I need advice on the best way to ship an expensive knife to Europe. I know that some folks don't want the hassles, so I am trying to educate myself here, to decide if I want to do this. I just read a thread where someone says they use FedEx, and declare the full value. Others use USPS Global and call the knife a 'camping tool' to avoid customs fees for the buyer. If you do that, then obviously you cannot insure for the full value. Seems like quite a risk, no?
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Best way to ship to Europe?
- Thread starter resinguy
- Start date
You ship Fed Ex and declare it as a camping tool, I declare the value as $10.00 USD.
If you declare a knife as "knife" you open several cans of worms. Import tariffs, laws about exporting/ importing weapons, etc.
Global priority can take up to a month or more and offers no way to track the item. As a sender, I will not tolerate this and if the buyer wants to save the funds on shipping, he or she ought to accept all responsibility for the postal rate of delivery.
I will tell you from multiple experiences that shipping a package to the Netherlands has taken under 48 hours and I knew at all times where the package was.
Insuring the package is far less a consideration for me than ensuring it gets there. Federal Express has a lot riding on the package getting to it's destination unharmed and has never done me poorly domestically or internationally.
If you declare a knife as "knife" you open several cans of worms. Import tariffs, laws about exporting/ importing weapons, etc.
Global priority can take up to a month or more and offers no way to track the item. As a sender, I will not tolerate this and if the buyer wants to save the funds on shipping, he or she ought to accept all responsibility for the postal rate of delivery.
I will tell you from multiple experiences that shipping a package to the Netherlands has taken under 48 hours and I knew at all times where the package was.
Insuring the package is far less a consideration for me than ensuring it gets there. Federal Express has a lot riding on the package getting to it's destination unharmed and has never done me poorly domestically or internationally.
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Hi
i'm in the Uk and usually get knives shipped USPS with insurance and tracking... haven't had a single package go astray, although a large order from a knife maker did take six weeks.. but it turned out he had used shipped by sea mail and kept the extra money
.. apart from that over fourty knives arrived perfectly fine ... 
a good description is camping tool ... i would suggest that declarations for taxable value are between buyer and seller.. it is illegal to make a false declaration but, understadably, people do it .. in the UK we end up paying about 30% because the post office charge import taxes, customs tax on the value of the knife and on the postage.. they also charge a release fee
cheers
ug
i'm in the Uk and usually get knives shipped USPS with insurance and tracking... haven't had a single package go astray, although a large order from a knife maker did take six weeks.. but it turned out he had used shipped by sea mail and kept the extra money
.. apart from that over fourty knives arrived perfectly fine ... a good description is camping tool ... i would suggest that declarations for taxable value are between buyer and seller.. it is illegal to make a false declaration but, understadably, people do it .. in the UK we end up paying about 30% because the post office charge import taxes, customs tax on the value of the knife and on the postage.. they also charge a release fee
cheers
ug
I wouldn't personally do it.Making false documentation and lowering the value to avoid a tax,doesn't appeal to me.What happens if it get's lost or stolen? I guess you'll eat the loss if you under value the knife.I stay far away from deals like the one you are considering entering.
Fed Ex was the best way for a long time but recently (at least at my Fed Ex Hub) they've cracked down on vague descriptions. In fact, now they not only require you to list the contents but what the contents are made of and what the contents are used for.
I now use USPS Global Priority or Global Express and they'll still accept "Camping Tool" or other vague descriptions.
Phillip
I now use USPS Global Priority or Global Express and they'll still accept "Camping Tool" or other vague descriptions.
Phillip
USPS Global Express has worked flawlessly for me, as have FedEx, UPS and DHL.
As far as duties and fees go, that really should be the buyers problem.
I had a seller once who didn't declare anything on the shipping note (motorbike parts),
and I went through a series of correspondence with customs in order to release the package.
That was a bigger hassle than paying the fees.
As far as duties and fees go, that really should be the buyers problem.
I had a seller once who didn't declare anything on the shipping note (motorbike parts),
and I went through a series of correspondence with customs in order to release the package.
That was a bigger hassle than paying the fees.
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Making false customs declarations can get your goods confiscated or cause a lot more trouble than the bit of money you're trying to "save." It's called fraud.
It will also result in the package being not insured at all.
Fed Ex and UPS are super expensive. UPS charges the receiver a "fee" in Germany for doing the Custom processing but if you refuse to pay it, they drop it from the bill as the receiver of the package has no contract with UPS for anything. Now they fax the receiver a contract and try and get that signed before delivering the package... then they can charge the receiver too. What a rip off.
Duty on knives is generally very low in the EU. A few %. Sales tax (VAT) is another story. That's usually around 20%.
US Postal service insured is usually the best bet. That lands directly by DHL in Germany.
Declaring the contents as cutlery or cutting tool is usually good.
Bottom line is that shipping goods between the USA and the EU is expensive and EU sales tax compared to sales tax in the USA is astronomical.
It will also result in the package being not insured at all.
Fed Ex and UPS are super expensive. UPS charges the receiver a "fee" in Germany for doing the Custom processing but if you refuse to pay it, they drop it from the bill as the receiver of the package has no contract with UPS for anything. Now they fax the receiver a contract and try and get that signed before delivering the package... then they can charge the receiver too. What a rip off.
Duty on knives is generally very low in the EU. A few %. Sales tax (VAT) is another story. That's usually around 20%.
US Postal service insured is usually the best bet. That lands directly by DHL in Germany.
Declaring the contents as cutlery or cutting tool is usually good.
Bottom line is that shipping goods between the USA and the EU is expensive and EU sales tax compared to sales tax in the USA is astronomical.
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Just would like to add for the UK:
Have no experience with fedex, but had a Busse shipped from Busse shop. Do not know what they used but it arrived with Parcel Force (also known here as Parcel Farce). That is part of Royal Mail, so possibly the equivalent of Global.
Please note; I have not found a way to pay VAT direct, or in advance.
Received a letter from PF saying they wanted about $40 for VAT (fine, no problems with that) and about $28 for "Clearance fee"
The explanation I received was that it covered their personel and software fees that they operate on behalf of HMC&E (Customs).
If you don't pay the fee, you don't get product. Simple as that!
I'll know more tomorrow and will come back to inform of new development but in the mean time stay away from PF
Have no experience with fedex, but had a Busse shipped from Busse shop. Do not know what they used but it arrived with Parcel Force (also known here as Parcel Farce). That is part of Royal Mail, so possibly the equivalent of Global.
Please note; I have not found a way to pay VAT direct, or in advance.
Received a letter from PF saying they wanted about $40 for VAT (fine, no problems with that) and about $28 for "Clearance fee"
The explanation I received was that it covered their personel and software fees that they operate on behalf of HMC&E (Customs).
If you don't pay the fee, you don't get product. Simple as that!
I'll know more tomorrow and will come back to inform of new development but in the mean time stay away from PF
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1998
- Messages
- 1,496
In Germany you can refuse to pay these "fees" unless you - the receiver - have signed a contract authorizing the shipperr to act on your behalf. Customs only charges duty and collects VAT; Customs doesn't charge "fees" for their service. These private carriers try and charge a fee.
When I receive a package from the US Postal Service I often have to go down to German Customs and open the package and pay duty and VAT. But no "fee" for the service. Sometimes German Post delivers the package and collects duty and VAT at the door before handing over the package... again no fee for the service.
These private carriers who collect a shipping fee from the sender of the package (which is OK) and then again another fee from the person receiving the package really chap my a$$.
When I receive a package from the US Postal Service I often have to go down to German Customs and open the package and pay duty and VAT. But no "fee" for the service. Sometimes German Post delivers the package and collects duty and VAT at the door before handing over the package... again no fee for the service.
These private carriers who collect a shipping fee from the sender of the package (which is OK) and then again another fee from the person receiving the package really chap my a$$.
Depends on the country you ship to. All knives here are perfectly legal here - yet it is better to describe the package as "used camp tool" not to attract thieves.
USPS Global priority or even Flat rate envelope has worked fine for me so far - value of the package under 50 USD. If the knife is more expensive I am willing to take the risk. Customs are too much of a hassle - I would have to drive 500 miles to Prague to declare my package and pay duty and VAT. So far all dealers and knifemakers shipped the knives I requested (thank you!)
USPS Global priority or even Flat rate envelope has worked fine for me so far - value of the package under 50 USD. If the knife is more expensive I am willing to take the risk. Customs are too much of a hassle - I would have to drive 500 miles to Prague to declare my package and pay duty and VAT. So far all dealers and knifemakers shipped the knives I requested (thank you!)
Here is a link to the USPS web site that provides information on Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG), Global Express Mail® (GEM), and Global Priority Mail (GPM).
http://www.usps.com/global/sendpackages.htm
As with any shipping provider, pricing of services are relative to features and speed of delivery.
I, like several others that have posted, have issues with what is declared on custom forms and the amount of insurance purchased. You need to protect yourself.
http://www.usps.com/global/sendpackages.htm
As with any shipping provider, pricing of services are relative to features and speed of delivery.
I, like several others that have posted, have issues with what is declared on custom forms and the amount of insurance purchased. You need to protect yourself.
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hi
just to add.. here in the uk we don't really have a choice on whether to pay the 'handling fee' .. if you don't pay they take your package away
ug
ps .. i have to say that lots of guys I have bought knives from have been happy to help with declarations etc .. we are all 'steel whores united' after all
just to add.. here in the uk we don't really have a choice on whether to pay the 'handling fee' .. if you don't pay they take your package away
ug
ps .. i have to say that lots of guys I have bought knives from have been happy to help with declarations etc .. we are all 'steel whores united' after all
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That's all fine and good... BUT as soon as the buyer - who was more than happy to assume ALL risks, etc. DOESN'T get the knife they ordered... then you see if they were really ready to accept all risks. Or if they don't just reverse the Paypal charge or have their Credit Card company charge it back or whatever... the Seller is at the total mercy of the buyer as soon as they start that crap.
Some people don't mind about those things. Others do mind.
People who can't afford the TOTAL cost of the purchase including taxes and shipping should refrain from buying the product until they have some more money.
Some people don't mind about those things. Others do mind.
People who can't afford the TOTAL cost of the purchase including taxes and shipping should refrain from buying the product until they have some more money.
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Does Russia counts for europe?
Fully insured USPS global priority proved to be fine. Got my knives from NGK in about 3 days (wow!)
Fully insured USPS global priority proved to be fine. Got my knives from NGK in about 3 days (wow!)
USPS Global priority has worked for me (yet , fingers crossed). Sometimes I get taxed, sometimes not 
As for VAT - if the item is used, it shouldn't
be taxed (differ VAT (20%) and customs duty (5%)), however (Czech, yours may be different) customs often have their own viewpoint :barf:
BTW "advice of delivery" usually doesn't work when shipping across the ocean - I don't know about US buyers getting it back from Europe, but definetely you don't get any back from US (although you paid for it).
As I have found many (err, all I've met
) customs officers don't know a sh*t (and even less about their job ).
Nevertheless any argument is lost in advance given their bureaucratic position.
, fingers crossed). Sometimes I get taxed, sometimes not As for VAT - if the item is used, it shouldn't
be taxed (differ VAT (20%) and customs duty (5%)), however (Czech, yours may be different) customs often have their own viewpoint :barf:BTW "advice of delivery" usually doesn't work when shipping across the ocean - I don't know about US buyers getting it back from Europe, but definetely you don't get any back from US (although you paid for it).
As I have found many (err, all I've met
) customs officers don't know a sh*t (and even less about their job ).Nevertheless any argument is lost in advance given their bureaucratic position.
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yep . i tried to be nonpolitical and let Kevin's comment slide.. .but since you started.. . we pay taxes on our income .. then we have to pay taxes to import something .. then we have to pay sales tax, in the country of destination despite the product being sold elsewhere, and then we have to pay a clearance/admin fee...
:jerkit: this is the sort of system we have let them impose on us
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Finally a thread where I feel like I can get my feet wet (hopefully without coming across like a tool)
There is a potential way around the declared value and insurance conundrum: First of all be as specific as you can without being specific (in other words pretend your a politician when you are completing your AWB and commercial invoice), so a good description might be "used cutlery". "used" is important because it may affect how duties and taxes are assessed (i.e. VAT). Secondly you can add the comment "Items are used and are not intended for resale. Value declared for customs purposes only." A better way to put the same statement, but depending on the details of the exchange, would be to change the first sentence to either "items are a gift and are not intended for resale" or "items are personal effects and are not intended for resale". What this does is to allow you to declare the full value for insurance purposes (you can actually insure 10% above the declared value to cover shipping), but may help the recipient to avoid duties and taxes (though nothing is guaranteed).
The other big tip would be to find a friend who works for DHL, FedEx or UPS, because they may get some descent discounts on shipping (I know DHL employees do).
I'll leave it there because I'm probably boring everyone by now.
)There is a potential way around the declared value and insurance conundrum: First of all be as specific as you can without being specific (in other words pretend your a politician when you are completing your AWB and commercial invoice), so a good description might be "used cutlery". "used" is important because it may affect how duties and taxes are assessed (i.e. VAT). Secondly you can add the comment "Items are used and are not intended for resale. Value declared for customs purposes only." A better way to put the same statement, but depending on the details of the exchange, would be to change the first sentence to either "items are a gift and are not intended for resale" or "items are personal effects and are not intended for resale". What this does is to allow you to declare the full value for insurance purposes (you can actually insure 10% above the declared value to cover shipping), but may help the recipient to avoid duties and taxes (though nothing is guaranteed).
The other big tip would be to find a friend who works for DHL, FedEx or UPS, because they may get some descent discounts on shipping (I know DHL employees do).
I'll leave it there because I'm probably boring everyone by now.