Having a knife shipped to Canada from the USA often brings problems. While some knives arrive in a relatively timely manner, others are held at Canada Post Customs for inspection. They are about 3 weeks backlogged so the knife arrives after about 1 month. If they open the package to check the knife, they often fail to re-seal it properly or re-wrap the knife in whatevet padding the seller used. I have received empty packages because the knife fell out after being inspected and poorly re-seal. Worst is: there is NOTHING you can do about it. Canada Post Customs has no mechanism for appeal or re-imbursement.
After too many bad experiences, i got a P.O. box inside the P.O. building in Northport, WA. and drive down to pick up my knives and then declare them and pay the taxes as i re-enter Canada. It's a far superior system and USPS is FAST, often delivering in 48 hours.
If you buy a knife from the USA it MIGHT come through O.K., but be prepared for a potential long wait or even a loss.
roland
Canada Post Customer Service pdf:
http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pg/manual/PGcustserv-e.asp#1378220
Quote: "2. Damaged Mail or Missing Contents
When a Customer wishes to make an enquiry about damaged mail or missing contents, the Customer should:
keep all wrappings, packaging materials, invoices or mailing receipts if available, and the damaged item, and call Canada Post Customer Service at 1.800.267.1177 and provide details of the damage or loss, including all postal service identification numbers (such as Registered Mail or Xpresspost number)."
Canada Post Claims (Create "Service Ticket"):
https://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/personal/support/helpcentre/default.jsf#ia0
I successfully navigated a $861.00 claim against Canada Post so I know their dispute process does work (though it's pretty slow). I had been storing a bunch of knives (1 box) and three boxes of books/photos at a friend's place in Toronto. I asked him to ship me the boxes and Canada Post screwed up and just left them on my doorstep when I was out. When I got home the smallest box (full of knives) was gone ie:stolen. I made a claim because the doorstep in the open is not a "safe drop" location. They paid me the $861.00 for my stolen knives quite readily.
I have purchased 101 items on ebay.com and they have all arrived so I guess my luck has been better. My last package took 4 days to clear Customs. The half-dozen before that they never inspected. I agree with Roland that IF Customs opens it they may well do a poor job of re-packing. I have had one or two knives get some minor scratches because of this.
I don't worry about having things shipped cross border but I've had no really bad experiences.
Roland, you should have asked for some advice/help when you received that empty box. I'm very confident I could have helped you get reimbursed. I'm tenacious when it comes to getting what's mine (and helping friends get what is theirs). Just for fun I phoned Canada Post and I was told that in your case you should have had seller file a claim with USPS and you should have filed a claim as well with Can Post. A process would then begin resulting in the USA seller being reimbursed (if insured only!). PayPal and eBay have their own Buyer Protection systems and opening a simultaneous claim through them would have been the way to go as well. The eBay "Buyer Protection Claim" should force the seller into making a USPS claim for you even if they are lazy or eBay will penalize them for the loss.
Generally, I recommend using insured USPS Priority when having packages shipped from the USA. It's fully tracked. Always request insurance if you want to sleep easy.
Aminomethylrx: I wouldn't worry too much about lost packages etc but Roland gave you good advice too. Knowing all potential risks is always a wise precaution.
I have had at least one unpleasant experience with UPS, and I have seen signs in some business address storefront windows that say "NO UPS."