviews up over the next couple of days.
@NAMBATU (is that the one that comes after Nambawan?
) - yeah, I remember part of that BS was a "handling / processing charge" imposed by the Royal Fail. I don't know if Judd can ship using other carriers? Maybe he can weigh in if he sees this.
I wonder if the problem might be more about labelling / shipping / customs declaration note terminology. I thought I read in some thread that BKH will not "disguise" what they are sending, which I totally understand from his business point of view in terms of transparency and good business ethics, whereas KWK just labelled theirs as South Pacific tea. I suppose it's just semantics at the end of the day but I do wonder if having "Kava" clearly on the shipping document piques the interest of customs somewhat more. And once they've gotten their mitts on it, then the RM charge will surely follow. The KWK order also arrived via Royal Mail but there were no charges - as a result, I assume, of no hijacking via customs on the way.
Of course, none of this excuses the exorbitant Royal Mail charge, as you noted.
