Problems with Duch Customs

Marcel54 · Apr 23, 2008

I know it's the wrong forum but I just have to vent my frustrations

Last week Dave Harvey send me two knives, a Fuegen dagger and a Sornberger dagger, that should have been delivered last Monday. The package was seized by Dutch Customs. That was my first time this ever happened. In the last days I learned that they have tightened the check on import and export of "dangerous" items. Now I'm in limbo because Customs doesn't want to communicate with me (it's their right they say) but what they did tell me made be very very mad and sad.

The outcome of this all could be that they will DESTROY both knives and charge me with duties, taxes and penalties. The latter I don't mind but the former would be just a crying shame.

Will you please keep your fingers crossed for me and I keep you'll posted.

Marcel

RogerP · Apr 23, 2008

That is freakin' ridiculous!

I feel you pain. I really hope it works out. They can be complete chuckleheads over here in Canada as well, but at least they will communicate with you. On one occasion it took me a month to explain that a knife handled in mammoth ivory wasn't harvested from an endangered species, but an extinct species. Then I had to convince them that this wasn't somehow worse.

Oy. Fingers crossed for you.

Roger

buckabee · Apr 23, 2008

That's a real shame, I feel sorry for you.
Can't you ask them to send them back to Dave Harvey in stead of destroying them?
I wish you good luck on a good outcome.

Jose Reyes · Apr 23, 2008

Thats horrible! If they're going to destroy them at least try to convince them to return them to the sender. Hope it all works out in the end, good luck.

Keith Montgomery · Apr 23, 2008

Canada Customs will at least allow you the opportunity to present a case for having them sent back to the seller. Hopefully your Customs will do the same.

So daggers are prohibited weapons in the Netherlands?

ptgdvc · Apr 23, 2008

The lunatics have taken control of the asylum in Holland. :barf:

P

Joss · Apr 23, 2008

Not surprising knowing the "public servant" mindset.

Can you post pictures? I haven't seen any Fuegen dagger on Nordic recently...

Marcel54 · Apr 23, 2008

Can't you ask them to send them back to Dave Harvey in stead of destroying them?

Buckabee, I would if I had the chance to talk to them but they won't allow it so until now I'm helpless in this regard.

So daggers are prohibited weapons in the Netherlands?

Keith, as far as I know no they're not prohibited. In the last couple of years I imported many a dagger and never ever had any trouble. I have a degree in law (the equivalent of a J.D. ...... please don't hold it against me

) so I'm more than capable to interpret our laws and if I get the chance I will explain our "public servants" that they are wrong wrong and wrong again.

Can you post pictures? I haven't seen any Fuegen dagger on Nordic recently...

Joss, here is a pic of the Fuegen and to be complete a pic of the Sornberger as well. The Sornberger is actually for my wife...she loves knives that are a bit "over the top".

Marcel

Joss · Apr 23, 2008

Thanks for the pics. I now remember seeing both. The Sornberger is a classic from the 80's. I like his daggers much better than the gold nugget encrusted stuff.

Any legal recourse you can take to at least stop the destruction of the knives while your case is decided?

Broos · Apr 23, 2008

That is really sad. I hope you get them back. We Americans could easily be in your position in the future if we are not vigilant in protecting our rights!

Marcel54 · Apr 23, 2008

Any legal recourse you can take to at least stop the destruction of the knives while your case is decided?

Joss, I know they will formally inform me about their decision but I'm not sure yet if I have the possibility to appeal their decision. I'm researching that as we speak so I have that info in place for when the decision is communicated to me.

Marcel

T.K.C. · Apr 23, 2008

OMG, this is horrible!! I hope and pray that this works out!!! That would be a crying shame if they destroyed them!!!

Murray White · Apr 23, 2008

Wow!! Marcel, you are lucky you got that Sornberger. I wanted it but Phyllis said she did not like it. I'm the over the top guy in my family lol. It looks like a great dagger and it is too bad that something so beautiful should be destroyed. Wonder what Dutch paintings are next on the list lol.

flava · Apr 23, 2008

Marcel54 said:
Joss, I know they will formally inform me about their decision but I'm not sure yet if I have the possibility to appeal their decision. I'm researching that as we speak so I have that info in place for when the decision is communicated to me.

Marcel

Yep, get all the info you can, as fast as you can, and if you're in your right take legal action before they destroy the knives.
Good luck!

Ken Williams · Apr 24, 2008

Sounds like Holland under Nazism. Hitler was a disciple of Nietzsche who enthused that God was dead and we have killed him. Europe and western Russia were the first, followed by America in the mid-20 century with our doctrine of separation of church and state. Free at last, free at last from the tyranny of God's laws.

But who will govern the resultant amoral, conscienceless monsters toting guns and knives terrorizing neighborhoods, institutions, and the state itself. That'll be the state, who'll grow itself in size and power and gerrymander constitutions to enact laws that rescind personal liberties for securing the state. Yes, God is dead and we have killed him and we have enthroned a new god--the secular super state, who worships at the alter of liberalism, the intolerant god of Western suicide.

We recoil over Marcel's mistreatment, but who is truly surprised? Who really believes it stops here, i.e., how long the state will risk Marcel's house (or mine) full of dangerous weapons. Can the state dare allow 2nd Amendment rights to a people imbued with the principle of the survival of the fittest. Consider the irony of Nietzsche, whose hatred of Christian morals lured him to the immoral freedom that ultimately killed him--whoring, syphilis, insanity. Isn't his irony the West's eschatological metaphor?

ken

Joss · Apr 24, 2008

Ken - don't make that a political argument please. :barf: I'm a profoundly moral atheist and I find you biggoted and offensive in this particular instance. :thumbdn: What about you edit your post, I edit mine, and we don't derail the thread & stay cordial to boot?

Karl B. Andersen · Apr 24, 2008

I have a knife that I sent to a customer in England that has been in customs since March 17th.
They requested an email from ME as to the origin of the knife, values of materials, reason sent, etc.
She still has not got it out of Customs.
In recent years this has never happened.

RogerP · Apr 24, 2008

Karl B. Andersen said:
I have a knife that I sent to a customer in England that has been in customs since March 17th.
They requested an email from ME as to the origin of the knife, values of materials, reason sent, etc.
She still has not got it out of Customs.
In recent years this has never happened.

Very discouraging. Here's hoping Canada never goes that route. I hope it all works out for your customer.

Roger

Thor I am · Apr 24, 2008

For a second there it looked like this thread was about to go way off track into the ludicrous - thanks Karl B. and Roger for putting it back on track.

Marcel,
What can I say, this sucks! I am really surprised that the Dutch pulled this stunt given how liberal that country is in some of its laws.
I hope that it all works out.

peterinct · Apr 24, 2008

I wish you the best of luck Marcel. Those are both great looking knives and nobody deserves to have a government take their belongings just becasue THEY can.

Peter