International shipping

It would help if you were specific as to what country
But in general the added risk is going through customs
and some other countries postal service
more hands and more places to shift the blame if need be.
You also likely aren't familiar with their laws and need to depend on the buyer.
Buyers often ask you to lower the stated value on packages so they don't pay high value added/import taxes-besides not being honest it screws up the insurance end.
It is added risk compared to domestic, but with some countries not a whole lot.
IMO
your expenses will also be a bit higher for shipping and PP fees
 
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You already know this I would bet but insure it for sure. If it is irreplaceable hand deliver it yourself ( you needed a vacation right ?).

I have orders just lost coming from England to the US. Never found again.
Same for China to US. The exception is Apple Computer products (FedEx) NEVER A PROBLEM. I can track it and three or four days ! ! ! ! Weeks and weeks otherwise.
I get stuff all the time from Japan basic inexpensive rate and guess what ? They have it together, no surprise there but I am very thankful ! ! !

FedEx and pay the nut is my best advice.
 
In all seriousness it depends where in europe. Italy and Spain can be difficult . Uk, Germany, holland and france have good postal services. Where's it going?
 
As mentioned above, where is important.
It also depends on what kind of knife you are shipping. The UK for example are not allowing any flippers in. They are seized.
 
fkctrjt121 said:
If it gets returned it will probably smell of garlic. Could be a problem
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On the same note I am getting tired of buying a brand new knife from a reputable vendor right here in the States and it smells like some shmuck's cologne. My Cold Steel Pendleton Hunter in 3V for instance; yes it was dulled here and there on the edge; no chips I kept it.
 
Peter Hartwig said:
It would help if you were specific as to what country
But in general the added risk is going through customs
and some other countries postal service
more hands and more places to shift the blame if need be.
You also likely aren't familiar with their laws and need to depend on the buyer.
Buyers often ask you to lower the stated value on packages so they don't pay high value added/import taxes-besides not being honest it screws up the insurance end.
It is added risk compared to domestic, but with some countries not a whole lot.
IMO
your expenses will also be a bit higher for shipping and PP fees
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I live in Australia, and US sellers are increasingly reluctant to ship overseas, mostly because of the risk of loss or seizure, and the potential extra goods and services/import fees. I'd absolutely agree with Peter. Don't ever lower the stated value, ask the buyer to say clearly that they accept the risk, never ever ever use PP Friends and Family, and always get insurance and tracking (it's usually free or only a few bucks more).

But that being said, pleeeeeeease do consider shipping to us poor knife-less hicks in all the backward countries outside the USA. We often have limited buying avenues, and at 30% higher prices.
 
Barrettboy said:
ask the buyer to say clearly that they accept the risk, never ever ever use PP Friends and Family, and always get insurance and tracking (it's usually free or only a few bucks more).
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These things are important, although the first one doesn’t apply. The buyer can say that they “accept the risk” but if you use PayPal correctly and you never get the package, you will more than likely get your money back by filing a claim with PayPal. The seller will be out the lost knife in this case. That’s where the insurance comes in handy for the seller.
 
I ended up with three sets of Bokker/Fairbairn commemorative sets that were turned back at customs while on our Scandinavian tour. They did not allow knives with a double bevel let alone, a double edge. Autos can be extremely tricky, if not impossible to import to a number of European countries.
 
I think that you can ship anywhere as long as the buyer states clear that it his responsibility shall the package face any unexpected events, like customs, theft, delays... etc.
Needless to mention that feedback of the respected BF members can be an important indicator of tbe deal as a whole , with shipping being an important aspect/part of it.
 
Coreman said:
I think that you can ship anywhere as long as the buyer states clear that it his responsibility shall the package face any unexpected events, like customs, theft, delays... etc.
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That sounds good, but when it comes down to someone having to lose money - the buyer usually decides is should be the seller. And Paypal / Credit cards could care less during a dispute if you have a written disclaimer signed by the buyer if the box was not delivered wholly into his hands.
 
knifeswapper said:
That sounds good, but when it comes down to someone having to lose money - the buyer usually decides is should be the seller. And Paypal / Credit cards could care less during a dispute if you have a written disclaimer signed by the buyer if the box was not delivered wholly into his hands.
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I have to say that despite me seeing the logic in what you've said, nonetheless a clear statement in the communication detailing the responsibility distribution between the two parties of the deal, will be taken into consideration by PayPal, provided of course that payment went through the proper channel (Goods and services).
I am only saying this because what you have respectfully detailed in your point of view, is also valid and can happen even with domestic shipping, shall the deal be conducted only within the U.S.
Long story short my friend... in every deal there is an element of risk that can't be foreseen, and is highly dependent on human nature, and how honest people are.
 
Coreman said:
I have to say that despite me seeing the logic in what you've said, nonetheless a clear statement in the communication detailing the responsibility distribution between the two parties of the deal, will be taken into consideration by PayPal, provided of course that payment went through the proper channel (Goods and services).
I am only saying this because what you have respectfully detailed in your point of view, is also valid and can happen even with domestic shipping, shall the deal be conducted only within the U.S.
Long story short my friend... in every deal there is an element of risk that can't be foreseen, and is highly dependent on human nature, and how honest people are.
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I have a lot of money go thru paypal and had stopped doing international orders due in part to these issues. But had a customer beg me to send him a knife and collected from him a document stating he would take full responsibility once the package was tracked leaving the United States. Long story short - package went into his local customs and never came out. He decided he no longer wanted to take the loss so filed a dispute with paypal. I submitted the agreement and he even concurred he had made the agreement - paypal said they didn't care. I couldn't provide tracking to his hands so they refunded his money and hit me with the bill. Things may have changed since that has been 4-5 years ago.
 
knifeswapper said:
I have a lot of money go thru paypal and had stopped doing international orders due in part to these issues. But had a customer beg me to send him a knife and collected from him a document stating he would take full responsibility once the package was tracked leaving the United States. Long story short - package went into his local customs and never came out. He decided he no longer wanted to take the loss so filed a dispute with paypal. I submitted the agreement and he even concurred he had made the agreement - paypal said they didn't care. I couldn't provide tracking to his hands so they refunded his money and hit me with the bill. Things may have changed since that has been 4-5 years ago.
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I believe both this and your previous statement to be true, however on the exchange I have always found people to keep their word-at least in the few situations I have had. Their word though is all you have to go on, and if they decide to file the seller likely will loose. As in your case they may be all for taking the risk until the bill comes due-the chance you take. Insurance, tracking, & registered mail are probably sounded business practices.
 
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