USA only Sales

Frankly, shipping outside of CONUS (along with HI and AK for the pedants) is too much hassle. I like being able to print out the form from my Paypal account, slapping it on the box, BAM, in the outbound mailbox. No customs forms, no actually going to the post office. Nice and easy.
 
Quiet said:
Frankly, shipping outside of CONUS (along with HI and AK for the pedants) is too much hassle.
Click to expand...

+1

Shipping internationally really is a hassle and not worth the time and energy for me. Furthermore it's very risky as well. I did it once and vowed never to do it again. I don't like filling out customs forms nor do I like the post office demanding to know what I am shipping. I never buy internationally either. I refuse to deal both ways with anyone who isn't located in the U.S. No ifs, ands, or buts, NO EXCEPTIONS. Don't care if you offer me $10,000 it's not going to happen, period.

There is a reason why a lot of people around here like ourselves refuse to deal internationally.
 
It used to be a lot easier to ship outside the US than it is now. The form just to ship a lanyard is fairly large. The customs office in many countries is a huge risk to boot. I have had problems with costs as well. One time shipping to Canada is 6.55 and the next is 1.85 for the same thing in the same package.:confused: I really miss those 8.00 international flat rate envelopes.
 
u812 said:
One time shipping to Canada is 6.55 and the next is 1.85 for the same thing in the same package.:confused: I really miss those 8.00 international flat rate envelopes.
Click to expand...

The only time I shipped something internationally, (a necklace) the rats charged me with almost 30 dollars!!!!
 
I have purchased many fine knives from forum members.I thank them all for taking the effort to post to the U.K. I can also see the point of view of those that wont post outside conus..But for me and others like me it’s the only way to get our hands on many fine U.S.A made knives.
 
Last edited:
It is hassle full stop and when it goes wrong it really goes wrong. I had a six week customs hold up from uk to the states I even had to explain the materials used in the knife/golok this bounced back n forth (why rwl34 ,why this material ) I did state that it was a wood working camping tool and only after explaining it would be used on all types of soft and hard woods it got forwarded to the buyer who was a saint . Plus postage cost don't really add up ,customs cost taxes ,it's cheaper to send to Australia ? And I'm sure it's the other way around . Example a $300 fiddleback turns into a £300 knife after everything and £70 was charges my end .
 
Another issue for me is the complete lack of protection for the seller. I sold a cell phone to an overseas buyer on The Big Auction one time, and I purchased ALL of the protections possible, insurance, signature required, the whole deal. Turns out that a lot of that goes away when the package goes overseas. The package showed as delivered, and then three days later the buyer tells me he received an empty box, that the phone wasn't there. Paypal believed him, and so I was out $400, and the best part is that USPS said "We show it as received, sorry, we can't help you."

That's been four years or so now, but up to that time, I had had many pleasant overseas transactions on cheaper items. But the one time it was something expensive, I got rooked. So, yeah, from that point forward I had a no-OCONUS policy.
 
I just thank all the fine folks here (and a couple of other internet sites) I have delt with over the past few years who have shipped in excess of 100 blades to me here in Australia. I am also very lucky to have a GREAT....no....OUTSTANGING mate in the US who takes delivery of knives for me in the US and then ships them over here as a big of of sharpened steel goodness.
 
Knock on wood, don't want to attract Murphy, but what is the aversion to shipping to AK and HI? I have shipped to those states, and not had issues. I've shipped to territories like Guam and Puerto Rico and not had issues.
 
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and other US territories like the US Virgin Islands all use USPS for mail services. There is no reason to avoid them. Same rates, same rules.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Knock on wood, don't want to attract Murphy, but what is the aversion to shipping to AK and HI? I have shipped to those states, and not had issues. I've shipped to territories like Guam and Puerto Rico and not had issues.
Click to expand...

Can't speak for others, but when I say CONUS, I am referring to AK and HI also. If I can just print out the form from Paypal, tape it on, and drop it in the mailbox, then I do it.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and other US territories like the US Virgin Islands all use USPS for mail services. There is no reason to avoid them. Same rates, same rules.
Click to expand...

Between different forums and the bay I have shipped a lot of stuff. The only time I lost something was shipping to PR. Won't ever do that again.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and other US territories like the US Virgin Islands all use USPS for mail services. There is no reason to avoid them. Same rates, same rules.
Click to expand...

Curiosity Q here - I bought an Alaskan made ulu while visiting there and because of the hassle of getting a knife back on the cruise ship/carrying in flight luggage home, I decided to mail the knife to myself. The Scagway, Alaska PO clerk said I had to fill out a customs form.

Why did I have to fill out an Official US Customs form in order to mail MYSELF a package from Alaska, one of the 50 United States to Texas, another one of the United States?????
 
silenthunterstudios said:
Knock on wood, don't want to attract Murphy, but what is the aversion to shipping to AK and HI? I have shipped to those states, and not had issues. I've shipped to territories like Guam and Puerto Rico and not had issues.
Click to expand...
I too have had no issues at all with any US state or territory other than a lost package of lanyards a couple weeks ago going to CA. Buyer said he didn't get them and the tracking showed delivered. Nothing I could do but replace them.
To tell the truth other than the customs form hassel I have never had a problem outside the US except for Canada.
 
zzyzzogeton said:
Curiosity Q here - I bought an Alaskan made ulu while visiting there and because of the hassle of getting a knife back on the cruise ship/carrying in flight luggage home, I decided to mail the knife to myself. The Scagway, Alaska PO clerk said I had to fill out a customs form.

Why did I have to fill out an Official US Customs form in order to mail MYSELF a package from Alaska, one of the 50 United States to Texas, another one of the United States?????
Click to expand...

Clerk had no idea what they were doing.
 
I certainly get where you are coming from, it's much like a naming convention, very useful when building databases things need to be consistent in order to make sense down the road when you go to use things you've setup.

But getting folks to change their habits is pretty tough and some are not really that savy when it comes to computers so that adds more to the pile.

I for one will try to preface my for sale listing with maybe just the USA: blah blah super duper cutter with unobtainium steel and the like....

So for everyone scanning through the pages of for sale items, the USA: will be an indicator that you can browse but most likely not be able to buy from this person. It would be a simple way to state it.

Which brings up a pet peeve of mine, I have several so I'll not bore you with the others ;), but when a person's for sale thread has all the stuff sold, it would be Nice if they would EDIT the title of the thread with it right in the beginning, example;

SOLD: blah blah blah best knife ever...

it's a similar thing, you go and read the forsale post only to see you've wasted your time, now there are those that will edit the title but put Sold at the end of the listing, while not a big deal it still irks me, see, I'm easily irk'd lol :)
G2
 
I've had quite a few people overseas on "The Big Auction" conditionally purchase items or just flat out ignore my "US Only" stipulation, and in doing so essentially hold the item hostage until I can get it sorted out. This has left a sour taste in my mouth, and although it might be a bit unfair, there's just too much risk in shipping overseas, even with a trusted buyer.

Esav Benyamin said:
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and other US territories like the US Virgin Islands all use USPS for mail services. There is no reason to avoid them. Same rates, same rules.
Click to expand...

This is why I now mention "US Only" instead of "CONUS".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top