Shipping ZT to Canada?

FYI: another way that has never missed is to buy a knife in USA and ship to a friend in USA. Have him disassemble and ship the blade and handle separately as 'replacement cutlery parts' , blade and handle shipped a couple days apart. It works ... from what I've heard ;)

Eat a d1ck CBSA!
 
Yeh seems like it's random what they stop and what get through, now I'm considering buying a custom non assisted flipper, but I,v heard that there getting stopped to.
 
I.HURRICANE said:
Yeh seems like it's random what they stop and what get through, now I'm considering buying a custom non assisted flipper, but I,v heard that there getting stopped to.
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In the past 6 months I've bought 2 XM-18 Hinderer's and 2 ZT assisted opening flippers, never got anything stopped by customs. Maybe good luck?
 
I suspect it's probably a combination of where it's sent from (is it from a dealer or private sale?), how it's sent (is it labeled as a gift?) and what the description of the contents says (does it say knife in the description?).
 
As kevin said
clearkevin said:
My experience has been 200 is about the amount that gets their attention. Like USA made Blades said above its usually not a problem. Also just to put some at ease the worst case scenario is having your knife confiscated if that happens you can appeal (it never works out in your favor) or just have the knife sent back to the originating address by UPS it sucks but it's not the end of the world. Good thread thanks for having the discussion, this is not a problem only for Canada I once shipped a knife to Switzerland is was a gift so no $ involved and the receiver had to pay $50 in customs because I put a value. Same is true of Greece and a few others again I have a friend in Greece who had to pay $300 extra for an F3.
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From my experience, CSBA seems to care more about value than legality. I've shipped lots of stuff that should not have made it through. Switchblades (chinese Microtech copies), stunguns, and so on. NEVER HAD AN ISSUE with stuff shipped from China. The prices were always bellow 200 bucks.

When I have been screwed it's only been on duty. I bought a set of Peterson Picks a few years go the duty was 50 bucks on 200 value (USPS). I have a sword I bought that went FedEx, and they wanted 40 something dollars on top of shipping for duty (it was MAYBE 120 in value).

DO NOT USE ANY COURIER SERVICE IF POSSIBLE. They make some of their money by gouging for tarrifs and duties. I looked into when it happens and it's always been way above the book value (like the sword). They know that, you know, that they are holding your shit and you'll cough up the money.

Regarding Assisted knives. Back in the day Spiderco's were supposed to be illegal, by rumor, because they were one hand opening. AO knives are legal in Canada, as long as you are already opening it before the spring reacts. No buttons or switches and it's legal.

The CSBA checks the paperwork, first. I thought they had a chimp at an xray machine too. You could probably mail cocaine into Canada if you prepare the paperwork properly. If you can't change the value, GIFT works very well.
 
I just received a new Benchmade knife and the pivot was so tight that the blade could barely even be opened. Turns out that Benchmade tightens the blades of every knife shipped to Canada. Be very cool if ZT and others did the same.

There was no way in hell that a Border lackie could have opened my Benchmade with their stupid flick test. And it was adjusted back to perfect in a few seconds.

I do get paranoid ordering a $200 ZT without being 100% sure it will make it to me though.... which sucks as ZT’s seem to always be cheaper in the US.
 
SharpieB said:
I just received a new Benchmade knife and the pivot was so tight that the blade could barely even be opened. Turns out that Benchmade tightens the blades of every knife shipped to Canada. Be very cool if ZT and others did the same.

There was no way in hell that a Border lackie could have opened my Benchmade with their stupid flick test. And it was adjusted back to perfect in a few seconds.

I do get paranoid ordering a $200 ZT without being 100% sure it will make it to me though.... which sucks as ZT’s seem to always be cheaper in the US.
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My local knife store in toronto gets ZT to ship them all their knives with the pivot cranked down like that.
Looks to me like they are still getting ZT flippers in no probz. They just got the 0920 in a few weeks ago. I can tell cause it is in now on their site but wasn't there when I visited last month.
 
Lapedog said:
My local knife store in toronto gets ZT to ship them all their knives with the pivot cranked down like that.
Looks to me like they are still getting ZT flippers in no probz. They just got the 0920 in a few weeks ago. I can tell cause it is in now on their site but wasn't there when I visited last month.
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Cool.

Is that the store you mentioned to me a couple of weeks ago? Etobicoke?

If so, I am going to check them out this week. :thumbsup:
 
Yeah don't say it on here because they are not a paying sponsor.

I should tell them to get a membership here. They could take alot of Canadian business.

Honestly the prices are abit high but that's how it is in Canada. If you go in person you can usually talk them down.
 
craytab said:
I recommend US sellers on the exchange never undervalue their items when a border crossing is involved, unless they don't mind getting screwed. Dealers don't do it for obvious reasons so why the hell would private sellers?
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Some dealers will do it who sell second-hand items (most of what I buy), and given that the import fee/taxes get more and more disproportionate, and arbitrary in amount, the higher the price goes, that is just as well.

When the fee can go to CAN $180 on top of a CAN $800 item, which is almost like 25% and makes no sense, second-hand dealers who won't under-declare are not worth dealing with. UPS will add even more of their own fees, so UPS into Canada should always be an absolute deal breaker (but is rarely offered anyway).

If the item is old, a dealer can decide whatever value it is supposed to have, so not under-declaring, at least a little, a used item that may be 30 years old, but is overvalued through name or rarity, is really pushing it.

Fixed blades, even double edged, are not a problem in Canada, fortunately. Except knuckle, D guards and push daggers.

Gaston
 
Gaston444 said:
second-hand dealers who won't under-declare are not worth dealing with.
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International buyers who want sellers to undervalue their items and lie on customs forms aren't worth dealing with; which is why smart sellers here don't :thumbsup:


Gaston444 said:
Some dealers will do it who sell second-hand items (most of what I buy), and given that the import fee/taxes get more and more disproportionate, and arbitrary in amount, the higher the price goes, that is just as well.

When the fee can go to CAN $180 on top of a CAN $800 item, which is almost like 25% and makes no sense, second-hand dealers who won't under-declare are not worth dealing with. UPS will add even more of their own fees, so UPS into Canada should always be an absolute deal breaker (but is rarely offered anyway).

If the item is old, a dealer can decide whatever value it is supposed to have, so not under-declaring, at least a little, a used item that may be 30 years old, but is overvalued through name or rarity, is really pushing it.

Fixed blades, even double edged, are not a problem in Canada, fortunately. Except knuckle, D guards and push daggers.

Gaston
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from new york to BC, i shipped a francois massyn front flipper about a month ago, and a ZT 0850 in the mail right now
 
craytab said:
International buyers who want sellers to undervalue their items and lie on customs forms aren't worth dealing with; which is why smart sellers here don't :thumbsup:
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Funny, I've never asked for people to undervalue on customs forms, but it is uncommon that i get hit with duty fees.

Seeing how many people will straight up refuse to do business with Canadians or will demand F&F usually with us paying our own shipping as well, I think being willing to help a fellow knife enthusiast not get smacked with an arbitrary duty fee is only cordial.
 
^ I agree, and have said the same earlier. But there are those that think 'big brother is watching' and they dont want the hassle, and fair enough... many people live life by-the-book and its their right to do so. I dont get it, but they are the majority. Thats why we have laws that appear to work, when in reality they dont and a subsect of society simply ignores them and lives slightly fuller and more rewarding lives.

For us Canadians the best bet is to ship to a friend or relative in USA and just let them pile up until you go visit, or until they come visit you, or they can drop ship to you and declare accordingly... unless you live close to the border then get a PO box in USA.

If you dont have a friend in the US, make one. Its always nice having friends in other countries :)
 
Agreed. I recently made a couple of friends that live stateside and it makes this hobby so much easier (not to mention less expensive).

I never understood why people assume any issues with customs comes back to them, it's always on us. Same with filling out customs forms, I've had a few people demand that i fill out the customs form and email it to them before they send anything out. Canada Post doesn't exactly hand those things out on the street corner, and I have no interest in sitting at the post office for however long holding those cards until they get back to me.

Overall, I just don't understand why people are so obtuse when it comes to helping out a fellow enthusiast. Makes me scratch my head sometimes, shake my head the rest of it.
 
I ship a lot of stuff to US hotels when my wife or I travel on business. I do this even if I am spending a night or two across the border in Niagara/Buffalo or Watertown/Syracuse while the wife shops.

Most hotels will hold packages for a few weeks if you are registered as staying. No charge either unless you are buying big screen TVs or receiving dozens of different shipments.
 
SharpieB said:
I ship a lot of stuff to US hotels when my wife or I travel on business. I do this even if I am spending a night or two across the border in Niagara/Buffalo or Watertown/Syracuse while the wife shops.

Most hotels will hold packages for a few weeks if you are registered as staying. No charge either unless you are buying big screen TVs or receiving dozens of different shipments.
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Since you have to declare at customs when you cross back over don't you have to declare the items and pay the duty fees/knives get inspected anyways?
 
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