USPS told me shipping a knife is prohibited???

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That's terrible. My post office ladies like to see my work when I bring them in to ship. They take pictures of the pretty ones. I hate that you have to deal with ass clowns. I would demand documented proof that its illegal to ship knives as morrow suggested
 
I've shipped quite a few knives. A few outside the U.S. (hi knifenutty! :) ) and never had any issue. It's always been on my mind, but I've always declared what it was I was shipping.

Camping tools... I like that a lot. :)

Thanks for posting about your problem.
 
I was hand delivered an expensive sword by the postal man that doesn't wear a uniform.

He was very clear. Dangerous goods are not to be delivered. In my case the shipper put the sword in the box barely taped and wrapped, and in shipment it pierced the package and stuck out the end of the shipping tube. My mail person refused to touch it. Since I was on this gents way home he stopped by and handed me my package personally with the blade still hanging out. His warning was that the refulations prohibit the delivery of dangerous items.
 
The blanket claim "The counterman said that knives (all knives) are prohibited" is false... except IF that is what is stated in your local ordinances. I could see OC CA as being one of those places. A lot of over the top laws there.

Words straight from my local PO clerk's mouth:

"Lots of people ship knives"

But this is WI. Lots of hunters, culinary fans, and sausage makers live here.
 
I had my postmaster tell me i couldn't ship knives.Only licensed dealers.As long as i didn't say or write knife,she was cool with it.Just covering her behind i guess.I have stopped shipping international and just say no to the hazardous question.So no problem.She did show me the regs book that seemed to back up her claim.
 
OP, I think you found who has your knife, the PO employee you talked to.

The ladies at my PO take good care of me. They know I get knives from all over, and could care less. My postmaster actually said knives weren't the worst things that go through the mail. Of course, it's a rural PO, and she could have been a little pissed at the delivery of cheeping chicks that hadn't been picked up yet.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
My postmaster actually said knives weren't the worst things that go through the mail. Of course, it's a rural PO, and she could have been a little pissed at the delivery of cheeping chicks that hadn't been picked up yet.
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My post office was two blocks north of the American Museum of Natural History and we used to get biological specimens from around the world. (Fumigate, fumigate! Gahhh!) Crickets are probably even worse than chicks.
 
You could ship that knife, but you know that now. Talk to someone higher up if you have to.

But, the knife should have been packaged better. That is a rule of theirs, and someone could have got hurt. Its lost, and I'm sure it won't be found. The shipper is lucky no one got hurt.

It is the seller's responsibility to insure the knife, and he owes you your money back(unless he gave it to you). Insurance is for their protection, not yours.
 
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Just to clarify, I'm pretty sure Ken means seller's responsibility. It's the seller's job to get the knife to you. All the buyer needs to do is pay, although a quick check on the seller wouldn't hurt either. I doubt you'll get the knife back, if the package has holes... either the knife poked it's way out, which would be really dangerous for the USPS guys, or someone stole the knife. A knife without packaging probably is not going to make it to you, unless you can somehow prove it's yours. And obviously a thief would not give the knife back to you. I'd go and start asking the seller. Personally, I never buy insurance (knock on wood), but I just plan to pay the buyer back if anything happens. Figure I save more that way, but either way, the seller owes you your money back.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
OP, I think you found who has your knife, the PO employee you talked to.

The ladies at my PO take good care of me. They know I get knives from all over, and could care less. My postmaster actually said knives weren't the worst things that go through the mail. Of course, it's a rural PO, and she could have been a little pissed at the delivery of cheeping chicks that hadn't been picked up yet.
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+1 seems he is trying to put one over you.. I'd report it to a higher branch of USPS..
 
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Minibear464 said:
Just to clarify, I'm pretty sure Ken means seller's responsibility. It's the seller's job to get the knife to you. All the buyer needs to do is pay, although a quick check on the seller wouldn't hurt either. I doubt you'll get the knife back, if the package has holes... either the knife poked it's way out, which would be really dangerous for the USPS guys, or someone stole the knife. A knife without packaging probably is not going to make it to you, unless you can somehow prove it's yours. And obviously a thief would not give the knife back to you. I'd go and start asking the seller. Personally, I never buy insurance (knock on wood), but I just plan to pay the buyer back if anything happens. Figure I save more that way, but either way, the seller owes you your money back.
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Yes, I did mean to say seller. Thanks for catching that.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
My post office was two blocks north of the American Museum of Natural History and we used to get biological specimens from around the world. (Fumigate, fumigate! Gahhh!) Crickets are probably even worse than chicks.
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What street was that? Did you work at the PO on 83rd St between Amsterdam & Columbus?
 
Esav Benyamin said:
No, you don't need to consult the postmaster unless you yourself aren't sure the item is safe.
They don't ask if it's a knife, you don't have to volunteer that information.
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I believe the key here is secure packaging - and you really don't want someone to be hurt because the blade poked out of the package. I think the rules have been tightened to prevent idiots from shoddy packaging, however one still now must choose words carefully at the PO.

Now I know why my PO asked me "what camping tool do you have in there?" two weeks ago. I was taken by surprise since this question never came on any of my precious visits. I calmly replied the "ones that fold" and she was okay with it. However, the package took quiet a good long time to reach the NYC sort facility - a good 22 days from the date shipped. I wonder if it had to do anything with pub 52. Hmmm... The recipient shall know in two weeks or so.
 
Secure packaging is what makes the difference between a knife being considered dangerous in the mail or not. I ran into this issue before and had to be VERY persistant, patient, and polite with the postmaster (say that three times fast!) and she ended up having to call a higher authority to clarify the matter. She called me later that day to confirm that I had been correct and that knives are mailable both domestically and internationally but must be sufficiently packaged to prevent risk of injury to carriers.
 
Postal employees do not like hazardous materials in the mail. One of my buddies was sorting packages and one package exploded and burned his hands. So I understand a postmaster overinterpreting regulations when inherently hazardous items are involved. Still, knives are easy, and people in authority really need to know the rules better than that.
 
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