Buying B12 from Germany

I decided this morning, after hearing Angela Merkel's remarks to our PM, it would be prudent to buy a stock of Hydroxocobalamin ampoules. This will give me a stock of 140 which will have expiry dates in 2021.

When I did this before the first of the unmoveable exit dates I got them from Bodfeld Apoteke in Germany delivered here in UK by DHL. I was quick and easy to do. So this time I went to their website which Google kindly translated. I tried to order 100 ampoules as I had before but there was only an option of ordering up to 3 packs of 10. No matter how I tried it would not allow me to order more. I have logged a request for an explanation which has been acknowledged but not as yet answered.

Thinking there might be a problem I decided to go to Versandapo where my first bulk purchase had been sourced. (I didn't actually buy them that time as a close family German friend, then at a local to me university, bought them for me and carried them in his hand luggage.)

Up came their website, different to the one I had visited before and this time I had to choose to have it translated. I found the product Rotexmedica B12 Depot 1mg/1ml injectionslosung. It was listed and at a special discounted price of just over 55 Euros. I ordered it and then went forward to the cashier to put the delivery address in but it clearly said only German addresses were allowed and there was no way I could get past this.

I do have useful German but as I have been mentoring a young man at UK university reading for Batchelor and Masters degrees in English for the past 5 years I am a little out of practice. There was a Live Char option so I invoked that and asked what was happening.

I was first told they do not send to U.K. without a doctors prescription. I told them they had done it before and I do have it prescribed but not in the quantity I need. As we are still in the EU why are they changing the rules. I was passed on to the pharmacist.

She was adamant there was no problem but would find out what could be stopping me. If she couldn't sort it she would arrange the shipment for me herself.

Now comes the point of this whole essay. She said I would have to return to my basket on the website where it was ordered but not progressed and before going to the Cashier I should select the method of payment, either Amazon Pay or PayPal. These would then put in me UK delivery and billing addresses. Then the total price would include the correct courier charge.

I did as I was told and they have acknowledged the order and payment and it is now on its way to me.

It is simple, select your payment method before you go to the Cashier. Otherwise it thinks you are in Germany and will only accept a German address.

They are advising that the 55 Euro price is only available for current stock.

If I find out what is happening at Bodfeld Apoteke I will let you all know as a follow up.

As our families have had a UK/German family union since 1986 I don't personally see getting the material from Germany is going to be a problem for me but it is so much better to be able to do it yourself. I now have an account with Versandapo so who knows what that will mean in the future. (It could be the only free trade agreement between our two countries. They haven't given me the bums rush.)

[wedgewood]

Thanks for that info . I was in touch with Bodfeld recently , and the OFFICIAL line of all German pharmacies is that they are not allowed to supply any medications to a foreign country that are prescription only in that country ( But luckily , in practise ,they ignore that where B12 ampoules are concerned .)

Thanks for that tip about selecting the payment method before proceeding to cashier .

I know people are panicking somewhat due to the Brexit situation, ( I know I have ) So there might be a drain on supplies , , as the German online pharmacies B12 is reasonably priced . I have bought Rotexmedica ampoules in Germany at a higher price than online !

Thanks again for your research . A great help .

[Hidden in reply to wedgewood]

Our long and close friendship with a German family may be my salvation as reciprocal bi annual visits between my son and theirs have never waned in 33 years. Plus there is a young one just starting out on his career who would be eager to help. But it would be preferable to be able to still do it for ourselves

[Hidden in reply to wedgewood]

I have tried this morning to put an order through to Bodfeld for the 100 ampoules box, using PayPal which seemed to go through, until I thought I had cancelled it. They have just sent me a note, in German telling me B12...im Grossbritanian ist nicht moglich *umlaut omitted by me.

So as they have yet to respond to the note I sent them earlier pointing out this material is not by doctors prescription in Germany and EU rules permit that to apply to any other EU national then as we are still citizens of that organisation why are they refusing to supply now when they weren't in March of this year. I am asking them again. I have used my bad German and also an Automatic translation which I think will suffice.

I do realise it is a little late in the day now but the Germans are such sticklers for doing things by the rules it might just get us somewhere as it could be a source some others off the forum might want to exploit. So far I am sure the order I gave to Versandpo has been accepted as they have sent me a despatch notification and a tracking number with DHL. They have also sought and received payment from PayPal - it is slightly less than Bodfeld would have wanted.

Despite my cancellation of the order to Bodfeld they still might decide to go ahead with it so there could well be another pack of ampoules going spare, I might be looking for a customer for it yet.

[Hidden in reply to wedgewood]

Just an observation. Versandapo is obviously Versand Apoteke which translates as Shipping Pharmacy. I had never thought to check what it meant until Versand appeared in Bodfelds cancelled order form.

[Midnight_Voice in reply to Hidden]

One of the nits with translation is literalness, so you have to think what we would call such a thing in English - ‘Mail Order Pharmacy’ sounds a more familiar English sort of equivalent name, and ‘Pharmacy by Post’ a bit snappier, though it takes more liberties with the original German.

Though in these internet days it may even be that ‘Online Pharmacy’ would be closer to the mark. Or should we say euro?

[Hidden in reply to Midnight_Voice]

I agree but for someone not versed in the nuances of German seeing 'Versand' on and invoice from Bodfeld gives you pause for thought. At first I was concerned that Versandapo might be an associated company and somehow the order had got transferred. However both them and Versandapo were using the word for the shipping costs.

Fun and games

[Hidden in reply to Midnight_Voice]

Things got much further today as I got a reply from Bodfeld reiterating that it is not possible to send to UK. So I outlined our case, our plight and our need. I also asked what Law had changed and was surprised to be told it is a UK Law. They haven't replied to my request as to which UK Law do thy mean.

I have had a search and can only find one which is really referring to import of drugs manufactured here so needing protection. It looks as though the sneaky buggers in Westminster are getting ready for wrenching our EU citizens rights off us.

It might be time to see if we can persuade the Extension Revolution the we are in danger of a much more imminent extinction then the odd bunnie, badger and bandicoot. We need the power of the people. Get that licence which hamstrings us modified.

[Hidden in reply to wedgewood]

I have had a discussion with Bodfeld about the order they were unable to send. Yesterday I asked for an explanation of why they were able to send me 100 ampoules in March but cannot do so now. Here is their reply with the auto translation.

Sehr geehrter Herr Cooper,

der Artikel ist in Deutschland freiverkäuflich. Allerdings ist dieser seit veränderten Gesetzen in GB verschreibungspflichtig. Wir als Apotheke müssen uns beim versenden der Pakte an die gesetzlichen Regelungen der einzelnen Länder halten. Eine Belieferung innerhalb Deutschlands ist selbstverständlich ohne Rezept kein Problem.

Wohin Sie oder ein Bekannter von Ihnen das Medikament verschippen wollen liegt außerhalb unseres Verantwortungsbereichs. Hierzu können wir Ihnen keinerlei Informationen geben, dies bezüglich sollten Sie sich an den entsprechenden Zoll wenden.

Wir können Ihnen nur die bereits genannte Möglichkeit anbieten, alles andere ist aufgrund der veränderten Gesetzeslage leider nicht mehr möglich.

the article is for sale in Germany. However, it has been subject to prescription in the UK since changes in laws. As a pharmacy, we as a pharmacy must comply with the legal regulations of the individual countries when sending the pacts. A supply within Germany is of course no problem without a prescription.

Where you or an acquaintance of you want to sip the drug is outside our area of responsibility. We cannot give you any information about this, you should contact the relevant customs.

We can only offer you the above-mentioned possibility, everything else is unfortunately no longer possible due to the changed legal situation.

I cannot find anything about the change to UK Laws they cite and they haven't referred to them.

[Hidden in reply to wedgewood]

I forgot to add that I have been advised by DHL that the package of ampoules from Versandapo are being delivered between 14:52 and 15:12 this afternoon.

[wedgewood in reply to Hidden]

I had a similar letter from Bodfeld , but they subsequently did deliver . I think if they are asked directly, they feel legally obliged to answer in that manner , as they are not supposed to supply any item to a foreign country which insists on a prescription for it . But they know that B12 injections are harmless , and do supply them to U.K. . They would not do that for other drugs .Thank goodness that the German Health authorities are enlightened , and do not insist on a prescription in Germany for B12 ampoules , or I don’t know what we would do .

The pharmacies have to be cautious when emailing . They might worry that they are being investigated by the authorities , and feel they have to quote the regulations .

Thanks for that .

[Hidden in reply to wedgewood]

I now have an account with Versandapo so perhaps it will no longer matter. Also I will have at least a years supply when the delivery arrives in 30 minutes. Perhaps it will not be necessary after seeing the neurologist next April but I am not holding my breath. It is just another bloody nuisance when coping with problem should be nuisance enough

problem should be no