Dissappointed with Collectorknives.net change

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

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So I go to see how much the order I have been debating on for about a month now and see that shipping to Alberta is $999.99. Thinking there must have been an error I write an email, asking about shipping and stock quantities. Well my lovely iPhone put the message somewhere that I do not know how to get it again. I realize that I should have the stock numbers to make it easier on the workers/Mike. That is where I notice in small print

"We no longer ship internationally.* It is too much of a headache with regulations here and around the globe.* Thus, on counsel advice, to protect our business interests we will just eliminate the option.* My sincere apologies for those affected."


This decision is really disheartening! It was a great day when he allowed international orders, as he has a great selection (some short run exclusives- one I had my heart on too) and some knives that I have not found elsewhere, or are at a better price. I've ordered many times from him with no problems, and I had no problem paying higher shipping than elsewhere.

I understand changing business as it is his right, but I do lament not getting wind of this ahead of time, and lament the loss of the only slipjoint dealer that I have dealt with- so it is likely that I shall not get more new slipjoints in the future (not that I would have after my Christmas/personal buy), and have to put the short run on the list of probably will never have. Back to looking at pictures and dreaming.

Sad day for me......
 
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Kris,but on the bright side,you can always place an order with me ;)
-Vince :)
 
True:D and not like it would have been ordered any time soon,just sad being told no, and never again! I don't do breakups well I guess.
 
Well, it wasn't a light decision - but a very easy one....

10-12 days ago I was packing knives for shipment and the phone rings. US Fish and Wildlife are calling to discuss my recent shipment of a Bulldog Stag Whittler to China. They had randomly picked the shipment for inspection when they found the stag knife. They had 5 different citations lined up for me for shipping a knife out of the country with wildlife components; even though said knife did not even originate in the U.S. One of the citations was failure to pay the REQUIRED $91 fee for any box leaving the U.S. with horn, stag, pearl, abalone, or any other non-domesticated animal component. I had an import/export license but had not read enough of the small print to see all the actual requirements.

Now, I guess I can claim ignorance the first time (lawyer says don't count on it). But was informed that I would be watched much closer and any future violation would include several more severe citations. They also told me they were watching the website content pertaining to international shipments. Needless to say I discontinued international shipping and modified the website immediately. It cost more to sell internationally, it takes more time and materials to pack it, I get to hear criticism often about shipping charges (since I won't fire and forget with First Class or Priority), and many times packages go missing for weeks. None are problems I will particularly miss.

Can you imagine if my international express went from $32.50 to $123.50? How many happy people would that send running to the GBU.

As far as the 999.99 shipping charges, that is simply a workaround paypal's inability to setup payments such that an international credit card cannot be excluded. You can set it up to not accept an international paypal account; but not a non-account buyer. Thus, it shows that shipping and will not accept an international address.

So, I apologize for the inconvenience. But my profits from all of 2011 international sales won't cover the citations they already lined me up for; and I am not silly enough to get back in the same line...

I guess someone more daring than I can setup and make some money as a re-shipper. But I guess if you read this, now you can't claim ignorance....
 
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knifeswapper said:
Well, it wasn't a light decision - but a very easy one....

10-12 days ago I was packing knives for shipment and the phone rings. US Fish and Wildlife are calling to discuss my recent shipment of a Bulldog Stag Whittler to China. They had randomly picked the shipment for inspection when they found the stag knife. They had 5 different citations lined up for me for shipping a knife out of the country with wildlife components; even though said knife did not even originate in the U.S. One of the citations was failure to pay the REQUIRED $91 fee for any box leaving the U.S. with horn, stag, pearl, abalone, or any other non-domesticated animal component. I had an import/export license but had not read enough of the small print to see all the actual requirements.

Now, I guess I can claim ignorance the first time (lawyer says don't count on it). But was informed that I would be watched much closer and any future violation would include several more severe citations. They also told me they were watching the website content pertaining to international shipments. Needless to say I discontinued international shipping and modified the website immediately. It cost more to sell internationally, it takes more time and materials to pack it, I get to hear criticism often about shipping charges (since I won't fire and forget with First Class or Priority), and many times packages go missing for weeks. None are problems I will particularly miss.

Can you imagine if my international express went from $32.50 to $123.50? How many happy people would that send running to the GBU.

As far as the 999.99 shipping charges, that is simply a workaround paypal's inability to setup payments such that an international credit card cannot be excluded. You can set it up to not accept an international paypal account; but not a non-account buyer. Thus, it shows that shipping and will not accept an international address.

So, I apologize for the inconvenience. But my profits from all of 2011 international sales won't cover the citations they already lined me up for; and I am not silly enough to get back in the same line...

I guess someone more daring than I can setup and make some money as a re-shipper. But I guess if you read this, now you can't claim ignorance....
Click to expand...

That is intense. Nothing in the World today is simple. I see why you have this policy
-Vince
 
That is very sad, and I understand that it is a business decision, just wish I could have done something prior to the change. I appreciate the explanation very much, and understand that it wasn't done just to aggravate us. I understand ecological awareness and conservation, but things are ridiculous IMO.

Thank you for the services you have provided me in the past, and I hope things can change for the better for me in the future, I just won't hold my breath.

Good luck in the future!
 
That is just crazy.Another example of bureaucracy gone wild and totally nuts.A shame for our knife bros abroad,but i would do exactly the same.You cant fight the idiots without lots of cash.
 
Very unfortunate situation Mike but you gotta make your business decisions based on what works and what doesn't. I'm sorry to see another source of fine cutlery go but I can't expect you to go tilting at windmills over this.. Fish & Wildlife involvement sounds pretty heavy. Reckon I had best stick to synthetic handle materials, on knives ordered from the U.S. from now on, if that's how they roll. Glad I don't dislike G-10, Micarta and the like.
 
Good thing I decided to collect more wood handled knives, too bad I didn't order sooner, but then wood is already on the list too I'm sure, just next to be prosecuted. G If only my American sister in law liked me enough to ship things to me....
 
knifeswapper said:
I just saw on the news this week that Gibson (guitars) was in trouble for using ebony and cocobolo (probably more) woods for very similar reasons.
Click to expand...

Mike I always enjoyed buying from you and dealing with you was a pleasure.
I am sorry to hear that International shipments from you are no longer possible but I don't blame you at all for changing your policy.
To think that you are facing fines for something as mundane as a wood knife handle is pathetic.

I wish you all the best in the future.............

Steven
 
I agree with all of the posts above showing empathy for Mike Latham and his response to unreasonable Federal over-reach.

Mr. Latham instinctively made the correct decision on this narrow and easily defined
issue.

Gibson, knife makers and sellers, and others dealing in natural materials are facing
more complex decisions regarding wrong headed regulatory over-reach and
compliance.

The cost to all in private business will be enormous.

Many will react as Mr. Latham did on his narrow issue.

Some have been unable to avoid the enormity and cost of Federal rule expansion and have shut down, or are planning to shut down or otherwise restrict their activity.

The emotional cost to the rest of us as a purchasers of wonderful goods of all kinds
made from natural materials is not yet fully apparent.

Mike H.
 
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(( political cheap shot -- not welcome in a serious discussion ))
 
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I am surprised that Mike lasted as long as he did. I have a friend of mine that manufactures parts for radio controlled model yachts. He also sells parts that are made to his specs and used to ship all over the world.

Between lost packages, mis-delivered packages, broken packages, packages that were looted before delivery, delivery companies that let the wrong persons sign for packages, and on and on an on....

he finally gave up. He replaced lost packages, parts, damaged goods, ran down locations of packages so much that it became a huge part of his business. And although it seemed lucrative while he was doing it, we both sat down and figured out his time and effort in overseas shipping that included all the extra time at every aspect from the extra packaging and paperwork to resolving lost or damaged packages. Balanced against the income, he wasn't close to breaking even, much less profiting.

I am not describing shipping to 3rd world countries, either. He shipped to England, Canada, Australia (where oddly he always had the least problems), Spain, and a handful of others. And it broke his heart when he would be contacted by his honest customers that would call a couple of weeks after he shipped out his replacement package (at his cost) to tell him the original arrived. Shipping was so high to get it back here, it simply wasn't worth shipping it back.

Going international sounds really great. All the rhetoric about "serving a global audience" sounds great. The reality from a retailer's actual standpoint doesn't sound nearly as attractive.

Robert
 
Ive been lucky for years but just yesterday i got notice that $143. has been frozen on my paypal account.Turns out a knife i shipped to OZ didnt make it through (so the buyer claims with paypal,never contacted me)so im hung out to dry.Ill still ship worldwide,but it will be Express only as that has the only true tracking.Sux.
 
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