Shipping knives overseas? possible? worth it?

jake9095

jake9095

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Im not exactly sure where to post this question but, I am wondering if anyone from the U.S. has any experience shipping knives overseas... I have had someone contact me on a knife I am selling asking me to ship it to Europe.. specifically the Czech Republic...

I have no experience with overseas shipping and I figured I would reach out to the community instead of immediately telling him no.

Thanks,
Jake
 
Hi Jake, I have been on both ends. Am also living overseas now and it is real easy with USPS. It is much like shipping within the US but you have an extra form to complete for declaring the contents of the parcel. An important thing to make sure is to get paid, preferably using paypal and to use a USPS service that has tracking, not just in the US but also throughout the process and in the recipient country. I normally use Express International - it costs more but worth it in terms of speed and traceability. Also, different countries have different import duties and restrictions, so make sure the recipient is aware of it and does not get surprised later.
Also, I would be wary shipping to the UK and other countries that now have restrictions iro knives.

Another option is to ask the buyer to use one of the freight forwarding services. You can then still ship to the address within the US and the forwarding service will complete the last leg. It is more expensive this way, but if you have doubts re the recipient country and their kinife laws it is an option.
 
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I have Shipped to the Czech Republic. I used USPS First Class International. No Tracking once it leaves the US, but it only cost $10 USD. The knife arrived safe and sound, no fuss, no muss.
 
As long as the knife does not have slabs of ivory, pearl, abalone, stag, horn, ebony, cocobolo, or other non-domesticated animal / exotic wood - you are probably fine. But be warned that regardless of what the buyer says, if the package goes missing or customs agent is a collector - you eat it.
 
Like WCC said, shipping overseas with USPS is just about the same as shipping a package to anyone within the US. The only difference is the customs declaration sticker (CN22 form) that has to be on the box.

http://about.usps.com/forms/ps2976.pdf

You can this sticker for free at any post office and you only have to fill out the following information:

- Tick box: Gift or Merchandise. (makes no real difference, only the declared value determines if the recipient has to pay import duties)
- Detailed description: (knife / pocket knife etc...)
- Weight of the item
- Item value (the stated value will determine if the package has to go through the customs process in the destination country or passes without further processing)*
- Sender and recipient address

You do not have to worry if the item is legal to own / import in the recipient country, That is the responsibility of the recipient.
If it is legal to own / ship in the US than it is legal for you to ship abroad.

If the item is illegal in the destination country than it might be confiscated by customs but that is not your problem. If you worry that the buyer might try to file a Paypal item not received claim, than ask them to make the payment as a non-refundable "Send money to friends and family" payment.

I usually opt for First-Class International which is the cheapest option and the ETA is usually about 2 weeks.
Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Box is a good second option and a bit faster, ETA is usually 1 week.

Here is a list of available options based on a package with a weight of 1 lbs:
http://ircalc.usps.gov/MailServices.aspx?country=10086&m=6&p=1&o=0&dpb=0&mdt=2015/09/17%2008:00&dvi=20

*About the declared value......
Officially you are required to state the actual value of the item but this value is only of importance for the customs office in the destination country as based upon the stated value, they will decide if the recipient has to pay import duties or not. If customs in the receiving country has doubts about the declared value, they might open the package to inspect the contents and to see if there is an invoice included but usually they will accept the declared value. Worst case scenario if they really can not believe that the stated value is correct, they will just make an estimate or contact the recipient and ask them to provide proof of the value.

If you worry about any legal consequences for not stating the actual value of the item if the buyer asks you to declare a lower value, than note that this concerns the customs laws of the destination country, it is the buyers responsibility to provide the correct information, not the sellers as in that case it is the buyer that breaks the import law in his country, not you.
 
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This, that and the other thing as well.
All true.

I live and have lived in Spain my entire life, and have bought about 120-130 knives from the US (Knifecenter, BladeHQ, eBay, Amazon, etc.) and I think USPS is the way to go.
About half the time they go through customs no problem, the other 50% of the times I have to end up paying fees, taxes, VAT etc. and receiving the item with a two to four week delay because of the process and sh*t, but it arrives in the end.

So yes, it can be done, many times it is a chaos of taxes fees and extra money but it ends up getting to its destination sooner or later unless it is an illegal or prohibited item.
Just my two cents
 
In fact, I just received this little one a couple hours ago.

20150917_182013_zpsjdcgikon.jpg


Everything went smooth as a silk, no customs clearance or fees, just paid the value declared on the package. This luck is something rare in my country these times, when most packages tend to arriev with exaggeratedd taxes and fees.

20150917_182009_zpsa7yh5m49.jpg


20150917_181726_zps2uqnjy8n.jpg


I've been lucky this time! Thanks USPS!
 
I have shipped to Thailand, England, Switzerland, France, Germany, and a couple other places (as well as Canada and Mexico), and have never had any trouble. I use USPS international. It's important to work with the recipient to make sure they divulge any information they have about how their customs works, including what kind of item description ("camping cutlery," "camping tool," and the like are popular). When selling used knives, it's arguably OK to discount the price a bit, but don't go overboard. And don't claim things are gifts when they aren't.
 
Shipped everywhere (except a few known rogue countries), without a hitch. Always use USPS First Class International + REGISTERED. First world countries, you can omit Registered since postal service on both ends is reasonable reliable, and USPS provides a tracking these days all through the destination. Th consolidated sticky list on top is a good starting point.
 
choombak said:
Shipped everywhere (except a few known rogue countries), without a hitch. Always use USPS First Class International + REGISTERED. First world countries, you can omit Registered since postal service on both ends is reasonable reliable, and USPS provides a tracking these days all through the destination. Th consolidated sticky list on top is a good starting point.
Click to expand...

Does the Registered option have tracking all the way to the destination? I have been shipping more knives to Europe recently, and with Priority International tracking sometimes shows till the end, and sometimes not.
 
Sam Wilson said:
Does the Registered option have tracking all the way to the destination? I have been shipping more knives to Europe recently, and with Priority International tracking sometimes shows till the end, and sometimes not.
Click to expand...

I think it depends on the destination country and whether or not USPS has an agreement with the local postal service.
A package to the Netherlands for example can be traced all the way.
 
If you can sell the knife in the US just stick with that. It is best to let the dealers take the risk of shipping abroad.. When I was new to this I sent a handful of knives overseas with no problem .. But as time went on I have seen a fair amount of problems that make it not worth it.. More recently I sold a item to a man out of the country . I shipped to a destination in the US and the item was shipped from there to its final destination (I thought that this would be and exception but I believe this is where the problems started) . The items I sold were high dollar custom knives that left me in mint condition . The buyer received my knives and decided to take them apart . They had tamper resistant screws and he broke one taking it out. In return he blamed me for tampering with the knives and attempted to tarnish my name. Thankfully everyone rallied and helped me from getting my ass handed to me.

So in short think of it like this.. Can you afford to lose the money on this deal ? It is possible for this to happen. Think long and hard.
 
Sam Wilson said:
Does the Registered option have tracking all the way to the destination? I have been shipping more knives to Europe recently, and with Priority International tracking sometimes shows till the end, and sometimes not.
Click to expand...
If the destination country has Registered option, then yes. However I am yet to find one that doesn't. Once the package hits that shore, it is entered into that system as well - so the recipient can track it. To cite an example, I ship USPS first class + registered to India. USPS may or may not show the tracking, but in a week to two, the item shows up on Indian postal tracking system - Registered has the exact same meaning and definition there as well - "Maintain a register at every point it changes hands, and treat it wish utmost respect else your jobs on the line." Nobody dare tamper a Registered package.

While shipping though, USPS may require no plastic tape on the package since it will be stamped at all seams and joints. The PO may apply a water activated paper tape at times. The first package I sent had plastic tape and the lady had me repackage it and said being registered you don't have to worry about the security. The only flip side is Registered service requires you to go to the PO, and hand over the parcel to the clerk.

I've never had a Registered package go missing. It's slow but sure, and most economical and reliable service.
 
I never have problems sending knives to Europe. I never don't have problems sending knives to Canada. Call it luck or whatever. I usually don't ship overseas unless a customer pays extra. I have been more lenient with some countries (France) since I never have problems and always deal with super nice people who pay extra and don't hassle me while it's in transit.

So yes, it is possible and it is worth it. Does that mean you will have good luck, no. But you have to determine the size of your own risk appetite.
 
Never had any issue shipping to and fro Switzerland.

Twice I've had postal workers who don't know the law looking flustered and need to check their rule book before shipping out. Always works in the end, though.
 
I would only ship overseas if I could afford to take a loss. You would have a better chance of getting struck by lightning then collecting on an insurance claim or PayPal backing you up. As a seller you will assume most of the risk. I wouldn't even consider selling overseas unless I was paid via "gift" and I'm not a supporter of people misusing PayPal that way That said lot's of people don't have issues.. No doubt, it adds more issues and risks than already risky domestic transactions.
Edited, wanted to mention one more thing. I would be wary of any buyer claiming they will assume all risk of shipping overseas. I've seen it all over the various hobby forums, when something goes wrong the problem becomes the sellers irregardless of what was agreed upon.
 
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fvdk said:
I think it depends on the destination country and whether or not USPS has an agreement with the local postal service.
A package to the Netherlands for example can be traced all the way.
Click to expand...

choombak said:
If the destination country has Registered option, then yes. However I am yet to find one that doesn't. Once the package hits that shore, it is entered into that system as well - so the recipient can track it. To cite an example, I ship USPS first class + registered to India. USPS may or may not show the tracking, but in a week to two, the item shows up on Indian postal tracking system - Registered has the exact same meaning and definition there as well - "Maintain a register at every point it changes hands, and treat it wish utmost respect else your jobs on the line." Nobody dare tamper a Registered package.

While shipping though, USPS may require no plastic tape on the package since it will be stamped at all seams and joints. The PO may apply a water activated paper tape at times. The first package I sent had plastic tape and the lady had me repackage it and said being registered you don't have to worry about the security. The only flip side is Registered service requires you to go to the PO, and hand over the parcel to the clerk.

I've never had a Registered package go missing. It's slow but sure, and most economical and reliable service.
Click to expand...

Thank you guys, that is interesting to know. OP, sorry to hijack your thread a little but this will probably save me from starting a new thread myself. I will definitely investigate the Registered option, then. I haven't had any trouble with packages making it to their destinations, but I have to say, my primary concern is not them making it but being able to prove it in the case of somebody opening a Paypal claim and trying to take my money and my knife. It hasn't happened yet, but if it does, there isn't much recourse once the knife is on a different continent. It's enough to make me seriously think about selling internationally.
 
I've imported many knives (and other things) to South Africa from the USA using USPS, FedEx, DHL, TNT, etc without any problems. Proper tracking is key. As long as the tracking continues in South Africa there will not be any problems. It's not a big deal at all. People fear the unknown, that's all.

What doesn't work well is mail forwarding services. Use a reputable service provider that ships directly. The big players are good at what they do so there is really no need for monkey tricks.
 
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It depends on if you are a dealer/flipper of knives or just a hobbiest. If you are a dealer then it may be worth it to gather the information and sell internationally. I enjoy knives as a hobby and occasionally buy or sell a knife or three here on BF. It is not worth my time, effort and stress to research ways and means of shipping internationally. I've sold two knives and one watch internationally and two out of three went badly.
 
I have shipped overseas and received shipments from overseas sellers.....I've had absolutely no issues. However, you absolutely must do your homework on the people you deal with.......pretty much as you'd do here in the states. If you have performed due diligence, you'll be fine.....good luck!!
 
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