Importing knives - does it save money?

I

iht@intekom.co.za

Joined
Jun 19, 2004
Messages
51
I am interested to hear of peoples experience with importing knives purchased via the internet from the states. My own experience recently has been a good one, but this may not be the case for everyone. I was looking for a Benchmade 710 in M2, but could not find it in South Africa where I live. The list price was $185, but a knife shop here (I'm sure a very good one and one of the very few here) offered to import it for me with their next order from Benchmade - this would cost me around $240 with a wait of 6 - 8 weeks for the next order - ouch! I shopped around on the internet and found the knife for $111 - brand new I should say - and on e mailing the vendor they said they would charge $35 for shipping - USPS express delivery. The knife was in stock and I duly ordered it paying by my plastic pal. The order went in on around 22/6, knife left USA 24/6 and arrived in South Africa on 1/7 - cleared customs and got to my post office on around 6th - I picked it up yesterday. Customs charge - about $4 handling fee. Total cost (using exchange rate at the time) $157 - a saving of over $80 and 4-6 weeks in time.
 
Welcome to the forum iht.

I have bought several knives via the internet from NGK in the US and it has been a good experience every time. Far cheaper than I can get them from knife shops here, even if they have them and they usually arrive within 3 weeks. (Much of that time seems to be customs taking it's time.)
 
iht, welcome to Bladeforums!

I don't have any problem importing knives from the US :D I'm glad you hooked up with a good and cooperative dealer. Unfortunately, a lot of the best aren't comfortable shipping overseas.

It is a shame, though, that dealers elsewhere seem to take advantage of limited access and varying exchange rates to charge such high prices -- but we get that here, too. Some store front dealers sometimes ask way over fair retail prices.
 
My online buying experiences have all been positive.

But then again I don't live in SA anymore. Having things shipped to Canada is a lot less cumbersome.
 
I ordered a knife from a US company while living in Germany last year. The only problem was that the German post office charged me a substantial import tax to pick up the knife. Still, it was less expensive than buying the same knife in the knife shops in Frankfurt.

I found that knives made outside of the EU cost twice as much in Germany as German and other EU country knives. German brands like Boker cost about the same in Euros as they cost in dollars in the US. However, American and other non-EU country knives cost twice as much as in the US.

The only problem you will find is that many US dealers do not want to ship to foreign countries, while others charge huge shipping rates to do so. For example, the KnifeCenter lost my business permanently by refusing to ship a knife to me in Germany. I had bought several knives from them before moving to Germany. I have bought no more knives from them since moving back, and never will again.
 
I got my kicks from Roger at www.knifeworks.com . He will send overseas but some form of verification will be needed before trust is established. We have worked out a system to expediate the delivery. I get mine within 10 days, but I am willing to pay.
 
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