Released from bio security control, seeds again

[happypalms]

A nice little order from RPS. After somewhat of customs debacle arriving a bit later than normal. The details of the holdup are to long to put in words but let’s say phone calls and emails many of which later where the order of the 6 week delay. Not good customs Australia! 
With the Australian government boosting funding for our bio security control they need to get there money back from the importers and the new paperwork (emails) logistics and changes in protocol are taking there toll on importers. 
Many are not bothering anymore to import with importers taking big hits in there bank accounts thanks to the government. 
 

[Harry’s Palms]

It looks like a few were already germinating by the time you got them . Harry

[happypalms]

35 minutes ago, Harry’s Palms said:

It looks like a few were already germinating by the time you got them . Harry

Yes indeed a few already, sort of a good sign in way, but in another way not good as some seeds wont germinate losing their viability. Having a short shelf life from harvest date, and eventually getting to the seller then to me. Customs are costing the grower a lot in the non viable seeds! 
A double edged sword! 

[Harry’s Palms]

This situation eats into your retirement fund. The nursery takes a hit ….the collector also takes a hit and fewer palms to go around,eh? Harry

[peachy]

Even before the bio security rules went totally insane,  many times I had to spend an hour on the phone to Sydney (back in the day of timed STD calls, costing about $40 each time) trying to explain to some idiot that the seeds they were holding were in fact on the permitted list published on their own website !  Usually these were the seeds that never germinated either due to the long delay or non viability to begin with.  Surely in these times of automation and computerisation, parcel with the correct stickers, labels and papers should just go through the system without any glitches.  Are these people deliberately stopping deliveries to justify their employment ?

Peachy ( and one of her pet hates)

[happypalms]

7 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

This situation eats into your retirement fund. The nursery takes a hit ….the collector also takes a hit and fewer palms to go around,eh? Harry

And it puts the price of palms up to recover the cost, it’s basic economics. 
Richard 

[happypalms]

2 hours ago, peachy said:

Even before the bio security rules went totally insane,  many times I had to spend an hour on the phone to Sydney (back in the day of timed STD calls, costing about $40 each time) trying to explain to some idiot that the seeds they were holding were in fact on the permitted list published on their own website !  Usually these were the seeds that never germinated either due to the long delay or non viability to begin with.  Surely in these times of automation and computerisation, parcel with the correct stickers, labels and papers should just go through the system without any glitches.  Are these people deliberately stopping deliveries to justify their employment ?

Peachy ( and one of her pet hates)

Too true well written words, when they introduced phytosanitry certificate I was astounded that they still needed to be inspected, I asked them even with a phytosanitry certificate and yes that was the answer. 
They tried to not let me have sabinara magnifica sent me a email saying no not on the bicon and before I could get back to them they sent another email saying oh yes they are we looked and they sent me a bill for even doing that, on top the inspection fee as well! 
There is no common senses with a government agency, now even to dispose of seeds thay dont meet bio security requirements you have to send them a form and heaven forbid if it’s not in the correct format they reject it, even down to in bold writing. 
Ita all about keeping themselves in a job! 
Richard 

[tim_brissy_13]

I recently got a bill for $390 from customs unexpectedly. No explanation of what it was for. After some questioning, I found out it was for an import last year for about $300 worth of seeds of which a significant chunk ended up getting destroyed. Only after I requested did they give me a breakdown of costs. $78 for standard inspection, $312 for costs relating to testing and disposal. I gave the pre authority to destroy any seeds found to be contaminated mainly to try to get good seeds as quickly as possible. Still trying to find out what testing was required and why. 

[gyuseppe]

Here too it happened to me that the seeds had to be inspected by customs, first of all they don't open the envelope and the seeds are not checked, then they arrive at least after 40 days, with a tax to pay, but the tax let's say that compared to you Australians it is very little money, maximum 15 euros, for me here it is just a way to take money from the poor people who buy or are given seeds outside the European Union, I repeat the envelopes are not opened and they don't check anything

[happypalms]

19 minutes ago, gyuseppe said:

Here too it happened to me that the seeds had to be inspected by customs, first of all they don't open the envelope and the seeds are not checked, then they arrive at least after 40 days, with a tax to pay, but the tax let's say that compared to you Australians it is very little money, maximum 15 euros, for me here it is just a way to take money from the poor people who buy or are given seeds outside the European Union, I repeat the envelopes are not opened and they don't check anything

Yes it’s a crazy protocol in place, you can’t work out how they do it. It has to be understaffed in Australia, after all customs is a government business so they have to show a profit for that business, just like any business it cost money and has to make money! 

[Booyong ridge]

12 hours ago, happypalms said:

Yes indeed a few already, sort of a good sign in way, but in another way not good as some seeds wont germinate losing their viability. Having a short shelf life from harvest date, and eventually getting to the seller then to me. Customs are costing the grower a lot in the non viable seeds! 
A double edged sword! 

Quite a few of these species are ones that customs destroyed from my order that arrived less than a month ago. 😒 bit of a lucky dip as to whether they make it through or not. Perhaps it depends on whether the inspecting agent got their fix the night before. 🤨

[Harry’s Palms]

….. Or you could employ an African Swallow to carry the load for you . They are “ tree top flyers “ and come and go without detection. Harry

[happypalms]

On 11/30/2025 at 1:15 AM, Harry’s Palms said:

….. Or you could employ an African Swallow to carry the load for you . They are “ tree top flyers “ and come and go without detection. Harry

Laden or unladen either way they would stop it, but the European one they might not stop that one, but the African swallow definitely not going to get through, runaway tis but a scratch. Poor old sir Lancelot hey apparently he could handle them all! 
Richard 

[happypalms]

Just to add a little insult to injury, for my troubles of rudely importing seeds, on top of the whole customs debacle. They did manage to seize 700 dypsis nodifera seeds  as well, even with a new phytosanitry certificate. They kindly gave me a nice bill of $294 Aus dollars, there so lovely our government is just adore them and would like to thank them for making rare palms even more rarer and even more expensive. All the costs get passed on to the buyer. 🤣

[happypalms]

Might have to start a go fund me page 🤣🤣🤣

 

[gyuseppe]

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

Just to add a little insult to injury, for my troubles of rudely importing seeds, on top of the whole customs debacle. They did manage to seize 700 dypsis nodifera seeds  as well, even with a new phytosanitry certificate. They kindly gave me a nice bill of $294 Aus dollars, there so lovely our government is just adore them and would like to thank them for making rare palms even more rarer and even more expensive. All the costs get passed on to the buyer. 🤣

All this is not right Richard, one goes out of his way to run a nursery, and what do they do, so they encourage it to close, thus increasing unemployment, I don't know about you in Australia, but here unemployment is very high

[happypalms]

12 hours ago, gyuseppe said:

All this is not right Richard, one goes out of his way to run a nursery, and what do they do, so they encourage it to close, thus increasing unemployment, I don't know about you in Australia, but here unemployment is very high

Australia is very fast becoming very expensive to live, many people and I say many people are pushed to edge with the cost of living. There will be a generation of young people who will never own their own home. To make house payments it’s around $5000 a month when the basic wage in my area is $1000 a week, both the husband and wife must work, plus raise there children if they have any. And our politicians give themselves pay rises and a retirement funded government pension for life that’s is rather a large sum of money. 
It is wrong with what Australia has  become in regards to a recession! 

[gyuseppe]

Richard, this is exactly what has been happening here for 40 years. Luckily, I have a large house with a garden. My house is now worth a lot of money, and having a garden is something very few can afford. Most people live in condominiums, where arguments between neighbors are the order of the day. I have to thank my parents and my in-laws (who have always worked honestly) if I now own a beautiful villa.

[Mazat]

On 11/28/2025 at 9:36 PM, happypalms said:

A nice little order from RPS. After somewhat of customs debacle arriving a bit later than normal. The details of the holdup are to long to put in words but let’s say phone calls and emails many of which later where the order of the 6 week delay. Not good customs Australia! 
With the Australian government boosting funding for our bio security control they need to get there money back from the importers and the new paperwork (emails) logistics and changes in protocol are taking there toll on importers. 
Many are not bothering anymore to import with importers taking big hits in there bank accounts thanks to the government. 
 

great selection 🤗

[happypalms]

21 hours ago, Mazat said:

great selection 🤗

I have yet to see how many germinate, time will tell!

[happypalms]

21 hours ago, Mazat said:

great selection 🤗

I have yet to see how many germinate, time will tell!

 

On 12/2/2025 at 8:39 PM, gyuseppe said:

Richard, this is exactly what has been happening here for 40 years. Luckily, I have a large house with a garden. My house is now worth a lot of money, and having a garden is something very few can afford. Most people live in condominiums, where arguments between neighbors are the order of the day. I have to thank my parents and my in-laws (who have always worked honestly) if I now own a beautiful villa.

Iam so lucky I own my home and the banks don’t get my money. 
I live in a area that has a lot of bush away from the rat race, I don’t here my neighbours like they do in town. 
I built my own home and never borrowed any money from the banks. 
Ileft school at age 16 and got a job and have worked ever since I left school!

[Than]

I am actually impressed that your customs and duties employees answer the phone! That would never happen here. There is nobody to talk to if you have an objection or complaint, or even a question. 

[gyuseppe]

19 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Iam so lucky I own my home and the banks don’t get my money. 
I live in a area that has a lot of bush away from the rat race, I don’t here my neighbours like they do in town. 
I built my own home and never borrowed any money from the banks. 
Ileft school at age 16 and got a job and have worked ever since I left school!

Richard, are we twins? It's the same life I led! I left school at 16 and started working in the family business. My house is isolated, far from the chaos of the city.👌

[gyuseppe]

20 minutes ago, Than said:

I am actually impressed that your customs and duties employees answer the phone! That would never happen here. There is nobody to talk to if you have an objection or complaint, or even a question. 

They answer here, but we are the ones who pay their monthly salaries with the customs duties.

[Than]

45 minutes ago, gyuseppe said:

They answer here, but we are the ones who pay their monthly salaries with the customs duties.

We also pay their salaries but no answer. I could say it's the public service I hate the most. Everywhere else you can at least go and find someone to complaint.

[happypalms]

On 11/29/2025 at 10:21 PM, Booyong ridge said:

Quite a few of these species are ones that customs destroyed from my order that arrived less than a month ago. 😒 bit of a lucky dip as to whether they make it through or not. Perhaps it depends on whether the inspecting agent got their fix the night before. 🤨

Perhaps the night before or a past argument might have been the contributing factor 🤣
or as you say the same seeds destroyed perhaps a dud batch, it’s not the sellers fault a lot can go wrong once a seed is placed inside a plastic bag, not the natural habitat of a seed that’s for sure! 

[happypalms]

10 hours ago, gyuseppe said:

Richard, are we twins? It's the same life I led! I left school at 16 and started working in the family business. My house is isolated, far from the chaos of the city.👌

Yes so long as the world leaves me alone iam happy, but come through my gate and start looking for trouble they will find it. A lot of successful people have left school early. We both own our home so that’s a good place to start, but happiness and health is the most important in life! 

[happypalms]

9 hours ago, Than said:

We also pay their salaries but no answer. I could say it's the public service I hate the most. Everywhere else you can at least go and find someone to complaint.

I don’t have a problem the staff of the government they are doing a job. It’s the government that are a problem showing total disrespect with no common sense! 

[happypalms]

11 hours ago, Than said:

I am actually impressed that your customs and duties employees answer the phone! That would never happen here. There is nobody to talk to if you have an objection or complaint, or even a question. 

It depends what time of day or what day they answer, There is a call centre they answer not a problem, it’s the departments of fisheries and agriculture that are particularly fussy about when they answer. It depends on the office there all different in each state, but the ladies in the office are great to deal with, but I will say politeness goes a long way there human like us all and a lot of people abuse them it’s not there fault a packet of seeds goes mouldy! 

[PalmsandLiszt]

On 12/1/2025 at 7:25 PM, happypalms said:

Might have to start a go fund me page 🤣🤣🤣

 

Daylight robbery. Even considering that $AUS are rather less than USD. A stealth tax dressed up as environmentalism.

I'm interested to hear how you do with the C. parvifrons as they are on my shopping list (stunning palm). I tried I. palmuncula seeds a year or two back but had no success.

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, PalmsandLiszt said:

Daylight robbery. Even considering that $AUS are rather less than USD. A stealth tax dressed up as environmentalism.

I'm interested to hear how you do with the C. parvifrons as they are on my shopping list (stunning palm). I tried I. palmuncula seeds a year or two back but had no success.

Yep a legal way gor them to keep there jobs, even if it’s ten dollar pack of seeds they slug you for the same amount. They just want there slice of the pie. I had good success with palmuncula from a different supplier, so thought i might get a few more seeds and see! 

[gyuseppe]

9 hours ago, happypalms said:

Yes so long as the world leaves me alone iam happy, but come through my gate and start looking for trouble they will find it. A lot of successful people have left school early. We both own our home so that’s a good place to start, but happiness and health is the most important in life! 

Richard, luckily I live in isolation. I think that if I lived in an apartment building I wouldn't be able to defend myself. Here people fight over trivial things, but we are intelligent and we move on. We just want peace and to see our beautiful plants. Luckily, God gave me a son who is not like me. He would know how to defend himself in this world that has become worse than a jungle.

[happypalms]

2 hours ago, gyuseppe said:

Richard, luckily I live in isolation. I think that if I lived in an apartment building I wouldn't be able to defend myself. Here people fight over trivial things, but we are intelligent and we move on. We just want peace and to see our beautiful plants. Luckily, God gave me a son who is not like me. He would know how to defend himself in this world that has become worse than a jungle.

I couldn’t live in suburbia, they wouldn’t want me anyway, I play my music loud and not enough room to garden. And also I don’t need to hear people abusing each other life is to shirt to ague with people. It takes more of a man to walk away from a fight than it does to have a fight. Let them have there rat race, town is not for me give me the freedom of living in peace in the Australian bush!

[gyuseppe]

3 hours ago, happypalms said:

I couldn’t live in suburbia, they wouldn’t want me anyway, I play my music loud and not enough room to garden. And also I don’t need to hear people abusing each other life is to shirt to ague with people. It takes more of a man to walk away from a fight than it does to have a fight. Let them have there rat race, town is not for me give me the freedom of living in peace in the Australian bush!

Richard, if you lived in the city, you definitely couldn't turn the radio on full blast! When my wife and I had our shop, it was in a densely populated area. There was a neighbor who turned the radio on full blast. Other people would tell her to turn it down, but they said it rudely, arrogantly, and even swear at her. One day I said to my wife, "You're a woman like her, go talk to her." My wife first said, "Excuse me, I'd like to speak to you politely."Then she asked him please if he could please turn down the radio. Finally, as he was leaving, said, "Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience." The lady couldn't stand it, she turned the radio off completely. Not only did she always turn it down from that day on, but I'm also starting to become our customer. This shows that with politeness and kindness, you can achieve a lot.
I also listen to songs on YouTube, especially songs from the '80s. but at low volume!

If you lived near me and you wouldn't turn down the radio, I'd definitely hit you on the head! 😄  (I'm obviously kidding, Richard.)