U.S. post office told me I could not ship a knife?

That's bunk. U.S. postal service can and will ship knives. I have shipped knives to Canada via USPS without any problem, indicating clearly on the customs declaration form that it was a knife. Sounds to me like you ran into an ignorant or misinformed USPS employee...
 
Bama said:
International, what is the best way to ship a knife to canada?
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Try the Pony Express. I've sent several knives to Canada using the USPS. I know they are cutting back on service but that's a new one on me. Maybe you talked to the wrong person.
 
She said I have to be a dealer , its part of the new Keep the skys safe program?
 
Yeah it sounds like you ran into someone that is either A/ reading too much into the rules, or B/ just doesn't like knives:grumpy: I have shipped a few knives from up here down to the other side and haven't had a problem. Canadian knife laws are fairly easy as long as it isn't a Balisong, Switchblade, Push Dagger, or Gravity knife. There are no real length limits either, I walked down Main Street in Winnipeg with a 13" Kuk strapped to a back pack and didn't even get a second look from the cops.
 
I've ordered many knives from the US and all came USPS. As a Canadian I would NEVER use UPS/Fedex/DHL/etc unless it was absolutely necessary, as they hit you with customs fees out the bazoo. Ask to talk to the supervisor or something, maybe they're just new.
 
shipped plenty of sharp pointy things to Canada..She dosnt know what shes talking about..Go to a different P.O...
 
I'm with Wulf, but it sounds like you might have to go with the good old: "steel sample" or "camping implement" on the declarations form.
 
i always say its a tool in the box. never got questioned about it but never shipped out of the USA either
 
You can ship a knife to Canada via the USPS; talk with someone else at the PO.

I'd still declare it as a tool.
 
Well I went to the USPS website it say's nothing about shipping knives, I think she is getting the gun knife thing confused she told me you have to be a dealer I'm going back and ask for a manager.
 
I have always shipped a knife cross border as a "camping tool", and never had a problem. Better to not tell them you are shipping a "knife" at all... it tends to get raised eyebrows or questions like "you do know you can't ship dangerous goods?".

Find a new PO, or ship marked as a "tool" :thumbup:
 
NickWheeler said:
I'm with Wulf, but it sounds like you might have to go with the good old: "steel sample" or "camping implement" on the declarations form.
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I shipped a gun back to S&W and the customer service rep told me to say "machined metal parts" on the package. Not sure I would do that with an export though.
 
Bama said:
Well I went to the USPS website it say's nothing about shipping knives, I think she is getting the gun knife thing confused she told me you have to be a dealer I'm going back and ask for a manager.
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Sounds like it. Of course you could just tell her you are a dealer seeing as you produce the darn thing.
 
Bama said:
She said I have to be a dealer , its part of the new Keep the skys safe program?
Click to expand...

The postal clerk is just yanking your chain. She probably got the notice that she will be laid off.. USPS laying off 28,000 workers.
 
That's a load of poop. Knives are fine to ship through USPS. As long as it is a legal blade in Canada (not hard to find out) you can ship it. Infact, I disagree with declaring it as "tool" or "camp implement" because customs will be more likely to investigate a "vague" description over one that is more detailed. I worked with customs agents at UPS and they also said that folks who put their full information.... phone#, Name(not just company) and a clear description of the contents are much less likely to get inspected. It is a federal offense to lie about the contents of a mailed package so if they see an all-too-broad description, it bleeps on the radar as somebody trying to hide something.

I have never had a problem with....
Fixed Blade Camp Knife
Fixed Blade Art Knife
Woodworking Knife
Kitchen Cutlery

If any postal employee tries to tell you they won't ship a knife, ask to see their supervisor.
 
Sounds like the person working that day was the "tool"...I hate it when I have to tell someone how to do their job properly....isn't that what they get paid for?

Ask for a manager, another employee, or change the declaration.

I ran into this when shipping things sold on eBay using the Click N Ship...I literally had to teach my local PO what the hell it was and that it was prepaid!

*facepalm*
 
Ask to see the Postal regulation that forbids it. We have had postal clerks and postmasters misread the regulation against switchblades to mean all knives. Ignorance can pop up anywhere.

The clerk accepting your package does not have to know what you are shipping, and should only ask if it is hazardous and properly packaged. "Camping tool" or even "cutlery" are widely used on customs forms, understood and accepted. Really stupid clerks may flinch at "knife" but think "cutlery" is OK, it's something Mommy uses.
 
Wulf said:
That's bunk. U.S. postal service can and will ship knives. I have shipped knives to Canada via USPS without any problem, indicating clearly on the customs declaration form that it was a knife. Sounds to me like you ran into an ignorant or misinformed USPS employee...
Click to expand...

I agree


USPS is the best way to ship

This thread has the customs codes specifically for different types of knives

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/888361-Shipping-a-knife-to-Canada


It helps if you can print and take the USPS rules with you, to prove your point, but probably simpler to just go to a different office with smarter staff.

You can't mail switchblades
When you read the regs, it reads as if it prohibits all knives, but you have to read it carefully.

Esav used to be a muckety muck in the USPS, maybe he can quote you the regs that apply


Edited to add, woops Esav posted while I was writing



If you just red this website page
http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_013.htm

It looks as if all sharp knives are prohibited, but that page is just there to define terms, not to restrict all those items.

If you click next
http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_014.htm

It shows who can ship and receive SWITCHBLADES and that is likely where she is getting the "dealer" idea from.

A switchblade knife, as defined in 441.2, is mailable only to the following categories of addressees

Manufacturers or bona fide dealers of such knives in connection with a shipment made to an address in one of the above categories.


Click next again
http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c4_015.htm


443 Packaging and Marking
443.1 General

ALL sharp–pointed or sharp–edged instruments such as knives, tools, ice picks, razor blades, etc., must be securely packaged in a strong container as required in DMM 601.1–8. Sufficient cushioning material must be used to protect the sharp points and edges from cutting through the outer packaging during normal Postal Service handling.


This section determines what level of packaging that apply to ALL knives and sharp items
Which implies that ALL knives that aren't automatics are OK to ship, as long as they are packaged securely so they don't puncture or exit the box



Print those out and tell them to put that in their pipe,

Reading comprehension is the key
 
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I ship knives all over the Globe via USPS, and as long as the proper Customs forms are filled out there have never been any major problems. I have had Canadian Customs open the package on more than one occasion and "use" the knife around the office before sending it its final address.
 
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