Shipping Busses International

thefifth

thefifth

Joined
Apr 6, 2007
Messages
1,239
Can someone help me out with the ins and outs of Shipping Busses International?
Got a request from Canada but info for any and all countries would be appreciated.
 
I can't say for sure how it is to ship a knife from USA to Canada, but I believe it's a simple matter of filling out a few details on the customs form.

A few things I can say from being on the receiving end, in Canada:

- Listing the item as a "gift" does nothing to stop customs fees (for the buyer) unless the item is declared as being less than $60.00 USD in value.

- Listing the knife as a "camp tool" almost always means the delivery will be a smooth one. Packages listed as camping tool pretty much never get opened/inspected.

- Declaring the incorrect value of the item (marking it down to avoid customs fees for the buyer) is a calculated risk. I always leave it up to the seller to decide if they are comfortable with it or not. If they do it, and the knife is lost - it's my problem, not the sellers. Don't feel pressured to do this, but if both parties are comfortable it can save the buyer a PILE of money.

Edit:

A handy website, more for Canadians than anyone else, but it will help you estimate what the final cost for your buyer will be once it gets through customs. Nothing wrong with keeping both parties well informed.

http://www.thefinalcost.com/shipments/calculate/
 
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USA to Canada is one of two simple forms the USPS uses. One for items under a certain weight, the other for over. I think 4 pounds is the split. It's similar to filling out a domestic standard UPS form to send a package. Simple.
 
US to Canada is no problem at all. I've shipped 20 or so there and never an issue. The biggest problem I've had with oversees is buyers asking me to lowball the value for the customs form...
 
i always do the following for any international shipping:

1. list item as camping equipment. an honest enough statement.
2. always list the actual value on the customs form. should it get lost/stolen, you might have a difficult time explaining why your insured value is more than the customs value.

ive always used usps international, never had package go missing. it generally takes about two weeks (haha) to get to the canadian recipient.
 
Fill out the customs form and don't lie. It's easy, though can be quite expensive to send--like $20+ for a small knife to Canada in my expereince.
 
For shipping to Canada, the official designation is "Knife - Fixed blade". There are no restrictions on standard knives like that regarding length. That being said, integral metal brass knuckles and push daggers are illegal fixed blades up here. So no AA for us. Ring guard knives are perfectly legal though (Hooray for BARFs! :D)

I have folks declare it as that along with US manufacture and an accurate value. You can use the USPS tracking number to track the package right to the door using canadapost.com

You don't want to use Fedex or UPS though as they will turn around and charge the recipient mind boggling "Custom handling fees" sometimes in excess of $50USD over and above the normal fees.

When you ship USPS, we pay either a $5 or $8 handling fee along with applicable sales taxes depending on the destination province. Much more economical. :D
 
I didn't realize BARFs were legal in Canada. I knew AA wasn't though, which of course makes me want one.

ColdOne is right though, UPS/FedEx are some of the worst ripoff artists out there, they will gouge you on brokerage fees. The numbers they come up with are ridiculous.

USPS is great, you can't go wrong.
 
Yup, for the same reason kerambits and knives like Koster's Survivor are. They do not meet the definition of brass knuckles so they are safe. Mine came through customs without issue, the same as my Scotch Dispenser.
 
Grimspoon said:
I can't say for sure how it is to ship a knife from USA to Canada, but I believe it's a simple matter of filling out a few details on the customs form.

A few things I can say from being on the receiving end, in Canada:

- Listing the item as a "gift" does nothing to stop customs fees (for the buyer) unless the item is declared as being less than $60.00 USD in value.

- Listing the knife as a "camp tool" almost always means the delivery will be a smooth one. Packages listed as camping tool pretty much never get opened/inspected.

- Declaring the incorrect value of the item (marking it down to avoid customs fees for the buyer) is a calculated risk. I always leave it up to the seller to decide if they are comfortable with it or not. If they do it, and the knife is lost - it's my problem, not the sellers. Don't feel pressured to do this, but if both parties are comfortable it can save the buyer a PILE of money.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Same goes for countries in Europe.
 
Yeppers. I can see how import taxes stink and all, but I don't get the whole "lie on the customs form for me" stuff. Am I at risk? No. Is it still wrong? Yeppers!

I prefer to knock down a price for a foreign Busse fan. I've done it before. I've offered and had it scoffed at. As if an extra $25 on a knife was going to kill them. (Yes, I discounted it THAT MUCH! I guess they were expecting a fat discount AND no import taxes.)

But I will continue to sell overseas b/c it's so hard to get second-hand blades over there.
 
I have received a number of Busse knives from around the US into Canada. If you totally mis-identify or mis-represent the knife and the package is opened for inspection, customs can confiscate it at their discretion. I have had no trouble receiving (legally designed) knives identified as "knife-fixed blade" or "camping tool."
 
mhawg said:
How 'bout 'Kitchen Cutlery?'
Click to expand...

The thing is, with the exceptions I listed above, fixed blade knives are totally legal with no issues. The "Knife - Fixed blade" is the designation the border folks themselves put on the knives when they inspect it. There aren't any benefits of trying to be sneaky or hide what it is so why not be up front and get off on the right foot? :)
 
i always list them as "medium camp knife"


havent had a problem yet


& ive shipped to "coldone"
 
Thankfully there are many kind HOG's and forum members willing to ship International,its one of the only ways to get any quality knife over here,and the only way to get a Busse.At the end of the day you have to abide by the rules of the seller if you want the knife.I accept the terms and however they want to describe or value it,many actually ask if you have any preferences(thanks you great HOG's....you know who you are),as do I,if they dont it doesn't hurt to ask;) they can only say no.

Every knife I sell is an International sale.:thumbup::D

P.S I have shipped to Canada many times without problem and also had packages from there. Hey, Canadians are people too!;):p:D
 
Dennis in MA said:
Yeppers. I can see how import taxes stink and all, but I don't get the whole "lie on the customs form for me" stuff. Am I at risk? No. Is it still wrong? Yeppers!

I prefer to knock down a price for a foreign Busse fan. I've done it before. I've offered and had it scoffed at. As if an extra $25 on a knife was going to kill them. (Yes, I discounted it THAT MUCH! I guess they were expecting a fat discount AND no import taxes.)

But I will continue to sell overseas b/c it's so hard to get second-hand blades over there.
Click to expand...

I've got half of my collection through forum members, and NEVER had a problem. most were labeled as "camp tool", but customs usually ask what does that mean exactly, anyway. no problem with knives here in Hu, at all. As for the declared value, it matters. For a $400 knife we have to pay plus 20% tax, plus 13% customs-tax, so it goes up to $530 plus shipping. that's around $160-180 on the seller's price.
below $150 the item slips through the customs, usually.
If the package get lost, it's the buyers problem, if he insists on the lower declared value, in my opinion.
If a seller has an ethical problem about declaring a lower value, now I can understand, and accept that.
USPS International express and priority mail are trackable from here, so I've never lost a package what was really sent, and a seller sent me a tracking-or customs declaration number.
 
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