Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I have not read of any problems on this topic lately. But when I arrive next week and want to go shopping in RoC - as we always do - are there any hard restrictions on bringing goods across? It used to be any goods up to a certain euro value, with only ever a cursory inspection. Advice appreciated, thanks.
m

Bought a gas BBQ from superhomes. Searched at crossing and was made to pay 25 euros tax as it was electrical!!.
Told him it was gas and no electrical parts. Wouldn't listen at all.

Sorry .. 45 euros!

What is the word for a crossing inspector who doesn't know the difference between gas and electricity? Answers on a post card please.

Actually not a crossing inspector but a Customs Officer! But I offer the one word which would explain what the "Person" is completely:

Inerudite!

Adjective:
Ignorant in a particular subject or activity!

Just my opinion of course but for the life of me I do not get the obsession with shopping in the South. So as susiesusie said bought bbq 45 euros charged, I assume the insurance is still 25 euros so it makes it a very expensive bbq. Add on to that the cost of petrol and the hassle..... I have not been shopping in the South for years, and never will ever again. If it is that great why are so many GCs shopping here, yep, cheaper petrol, but also in the supermarkets. Horses for course's I guess but personally I prefer to spend my cash here in the North, there is nothing I cannot get, and no I don't crave for IKEA, McDonald's, marks and sparks, if I did I would have stayed in uk. Tin hat on ready to be shot at. Lol.

Well said mrsgee.

You don't need a tin hat as far as we're concerned, mrsgee there is only one store that I sometime yearn for (but not often) and that is my local UK Boots. Last time we went down South was at least 10 years ago and we ended up taking over an hour crossing because some jobs worth was behaving like a prat.

Waddo, sorry about the incorrect definition, but I suddenly had a touch of Brain Fog and it just wouldn't come!!

As you said, horses for courses. But the South is not just there for shopping is it? Plus you can buy things you need there that are not even available here - and that is without flying back to UK every now and then (to stock up on your marmite?) at a much higher cost than 25 euros for insurance. There are Green Line restrictions on the total amount you can bring across from the South and on the types of things you are allowed to bring as you well know, most people also know that and they either take the chance of smuggling (because that is really what it is) or the pay up if challenged!

A lot of "Things" are cheaper in the North and those from the South do the same thing, knowing they can be searched and have to pay customs or have things impounded - it is the same for both sides really. There are also those with an "obsession" for shopping but everybody as some sort of obsession so let them get on with it. You just keep spending your cash here (and in the UK) and be happy that you get "Everthing" here without having to fly away or drive across with all that "Hassle" that a trip entails.

For myself I enjoy irritating the TOM man now he has to work harder, I enjoy my McDonald's every trip, I enjoy the best Fish & Chips on the Island, I actually enjoy driving in a place where the majority of the roads are well lit, signposted and traffic lights work along with pedestrian crossings that have not been worn away or have lights on them. Our "Cheap" petrol lets me travel and I am saddened by the new time restrictions on Northern registered vehicles but that is life - I could always go back to UK I suppose but as I have no knife proof clothing to wear I think I will stay here and enjoy ALL of Cyprus that I can.

Just my opinion of course, other folks will have their own.

Waldo, well said, my thoughts exactly. Each to their own and our own choices are free to make.

I think rather than turn this thread into yet another discussion on whether we as individuals should or shouldn't go across shopping to the South better just to answer the op's question.

If you go across there is a whole load of stuff you are not allowed to bring back over the border and a limit in value to what you can bring back. It reads as though the op is aware of this.

Checks can be done at anytime and whether they have been recently or not has no effect on whether there will be on the day you decide to go over. So what people post on here has no effect on your chances of being stopped, searched and fined. It simply is a choice take the risk or don't as countless others do regularly.

Big boys game, big boys rules which translated means you know the risk and only you can decide one way or the other but don't start bleating if you are stopped and caught out.

My reply has been delayed whilst I get on with things. My questions were genuine and unambiguous, as they always are on Kibkom, and I have many years experience of living in NC and owning a modest holiday apartment. I expected comments from the usual naysayers and stick-in-the-muds who never venture past Lapta or Acapulco. But I was heartened initially to see a response from Chriswright03 who in the past has helped me with minor IT/firestick glitches. His response started off well, bu in the end sadly followed the trend of all keyboard warriors of chucking in a barb - i.e. ‘bleat’. This implies that I am expected to be some sort of moron who moans on forums such as this. But thankfully Soner does an excellent job of policing the content.

At over 70 years I never have and never will ‘bleat’, I have also worked in an environment of professionalism where such attitudes are unrecognised. In that I have worked in four overseas diplomatic missions in my career, where one experiences and indeed practices the sharp end of diplomacy and representation. Guess the location of my last posting?

Having spent over half a lifetime on mission (hence moniker ‘mish’) I have always respected others and never deliberately harangued anyone. Which brings me onto my need to travel over the island. It can be understood that I have made many friends of all nationalities whilst on mission here, plus close friendships with those from both the Cypriot communities. This last 8 days since arriving I have been to a birthday party in Limassol, bird watching in Larnaca, and spotting orchids in the Pentadactylos.

When on the move I naturally do shopping as and when; and living in the east I more often than not cross the green line at Ay Nic, and it is natural for us to shop near the crossing at the delightful ‘Litsa’s’ supermarket. Now I know others say they would always prefer to ‘support the NC economy’. There is nothing wrong with that. But I like to buy fresh milk produced and processed to EU standards - with usually a 10 day ‘use by’ date stamped on the container. (Yes I could buy local ‘Sut’ but have you ever wondered why it has such a short shelf life and is often turning sour when you buy it? For those that know a dairy farmer, ask him if he would ever be able to sell his milk with a somatic cell count of above 350,000? If they bothered to test it in NC, much would not make the grade).

I bake our own bread here, but after buying local flour several times which had a resident population of insects and mites easily seen when opening the bag, I much prefer to buy ‘Waitrose Essentials’ bread flour at Litsa’s. So far I have never found any contamination in it.

Just a couple of examples why I buy some supplies in RoC, but yes, I am aware that I might travel round a lot more than others. So it may be considered a privilege to have that opportunity. Incidentally, I have hired cars from one company in Larnaca over the years who are quite happy to allow them into the north, but I take out an additional insurance excess policy in the UK for peace of mind.

Finally, the crossing. I found that as long as we had our printed vax certificates, transit through the control is rapid. (We brought numerous printed copies of all the docs with us.) Though we have noticed that those using a phone app have not had such an easy passage. When the NC app would not work, I followed Soner’s good advice and printed out the ‘landing card’ and completed it by hand; but this was met with bemusement by the border officer - he just wanted to see some paper with QR codes on it.

I have now been across three times and each time there was a queue of maybe a dozen vehicles going north and there was no Customs inspection at all. Travelling south - with maybe a couple ahead of me - the SBA officers asked the usual questions and looked in the boot of the car, which is what they have always done quickly and efficiently.

Thanks, m

Mish, good post and can I ask if you hire a car in the South whilst here please? If not then you would find the crossings even more irritating these days as you would require the TOM for your own car and that is only available from the Metahan outpost and only valid for 24 hours and a single crossing at that. Other than that nothing much has changed - yet - but I am keeping in mind the BRS Black Cloud of doom that even this arrangement will terminate soon, maybe - lol.

Enjoy your time here it is a wonderful place to live.

Waddo thank you for your warm response.

Yes, I did mention above that I hire from a Larnaca firm. Petsas are the principal company and presided over by the man with that name, and he calls the shots. They also have a subsidiary 'yourway-carhire', which seems to hire out car first line cars which are past their best. But good business for them for us tight old pensioners. I currently have a 2014 Toyota Corolla with 36k miles on the clock. And its a good slice below 20 euro a day. I once complained about their not having a discount for regular loyal customers. In fact I was complaining to the regional manager at Larnaca, and he told me in future to book my hires via his email address. It worked !

I hear of some swallows like me, who buy a banger and then get a friend residing in RoC to register a car under the friend's name and tax and insure it on the owner's behalf. The car gets light use as a family car in the downtime, and is used by the true owner for his over the green line travels when on the island. Seems to work. But not yet for me.

I know its a wonderful place to live but other factors demand that I spend a few months every year in the UK regrettably. But I get at least two months a year out here in the sun - and chill wind! Best
m

Mish my apolgies if I caused offence as that was not intended. Hence the laughing smilie. I am not much younger than you and whilst my humour isn't always appreciated I never intend to offend. I certainly always try to be helpful when I post on here and in fact tend not to post unless I have something that I think will be useful to the op.

I am sorry that you have suggested that I am a keyboard warrior. Having spent a lot of time on fourms in admin rolls in the past dealing with trolls and keyboard warriours I hope others don't see me that way.

In any event apolgy offered and if you ever need help with your firestick I am still quite happy to oblige if I can.

OK accepted, I never hold a grudge.

Which VPN location can I use to watch Discovery + without paying. (I use Surfshark anyway). My UK subscription is invalid outside the UK apparently.
m

I use Stream via dns service which is paid for because having tried different vpn services UK TV usually defeat them. I can receive discovery plus but as I don't vsubscribe I am li tied to freedtuff. I do subscribe to BT Sport and the dissemination allows me to view that when not in the UK.

Smart DNS is another option which I have helped a neighbour set up for the same reason. Sorry cannot put a link in for either at the moment as I am using my phone to message.

Hope that helps.

https://www.streamvia.com/
https://www.smartdnsproxy.com/

There you go with the links to both services Chris mentioned.

I use smartdnsproxy and find it very good too. Can't help with Discovery+ but expect that either of these services would do the trick for you if you subscribe in UK.

Thanks both, investigating any opening that does not cost money - its my Scots genes y'know
m

mish wrote: ↑

Fri 18 Mar 2022 8:16 am

Thanks both, investigating any opening that does not cost money - its my Scots genes y'know
m

This Scot decided in the end to pay out. Been using smartdnsproxy for about 3 years now. I find it's better using smart dns rather than VPN, although the VPN does come in handy at times.

For a freebie, have a look at https://windscribe.com/

Interesting AM, I will open it on my firestick and see, thanks.
m

No bother. Unfortunately there is a monthly limit on the free version, not used it for years though, so can't remember ins and outs.