Postage overcharging?

[yolkin]

Everyone,

I would like to a) vent a quick personal account, and b) ask a general question.


a) I have purchased a lot of several awards from someone located in Moscow. He inquired whether I wanted to have them shipped to me via a DHL-type company for an additional $50 - $70 or go with Registered "Par Avion" Air-Mail for no additional cost. Naturally, I said let's go with the Registered Air-Mail.

Well, it has been over a month since he said that he sent it out. I have pretty much lost all hope.

I understand that the new laws in Russia prohibit the export of Soviet Awards, hence I think my package with "Friendship of Peoples", "XX years of RKKA" and "Battlefield Merit Type 1" may have and most probably was detained by the customs... So that is my horror story...


b) General Question:
With the new aspects of the Russian export laws, what is the opinion of the members on this board as far as dealing with sellers in Russia and former republics of the USSR?

Thanks,

Eric