US only

Buffalohump

Buffalohump

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Sep 7, 2006
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Hey guys, just a question -- what's with all the 'US Only' sales these days? I've bought and sold knives on this forum for years -- trading with people from all around the world -- with nary a problem. And I have the feedback to prove it.

Given that these days most people only want to use F+F PP or similar, what is the issue? After all, the buyer is taking all the risk. I pay for an item and have to trust that it will be shipped to me, with no recourse if it isn't.

If someone is new and has barely any feedback, I get it. But what's the point of having a feedback system if it counts for nothing?

Just saying... 🤷‍♂️
 
Some folks don’t want to hassle with going into a physical PO, taking the time to fill out customs form. Inconvenience mostly.
 
I think it's mostly fear of the unknown. Many people have no experience in shipping internationally, filling out the customs declaration, etc.
Some people are just too lazy to deal with it. Some people are afraid the buyer won't receive it due to the laws/regulations
at the destination and could lead to hassles. Even when the buyer assumes all such responsibility.
 
If you are a long standing member and have good feedback it would not hurt to ask about international shipping.
I prefer not to ship abroad but I have done it probably half dozen times and had no problems.

It is just easier to post if the knife doesn’t cross borders and most people prefer the easy way.
 
My only shipping losses have been international. I don't like it no matter who lands up with the bill and have always paid at least 1/2. I don't like my knives stolen(in shipping-not calling international members thieves).
It is harder to determine shipping costs.
Filling out the forms is a bit of a pain and I was often asked to lie on value, which not only was I not comfortable with, but voided insurance.
I don't know your knife laws, nor want to spend the time learning, thus custom officials could be a problem.
Yet I still don't say I will not ship international. I say shipped and insured US, becuse that is what the price is based on. I would consider international, but would prefer to skip it. Makes life simpler for me.
It is nothing against our international members and some countries are easier than others.
I have no problem with shipping services (some do)
 
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Things can get stuck for months in customs, lost, stolen.

It is very high risk when it comes to knives because you have to put on the label there is a knife inside.
 
New EU regulations state that it is forbidden to import folding knives into the US. This sounds like crazy BS but when I send knives to America the PO here won't accept the customs form with 'Knife' on it. So I use the word Tool and apparently all is OK.

More petty rules making life oppresive for us all.

www.posti.fi

Country specific information - Posti

Delivery times, dimensions and additional services available for letters and parcels sent abroad.
www.posti.fi www.posti.fi
 
Appreciate the input y'all.... I forget that there are forms involved with international. I'm not a fan of paperwork myself so I understand that reluctance!
 
Buffalohump said:
Appreciate the input y'all.... I forget that there are forms involved with international. I'm not a fan of paperwork myself so I understand that reluctance!
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Shipping from France to the US, the forms are very easy to fill and come out ready to be stickied to the box, it is very convenient.

Will Power said:
New EU regulations state that it is forbidden to import folding knives into the US. This sounds like crazy BS but when I send knives to America the PO here won't accept the customs form with 'Knife' on it. So I use the word Tool and apparently all is OK.

More petty rules making life oppresive for us all.

www.posti.fi

Country specific information - Posti

Delivery times, dimensions and additional services available for letters and parcels sent abroad.
www.posti.fi www.posti.fi
Click to expand...
I didn't know that. When I ship to the US, they have this list of forbidden items and knives are not amongst them. I always put "cutlery made of steel" in english, and never got any problem.
 
I do occasionally ship internationally but even with agreements in place it always adds a LOT of anxiety to the shipping process. Headaches with Customs, extra paperwork, skeptical insurance coverage, and worry of loss. Many folks just decide to not deal with it and I cannot blame them.
 
Cost mainly, because you almost always are going to require tracking.

First class international (the more affordable option for shipping from usa) will only track for certain countries. Which means more times than not you have to pop for priority international to get tracking... it's crazy expensive.
 
I used to ship most places, but in the last three years I've had two of the three packages I shipped out of the US either lost or stolen ... a fourth went missing without a trace for well over a year and out of the blue was returned to me 16 months after it shipped. Insurance claims are a real pain to recover, and the time and effort spent to do so is draining. It's just too much risk and hassle for me. That's not even considering the costs soaring in recent years.

I'm sure there are better options for a small business or someone who ships a high volume of packages, but for a few here and there it just isn't worth it for me to bother.
 
But it’s not the buyer taking the risk, it’s the sellers responsibility until it delivers. If I sell you a knife and it doesn’t show I need to refund you. Now I’m out a knife and money.
Too many anymore think that as a seller you are off the hook once you hand it to the post office. Not the case at all, as the seller I’m only finished when you have the knife you bought.
 
I will ship overseas, but I let them know that once the the package has left the USA, I am no longer responsible for what their Customs decides.
 
I used to run a small business that involved shipping stuff, and the combination of taking longer for me to prep and ship (customs form, stand in line at the PO, sometimes the addresses in PayPal didn't look anything like the fields on the customs form, etc.) and an increased chance of something going wrong due to long transit times and the sometimes shaky reliability of the destination's postal service meant that it was always a bit of a headache.

That plus the package potentially being worth hundreds of dollars is why I don't do international sales here. It's just too risky for me.
 
In today’s digital world, customs forms in Canada are super simple. I go online…type in the address and it generates the correct address. Type in the product and cost. I click submit and print.

Go to the PO, they scan my barcode, out comes the sticker and they stick it on the box.

The only thing that hurts is the shipping cost.

So the USPS doesn’t have this online option? Seems to me that they probably do. But what do I know, I’m Canadian, eh? 😁
 
I’ve shipped international a few times and it’s just too much unnecessary stress for me anymore. US and Canada, that’s it for me from here on out.
 
Sharp & Fiery said:
In today’s digital world, customs forms in Canada are super simple. I go online…type in the address and it generates the correct address. Type in the product and cost. I click submit and print.

Go to the PO, they scan my barcode, out comes the sticker and they stick it on the box.

The only thing that hurts is the shipping cost.

So the USPS doesn’t have this online option? Seems to me that they probably do. But what do I know, I’m Canadian, eh? 😁
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Very civilised! Sounds like you're getting something for your taxes there... :thumbsup:
 
Bill Siegle said:
I do occasionally ship internationally but even with agreements in place it always adds a LOT of anxiety to the shipping process. Headaches with Customs, extra paperwork, skeptical insurance coverage, and worry of loss. Many folks just decide to not deal with it and I cannot blame them.
Click to expand...
Bill, I bought one of your knives a few years back right here on the exchange... it got here safely and I still have it. Thanks for going the extra mile! :thumbsup:
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
Cost mainly, because you almost always are going to require tracking.

First class international (the more affordable option for shipping from usa) will only track for certain countries. Which means more times than not you have to pop for priority international to get tracking... it's crazy expensive.
Click to expand...
That's true.... but it's called International Express. Out to here at the bottom of Africa its pricey but worth it for the tracking.
 
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