International vendor directory — July 2024

james_edin said:

The pattern that distinguishes a bad batch from an exit is behaviour rather than product.

International shipping tracking for cross-border ordering orders: my experience with customs in the US when ordering from overseas:

Held at customs for 5 days, then released.

Tips: always include a copy of your prescription, declare medication properly on customs forms, keep quantities reasonable (personal use = 3 month supply max), and use a vendor who has experience shipping to your country.

Dr.CardioMD said:

Right, and one flattering data point from a group buy is not consistency.

Saving this. It is the first explanation that did not require me to already understand it. Printing the relevant bit and taking it with me.

james_edin said:

The pattern that distinguishes a bad batch from an exit is behaviour rather than product.

I disagree that testing history is decisive. It tells you what a supplier did when they were being watched. Continuity of behaviour under stress — a late shipment, a failed test, a complaint — is more predictive than any run of good results.

Happy to go further on any of that.

One concrete data point for the thread. One habit that pays for itself: post the method alongside the number. A figure without its method cannot be checked, and an unchecked figure is how this community accumulates folklore.

Correct me if the detail matters more than I have assumed.

Moderator note: leaving this open. It is being argued well and the disagreement is the useful part. No action needed from anybody.