Just had a fellow member pm me about a knife I have for sale, but he lives in China. Have any members here shipped to China?? Any recommendations on the proper way to handle this situation without getting screwed by Paypal if customs seizes the knife?? I'd like to make what I have for sale available to each and every member but I'm not sure if its worth the risk... Thoughts please my fellow knife nuts!!
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Shipping from US to China?? Thoughts please!!
- Thread starter g.money7
- Start date
Cannot help you but there is a fact I would like you to know . Knives, especially fixed blades is much more pricy than it in USA , due to the shipping and policy reason .
If you ever find a way to ship knives to China with low cost or/and low risk , you will have a great market there (if you are willing to earn from that) and my buddies there would appreciates you much
If you ever find a way to ship knives to China with low cost or/and low risk , you will have a great market there (if you are willing to earn from that) and my buddies there would appreciates you much
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
- Messages
- 13,976
Make him accept the risk, pay you with paypal gift, and pay shipping costs. Describe the knife as a hand tool or similar on the customs form. If it has a pivot, tighten it before shipping so the knife won't open too easily for the inspector.
Good luck, it's really cool to get a knife into someone's hand halfway around the world.
Good luck, it's really cool to get a knife into someone's hand halfway around the world.
I live in HK; unfortunately not the same laws as China so I can't comment on knives being shipped in but I know swords cannot be shipped into China.
If you're selling a large fixed blade, you might fall foul of customs based on the sword laws. I honestly don't know about folders or small fixed blades being shipped in but I understand from a local friend that it is ok, though take that with the guarantees it comes with.
There is a member here, Stormcrow, I believe, who has posted some short swords in this forums sword discussion area. He has sent some machete style blades to China so maybe worth contacting him. Not sure if he sent them to HK or China direct.
FYI, shipping most knives and swords to HK is perfectly legal and I've heard that people will have items delivered and held at a HK address until they can be picked up by hand and carried across the border. That's not to break the law as such, more that the definition of sword/knife can be vague at best with the customs so folk prefer to deal face to face with the item in hand - if stopped.
If you're selling a large fixed blade, you might fall foul of customs based on the sword laws. I honestly don't know about folders or small fixed blades being shipped in but I understand from a local friend that it is ok, though take that with the guarantees it comes with.
There is a member here, Stormcrow, I believe, who has posted some short swords in this forums sword discussion area. He has sent some machete style blades to China so maybe worth contacting him. Not sure if he sent them to HK or China direct.
FYI, shipping most knives and swords to HK is perfectly legal and I've heard that people will have items delivered and held at a HK address until they can be picked up by hand and carried across the border. That's not to break the law as such, more that the definition of sword/knife can be vague at best with the customs so folk prefer to deal face to face with the item in hand - if stopped.
Thanks for the info!! Buyer says he's willing to assume all risk so if he's comfortable I'm hoping the knife will make it to him. It's a smaller fixed blade so there may not be much of a hassle with customs based on the info you gave me. Thanks to everyone who posted!
I routinely ship knives to India (and I know it is not China). However, the customs in India is corrupt, and so is the postal system. However, I always do a Registered First Class, which is most economical (~$25), and gives end to end tracking since India has Registered service too (and so does China). International registered parcels give you a default insirance around $46. Here is a recent tracking on a knife i sent to india: https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input?origTrackNum=RA681593400US
Depending on how much buyer is willing to pay, you can add insurance as well, but registered first class is as cost effective as it can get with tracking! Eta is 3-4 weeks all over the world, with 2 in EU and other first world countries.
The buyer should accept risk since customs of the destination country is not under sellers control, and most buyers are not very clear on the customs laws. Describe the knife as hand tool, camp tool, and tighten the pivot as much as possible. Click a pic of the final package with address and all. Ensure there is no way for the knife to make way out if the bubble wrap, I use ducktape around the bubble wrap as well.
A note on Registered shipping: do not put plastic tape outside the package on corners or seams - the PO will not accept it, as they have to put a paper tape on the seams and flaps and then put a stamp on it. Write destination address and source address with a pen/sharpie, avoid sticking labels in it. Rest assured, it is very secure as an entry will be made at every point the package passes through and same is done in China (have received registered parcels and have sent registered parcels there - but these were flashlights).
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Depending on how much buyer is willing to pay, you can add insurance as well, but registered first class is as cost effective as it can get with tracking! Eta is 3-4 weeks all over the world, with 2 in EU and other first world countries.
The buyer should accept risk since customs of the destination country is not under sellers control, and most buyers are not very clear on the customs laws. Describe the knife as hand tool, camp tool, and tighten the pivot as much as possible. Click a pic of the final package with address and all. Ensure there is no way for the knife to make way out if the bubble wrap, I use ducktape around the bubble wrap as well.
A note on Registered shipping: do not put plastic tape outside the package on corners or seams - the PO will not accept it, as they have to put a paper tape on the seams and flaps and then put a stamp on it. Write destination address and source address with a pen/sharpie, avoid sticking labels in it. Rest assured, it is very secure as an entry will be made at every point the package passes through and same is done in China (have received registered parcels and have sent registered parcels there - but these were flashlights).
Hope this helps. Good luck!
Several years ago I returned a POS knife to China that I bought on EBAY... it disappeared somewhere along the way (didn't have tracking) and I got screwed out of $150 after the crook filed a PAYPAL claim.
I wouldn't send anything there...
I wouldn't send anything there...
JDieseljoe69
Full Throttle Tools
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In any International shipping, I always use USPS Express, you can track it the whole way and it has to be signed for. If they want any other option, try and have them use the personal payment so the charges can't be reversed.
Well I was told by the buyer that there is no "personal" payment for Paypal in china. So as I'm not familiar with the customs laws there I told him that I couldn't assume the risk. I do appreciate all the input from you guys and will definitely it in mind on the next international shipment.
Quiet possible - same is the case with India based PayPal accounts as well. This is primarily enforced in countries with a lot if corruption, especially money hiding. Govt wants to ensure black money does not exchange hands easily (and used to fund terrorist activities) hence tighten every avenue - PayPal included. Indian accounts also require a mandatory tax id, without which PayPal shuts it down.
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