Exhibition Display Items

[The Soup Dragon]

I need to take some items for display at conference / exhibition namely o rings seals small glass and metal fittings etc. they easily fit in a small suitcase and I will be bringing them home again from Italy. If I ship DHL it s expensive and they want commercial invoice with values etc and there are a couple of hundred different pieces. There is nothing hazardous so can I take them as checked baggage on the plane without the hassle of sending DHL?

 

[Customs Geek]

I need to take some items for display at conference / exhibition namely o rings seals small glass and metal fittings etc. they easily fit in a small suitcase and I will be bringing them home again from Italy. If I ship DHL it s expensive and they want commercial invoice with values etc and there are a couple of hundred different pieces. There is nothing hazardous so can I take them as checked baggage on the plane without the hassle of sending DHL?

Provided the airline doesn’t restrict what you are taking and there aren’t any export restrictions on the goods you are taking there shouldn’t be any physical problem in taking the goods yourself .
You do however need to bear in mind these are commercial goods not normal travellers personal possessions and therefore still subject to to customs procedures both in the UK and Italy. They are a temporary export from the UK and temporary import into Italy. Many exhibitions will assist in navigating customs procedures so it’s always worth checking with the organisers to see if the offer any advice particularly on the Italian requirements .
Here is some info on the options from the UK perspective. www.business.gov.uk/export-from-uk/support-topics/customs-taxes-and-declarations/taking-goods-temporarily-out-uk/
There is an online declaration service if the goods are below £2500 in value. www.gov.uk/guidance/taking-commercial-goods-out-of-great-britain-in-your-baggage

 

[The Soup Dragon]

Thanks, that has lead me to a link explaining I can make a declaration by conduct which should work as none of the goods are for sale. Thank you Customs Geek.

 

[Customs Geek]

Thanks, that has lead me to a link explaining I can make a declaration by conduct which should work as none of the goods are for sale. Thank you Customs Geek.

Please bear in mind this is only the UK side. I would double check on declaration by conduct as it is very restricted . Commercial goods usually need to be declared at least by duplicate list. Commercial goods are any goods related to your business it’s irrelevant whether they are for sale or not.
I don’t know enough to say that The Italian customs also allow any sort of simple declaration.

 

[WaveJumper]

Thought I would just relay a couple of stories, I debated for days about the new hot water system I needed to take out to my boat. In the end sealed up the box took it down to Stanstead and with great trepidation put it through the scanner for "larger items" before booking in myself, the thing looked like a bloody bomb on the X-ray machine. The security staff just laughed and "said all fine" no problem at least it wasn't a box of coal which the last passenger was trying to book in.

Then I could mention the huge amount of jet ski parts in the luggage going backwards and forwards between UK and US when my son was competing in the world jet ski finals in Havasu. My only advice for what it's worth is and pretty sure mentioned above check with the country you going into with regards prohibited items.

The only issue we once had for some apparent reason was the jet ski starter motors we had taken out to Spain and were bringing back in hand luggage, Spain weren't happy with that we had to put them in the hull.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

I once went to Mauritius for Xmas via Paris. Whilst boarding in Paris, I was pulled to one side by police and taken to the baggage centre to identify and open my bag. It appears that a massive block of cheddar with an electronic teddy bear on top of it didn't look too good on the x-ray.

I jokingly accused the baggage team of being Anglophobes as they didn't comment on the wheel of Camembert in the other bag! They didn't find it funny.

 

[MikeJ]

Should have packed more caerphilly...

 

[WaveJumper]

Many years ago when our first son was still a baby (oh those were the days) we had a mass family holiday to Florida unfortunately we had to go via Miami at the time all good until we went through security.

Somehow I got separated from the main group and was following up somewhat behind, all ok until I got stopped and they started searching the bags I was carrying. They started pulling out plastic bags filled with powder and suddenly the whole mood changed.

I hadn't realised the wife had filled one of our bags full of powdered baby food, and thought it would be a good idea to pack it in clear plastic bags. Security staff only saw the funny side when my wife returned with our son to find out where I had disappeared too.

Rule one (and we all know it) never offer to carry a bag unless you know what's in it