benchmade warrenty from non-us countries

Joined
Oct 8, 2001
Messages
2,909
i just thought of something. if i get a permission to collect balis, and i get some benchmades, for instance, but want to return them for warrenty purposes, would that be a problem, since there's illegal to import balis to the us?
if so, that makes sense since bm doesn't seem to ship international...

anyone have information/experiences with this?
 
Good question. I would ask Benchmade. If they give a yes I would mark the package for warranty work. It might help.
 
Even a better solution would be to find out if Benchmade has an European distributor/agent. Ask if sending the bali to them would be acceptable. They should know how to handle sending knives back to Benchmark for warranty work.
 
yeah, i sent a mail to bm yesterday, but i didn't ask about the european dealer... i can ask that if i get a reply.
 
A European dealer isn't gonna help. BM does not, I'm fairly certain, have a European service center. Ultimately, the knife does have to come back to the famous Beavercreek facility here in Oregon City in the Big US of A. And yes, it is technically illegal to import the knife into the Big US of A. Any Norwegian license to import/collect/own/export/etc. balisong knives isn't gonna change that.

Now, one might ask, "What if the Norwegian military purchased a lot of, oh, say, 1000lbs. bombs from a US manufacturer and then discovered that a portion of them were defective and had to be returned? It's illegal for the average citizen to import 1000lbs. bombs into the US. So, how would that be handled?"

The answer is that "special arrangements" would be made. It's called a "waiver". For a warranty repair, you could possibly arrange a waiver. The knife is coming into the US, yes, but it's coming here for warranty service with the full expectation and intention that it will not leave BM's hands while it's here and that it'll be leaving the US shortly. I should think that a waiver would be possible.

The practical reality of the situation is that US Customs probably won't find the knife. They've got much bigger things to worry about than one switchblade knife (keep in mind that for the purposes of US Customs regulations, your Bali-Song is a switchblade knife).

But, the other practical reality of the situation is that if US Customs does find your Bali-Song without a waiver and desides to play tough, they'll confiscate you toy and you'll never see it again and with plenty of precedence, you're unlikely to argue successfully.

Sorry.
 
Originally posted by Gollnick
A European dealer isn't gonna help. BM does not, I'm fairly certain, have a European service center.
BM does not have any service centers outside of Oregon. But if they have an European dealer/agent then those dealers would have established corporate ties to handle warranty work. Including the obtaining of waivers to circumvent the re-importation issue. Curiously, if you buy something from BM through their website, one of the steps you need to complete is to choose a dealer near you to act as the warranty agent. Just that, no European agents turned up when I last searched. Asian dealers too, for that matter.

But since BM's are sold overseas, there's a good chance the licensed importer may be used as the acting agent to send the bali back for service. I have not read anywhere that BM terminates their warranty program or the LifeSharp program for any BM knives that are purchased outside the boundries of the USA.

2 notes:
1) If no European agent can be found, you will run the risk of confiscation by customs, as before, should you decide to send it back.
2) BM is still your best source to find out for sure, and we in this forum are not BM dealers or representatives. BMTS is among the best in the industry to settle warranty issues.

Let us know what you find out. Best of luck. Hate to see you decide to not own a BM bali, after all that you've gone through, if the only thing holding you up is the issue of warranty.
 
Let us know what you find out. Best of luck. Hate to see you decide to not own a BM bali, after all that you've gone through, if the only thing holding you up is the issue of warranty.
first, let me thank you all for interesting answers.
then, to tony's post: i sure will tell you what i find out, but i haven't heared anything yet.
and i _will_ get a bm bali, warrenty or not! :D at least i think so. ;) just to see if it swings so good you ppl say it does. :)
 
Ixpfah, you should try to find a dealer in France or Germany, but balisongs will be illegal in Germany as of next month or so :barf:
Sending balisongs within the European Union shouldn't be a problem, but I can't help you with the warranty issues (sending overseas).
I'll try to find a French dealer/importer if you'd like.
 
just got words from benchmade about this, and they say:
If your country laws allow them then we can repair the knife for you and ship it back. Sending a knife in for repair is not importing and is judged on different laws.

Thank You,

Angie
so i'd guess if i got that licence, i'd be allright.
 
Congrats. That turned out easier than we all speculated. No waivers, no worries, just ship it. Let's hope that Customs is also aware of this non-import rule... Just kidding.
 
Well, I'd still be very hesitant to just send it in. How does Joe CustomsAgent looking at your box know that it's coming in for warranty service? At the very minimum, you should be very careful to address it to:



Benchmade Manufacturing Company
Attn: Warranty Service Department
300 Beavercreek Road
Oregon City, Oregon, 97045
USA

Contains merchandise being returned to manufacturer for warranty repair.



Be sure to note on the customs declaration in big, friendly letters that the contents are being returned to the manufacturer for warranty service. And, I'd also enclose a simple letter, unfolded, unsealed, that reads something like:




Dear Benchmade Manufacturing Company Warranty Service Department,

Please find enclosed my Benchmade Model 42 knife. Please note that the screw holding one of the handles has broken off. I have marked the broken screw by applying a bit of red tape to the handle near it. Please repair this broken screw according to your standard warranty and return to the knife to me at my address in Oslo, Norway given above.



But, even with all of these precautions, I'd still contact US Customs (they've got a website and you can e-mail 'em) and ask for a waiver. That way, there's just no question. Without the waiver, I fear that if something does go wrong, you won't be able to salvage the situation. With the waiver, if some mistake is made and your knife ends up in line for the crusher, you've got some documented paperwork to stand on. Since it is a warranty return situation, I don't think customs will have any problem granting the waiver.
 
Back
Top