Hej, I follow your site since many years and hope each time, that you’ll post a list aof vendors in Europe. I get that international shipping is horrible, but since I live 200km from Poland where Calamityware is produced, I don’t get why I can’t buy these. Do you know if you can visit the manifacturing plant and buy it where it is produced? Or order it from there?
all the best

As an expat living in New Zealand, I just wanted to say I support your decision (although it makes me sad). I don’t have a ton of issues getting stuff here from the states, but I have enough that I can see how it’d be unprofitable to do it from your side, unless you were getting huge amounts of orders (and maybe not even then). It’s a great explanation of all the different kinds of issues. There is a 3rd option too, at least for those with other reasons to visit the states (family, e.g.) — have it shipped there, and visit :) — hopefully that’s an option again soon.

Yikes! This sounds like what my husband runs into when he tries to send aspirin to Cuba! One time a package of Blue Diamond roasted almonds were confiscated by Customs as “agricultural contraband: seeds” – good luck sprouting an orchard with those!
Maybe a fleet of Calamity blimps! Air drops of coffee mugs (well packaged), Tee shirts and bandanas to clamoring crowds below! Pop-up supply stores become pop-downs! A whole new kind of marketing bringing joy to the masses! I’d run into the middle of the street for that! Hmmm, I’d also by the movie once it came out on CD!

Don,
I just learned how to send international packages (and the cost of doing so. Ouch!) as an adjunct responsibility at my job, and I quite concur. My employer uses a customs broker to take care of the bureaucratic details, and that adds significantly to the cost. You have my sympathy.

I can attest to these kinds of convolutions. Last year I had a few bandannas and playing cards sent to my friends in England. They appreciated my gift, but had to pay customs duty to the Royal Mail, which took the shine away from my gesture. Obviously, this was no fault of Calamityware.

The business world is insulated from the human world by a number of cold, amoral, data-driven layers. If the more insulated corporations were to learn from Calamityware by explaining rules and decisions in specific, understandable, engaging language, they’d attract fewer complaints. You do a fine job here at converting information into value, Don (or whichever robot wrote this).

—John R.

Dear Don,
Thank you for taking the time to explain your decision. I’m disappointed, of course, but I totally get it. I’m glad I bought when I did, and I shall take good care of my Calamityware, knowing I can’t replace it any time soon.

Best wishes

Valerie Housden

Dear Don and the Calamityware crew,
As a Yinzer myself, who has lived in Scotland for 45 years and raised a quartet of Yinzers of the Second Degree, I get it. My brother, up in Lawrence County, won’t even send me stuff for birthdays and Christmas anymore. He says it’s because the international postage costs more than the gift.

I guess I’ll have to be satisfied that, in the last month or two, I’ve bought for all my kids and grandkids, and myself, the Calamityware I most wanted us to have examples of.

I ought to let you know, everyone is delighted with their Calamityware. And with your decision on international shipping, just imagine the rarity value, as one of us in Edinburgh serves an off-world guest a draught of their preferred lubricant from a T.C.G.W. mug.

But still: denied our modest pleasures (there are a scarf, a T-shirt, and a bandana or two I’ll have to live without) how much worse can it get for us?

I had no idea things were so complicated for you guys. Totally get the decision. I imagine your Robot has probably worked out where the bulk of problems, and additional costs to you, occur and if they are happening in every country you post to… But, if not, could you survey international customers (like me!) and see which countries are less problematic? I’ve ordered a few times from Australia and while it usually takes longer than anticipated I always receive everything eventually and in excellent condition. Honestly I don’t see how anything could arrive broken given how well you package everything! But I respect your decision and will weep quietly in the corner. Thanks for all the awesome stuff!

So sorry for you guys! Will miss that beer stein I was going order… still [quoting Muddy Waters] “You cain’t spend what you ain’t got and you cain’t lose what you ain’t never had!” I still love getting your emails however. Our plates, the Xmas dangly thingies and my Non-Specific Hoodie send their warm regards.
All the best Team Calamity but if things improve and you start sending overseas again without telling me I will be miffed, fritzy, upset and sorely putout!
Cheers, Con

Hiya,

Sad to hear of this, but fully understand.
I’m glad I placed (and received) my orders much earlier before this kicked in.

Hope that things will get better and we can order again, all the best.

On the plus side, so long as we don’t break our mugs, we’ve got our mitts on some collectibles now! I had lovely outcomes buying your goodies – granted, Sydney isn’t not Kazakhstan – but I completely understand your pain.

As someone once said, So long, and thanks for all the robots, Don!

Don l couldn’t get any of my kangaroo orders on your website to koala cling drat no double drat…l understand your calamity in not being able to fluke it. Although your course of action like a swift parrot l will relentlessly follow the flight. Consider yourself you aren’t extinct fossil fuel

Well, you learn something new everyday. I would make the same decision

Wow! That was a great explanation. I knew there were hoops to sending things internationally, but I had no idea there were so many. Yikes!

i am a retired postal clerk. i would ask foreigners how is your mail. canada, new zealand, japan, uk, germany, scandanavia all seemed pretty happy. central, s america, former russian colonies, africa iffy. russia and nigeria especially corrupt. middle east countries all theocracies and forbid anything against religion or morals. i could only tell them i know nothing about jewish or moslems ideas on morals. they forbid it they take it. can she send a dental text to saudi arabia with a pic of a male dr tending a female? a lot of the iffy countries have customs forms basically serving as a shopping list for customs and mail people. bye bye tshirt. the express $1000 guitar to russia. tracked and delivered. customer said not. 6 months still no refund. the computer to nigeria express tracking ins. i kept asking the man but do you have the mon ey in your hand. scanned tracking number. 10 mins later he was back. the customer took the money back from account. i ran for the dispatch truck and got the pkg. once in country forget it. yeah the whole thing should be easier. and costs can be high for heavy weights like plates.

Fully understand and appreciate. And shipping from outside the States or Canada to here is completely unreliable. Thanks.

This was fascinating to read and it sounds like you made the right decision!

Thank you for taking the time to explain this so well. This whole situation calls for a new Calamityware pattern that illustrates the evil web of government bureaucrats across the planet and the destruction they cause!

Fair enough. You’ve tried to navigate treacherous waters and gotten sunk by baddies and incompetents. There’s no sense in wasting the team’s time and hazarding its sanity. Thanks for the detailed explanation.

Disappointing for many (including your team) but I can appreciate the decision. Hopefully at some point a better shipping method rises from the ashes. It’s 2021 – can’t shipping companies and bureaucracies do better and let us peasants have our meager pleasures?

Dear Y’all, as I am elderly I am “downsizing.” This means I must stop one of my favorite activites— buying beautiful and/or amusing things. Otherwise I would be an enthusiastic customer. I know, that and $6 will buy you a cup of mocha soy no whip at Starbucks. But I want to thank you for the delight your amusing emails bring me.