Need help question mailing a knife to Austria

[JParanee]

I am mailing a gift to a friend in Austria

It is a flute and a knife

Will the knife go thru customs okay ?

I am trying to mail today so any info would be much appreciated

Thank you

 

[Storm Crow]

I've shipped a knife to Austria before. No problems. But shipping to another country is always a bit of a crap shoot. Heck, shipping inside a country can be from the stories I've read!

 

[jdm61]

It depends om the knife. I would not try to send an automatic, even a well disguised one.

 

[JParanee]

Thanks guys fixed blade

So I'm off to the post

 

[A.l.e.x.]

Hello Joe!

I live in Austria/EU.

In general, the only types of knives that are not allowed here are knives "hidden" in other things (sword canes, belt knuckle knives etc) and push daggers (which are mixed with the also forbidden knuckle dusters). Having these can get you in serious trouble with the local criminal laws!

Other fixed and folding knives are perfectly legal though, no matter if it's manual, assisted, balisongs, daggers, bowies...

Certain regulations apply to militaria (trench knives, bayonets etc) - these could also get you into trouble with the law. Also, avoid all WW2 stuff to stay clear of potential trouble!

When I initially said "in general", I meant that the recipient has to be an adult (older than 18) and must not have an official restriction of being allowed to have/carry/own weapons (which is typcally issued after getting in conflict with the law).

Apart from that, avoid Cites listed materials, which can also mean trouble (when checked by the customs oficers it will make no difference if it's elephant or mammoth ivory for that matter!)

Let me know, if you need specific info!

Best regards,
Alex

 

[A.l.e.x.]

Some additional info - if you want/need tracking once the parcel leaves the US when using USPS, you need to go with Express mail international (I think priority international will also work when sending as medium or large parcel type). All other types of USPS shipping methods can NOT be tracked outside the US (allready "lost" a parcel like this once and was able to retrive two that where directed to Australia instead of Austria!).

Another problem might be that the customs officers might not believe the knife to be a "gift" and could ask your friend to declare the value. When buying knives they sometimes don't believe the truthfully declared value and ask me for the "real" one on a regular basis (this is typically fixed by presenting a Paypal printout, which of course does not apply to your gift)

 

[JParanee]

Thank you Alex

I marked it as a gift and declared the value at 200 dollars

He will have to pay something ?

 

[A.l.e.x.]

Hi Joe!

I am afraid so, if the parcel get's checked (I never had one go through unchecked in over 200 times buying from overseas). This might depend on the respective border office though.

If they believe the value you declared it could sum up to roughly 0,25% (all in) of the value includng shipping costs.

Best regards,
Alex

 

[jdm61]

Joe, 50 euros is generally the cutoff for no tax in my experience, but the powers that be would probably have trouble believing that your two items were that cheap. Alex hit the nail on the head. For commercial stuff, the hit is typically closer to 30% once you count duty and VAT. Like he said, they also charge you for the 19-21% VAT on shipping over there.

 

[A.l.e.x.]

Hello!

The current rates are - no VAT below 22 Euro, no duty below 150 Euro. There's a 10 Euro extra for the proceedings at the customs office on top of that here for each parcel.

What I said about parcels getting checked referred to the once I listed as trackable outside the US btw.

Best regards,
Alex

 

[DesRosiers]

We usually describe ours as a 'camp tool' and so far no problems in all the countries we've shipped too.

-H

 

[jdm61]

That makes sense. I am going by my experience shipping stuff to Belgium, Germany, UK, etc. The 30% number came from Jenni at Klingenwelt. She said that typically she counts on paying about a 30% premium on her US wholesale/distribuotr price, but that actually included VAT, duty and shipping on big orders. The other issue is whether or not the country you are sending stuff to even bothers with such low value items. Belgium does not a lot of the time, but Germany does. My limited experience with the UK is that they tend to look more for contraband than for a couple of extra quid. Haley does what a Lot of us do on recommendation from customers over there. For some reason, "knife" or "cutlery" will get you closer scrutiny, even if they are ktichen knives.

Hello!

The current rates are - no VAT below 22 Euro, no duty below 150 Euro. There's a 10 Euro extra for the proceedings at the customs office on top of that here for each parcel.

What I said about parcels getting checked referred to the once I listed as trackable outside the US btw.

Best regards,
Alex

 

[A.l.e.x.]

Hello Joe!

In Austria is is strictly parcel size and shipping method from what I have seen so far. Austria is probably the most uncomplicated country within the EU when it comes to knive imports. Since pretty much all of them are generally legal here, I feel that parcel size and shipping method are the factors that trigger controls.

In most other countries, knives are strongly regulated, so that alone should make the "alarm bells" ring at the border office.

Best regards,
Alex

 

[JParanee]

It is a flute and a knife

I hope everything goes well and thank you all for the input

 

[parfums95]

I 'bought knives for quite some time in the USA, Austria is part of the European union so I do not see what the problem is or is not prohibited

 

[A.l.e.x.]

Hello!

Parfums, absolutely no problems expected (other than possible tax/duties and customs officers not believeing values) if one stays clear from the two knife categories gven above which are forbidden in Austria alltogether.

Best regards,
Alex

 

[jdm61]

EU nations laws can vary greatly. A knife that would go through no problem to Austria might not in some other countries. We have even seen some misinterpretation of local law by customs officers in places like the Netherlands and the UK IIRC. Likewise, my limited experience has been that something that I send to Germany is more likely to be scrutinized more carefully strictly for tax assessment purposes than the same item sent and marked the same way to say, Belgium.

I 'bought knives for quite some time in the USA, Austria is part of the European union so I do not see what the problem is or is not prohibited

 

[parfums95]

I go to the salon Gembloux (or I see you regularly Joe) and Solingen
Vienna and I shipments of Belgium and Germany and two in Austria regularly without any problem (Sam ,mad dog ,busse ,Kressler etc. ..) The only problem that I've had and the Swiss who is not part of the European Union . still and customs problems with fedex.

 

[jdm61]

Shipping within the EU is rarely problematic from what I have seen, even when shipping to countries that are more strict with stuff coming from outside of the EU. I had someone ship a couple of knives to Spain from Gembloux this year and they arrived in a couple of days.

I go to the salon Gembloux (or I see you regularly Joe) and Solingen
Vienna and I shipments of Belgium and Germany and two in Austria regularly without any problem (Sam ,mad dog ,busse ,Kressler etc. ..) The only problem that I've had and the Swiss who is not part of the European Union . still and customs problems with fedex.