Knife shipping question

[longbeachbum]

If this is too off topic for this forum, please excuse me, and feel free to move to Off Topic Discussions forum.

My question is this:

I've made twenty or thirty sales on ebay, but always confined the bidding to the USA, because with selling knives I was afraid of the package not clearing customs in other countries.

Now I'd like to open it up a little if possible and I thought for starters I would include other English speaking countries, specically Canada, Austrailia, and the UK. However, I'm still a little leery about the customs issue.

Does anyone know if the customs situation is dicey for shipping knives to any of these places?

Thanks so much,

Jim

[smiling-knife]

Hi, I've not had any customs problems with knives/corkscrews bought from the US. A few times they were held for ransom at the local post office and I had to pay a small amount for their release. While technically, we should pay duty on anything more than about $35 US, most of the packages are not held. It seems quite random. Only about 1-2%....maybe 5 or 6 items have not arrived at all. Of those, 1/2 the sellers refunded my money and the other half (3) would not so I was out of pocket. A med pocket knife can be sent by global priority for $5.25. This seems to be the most reliable option. A few sellers charge ridiculous amounts for international s-h e.g., 5X that cost. I rule them out from any consideration based on that alone. The only thing to be aware of is that automatic switch blade knives will surely be confiscated if found. s-k

[longbeachbum]

Thanks S-K!

You think there'd be any issue with a Buck 110?

Thanks again,

Jim

P.S. Those six or seven items that were not received at all, that's out of how many total? I guess shipping insurance isn't even an option for international shipping, and that alone might scare me off.

[smiling-knife]

I don't think so but I am not a lawyer so this is an unofficial opinion. There are plenty who do offer to ship that knife abroad here is one for e.g.,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Buck-Limited-110- ... dZViewItem.

s-k

[smiling-knife]

Some sellers do offer insurance especially for more expensive items. I have paid that when warranted but not really worth it for $25-30 items. You could offer the option. The no show percentage I would say is 2-3% max in my experience. s-k

[Gr8Scout]

I sell many knives on ebay and I warmly, graciously, welcome overseas bidders/buyers. Customs forms are easy; you will mostly use the simple green and white form 2979. Be honest, fill out all the information. Check the box that says 'other' and write in Merchandise'. List the item for what it is, i.e. "one pocket knife, used".

Your postal clerk may see the word 'knife' and open up his regulations book to see if the country you are sending it to will accept it. Most certainly will, but insist it be packaged safely. Easy, if it is a pocket knife, closed, it is safe, if it is a fixed blade in a sheath, it is safe. I did run into one strange thing when sending a knife to a military man in Sweden: I had to list it as a :"Camping tool". I never use the terms "Military", Combat", or "Tactical" knife. I write down that it is a "collectible" knife.

Most postal clerks will be happy to fill you in on the details of insurance and such. That can get a little sticky, sending overseas (as opposed to sending to Canada) where you have to mail things 'registered' and use paper tape to secure it.

You'll send mostly by 'Air Letter Post' and it will not be expensive. Gets to the buyer in many cases quicker than if you were to mail from left coast USA to right coast via Parcel Post.

Jump in! Every international buyer I have dealt with-- from Poland, Italy, France, Belgium, Japan, the UK, Austalia, Canada, ect. ect. has been trouble free and a pleasure to deal with.

Good luck!

Phil

[longbeachbum]

Thanks you guys. I was definitely wrong about not being able to insure internationally shipped items, so that comforts me.

I'm definitely going to give it a try.

Thanks again!!!

Jim