What is it with bolo knives and ....FRANCE???

L

Lavan

Joined
Nov 8, 2000
Messages
2,301
I have a bolo knife on eBay and I explicitly state that I am only shipping to USA, but I am getting BOMBARDED with questions from ...FRANCE??

How much to ship to France?

Sorry, US only.

But they keep a-comin. I ....had.... thought that bolos were JUNGLE knives.

Anyone know what would drive such demand from France?

:confused:
 
People don't read. It's that simple. Every time I list something U.S. only I get someone bidding from another country. :rolleyes:
 
But it's nothing but .... FRANCE!

I know they don't read, but why all from FRANCE?

Eerie.
:confused:
 
Murdok72605 said:
People don't read. It's that simple. Every time I list something U.S. only I get someone bidding from another country. :rolleyes:
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When I list an item, I block non US bidders. I can allow EXCEPTIONS if I wish, but no actual BIDS can be placed.
 
I have had this experience, especially with people from France, Germany, and Australia on knives, swords, and other items, even when I say "no international shipping".

One thing you might check are the national laws concerning weapons and weapon imports. Some of these people may be collectors frustrated by local laws or are simply desperate to own something illegal to impress their friends. Other times, they just need to find someone willing to undervalue it (a crime, BTW) so that they don't have to pay their country's outrageous customs taxes. I had a guy from Germany hound me for a hard to obtain katana; another in Australia practically begged me to sell it to his relatives here in the US, so that they could get it to him without the customs hassles.
 
Lavan said:
When I list an item, I block non US bidders. I can allow EXCEPTIONS if I wish, but no actual BIDS can be placed.
Click to expand...

I do the same but I still oddly have people bidding and winning my auctions that are NOT in the U.S..
If they are historical pieces from a particular war or era that could explain it.
 
I think this sounds like just a bit of SPAM. A way to get us to hear about his ad and France is an excuse.

.
 
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As a European, I am sometimes frustrated when sellers don't want to ship outside the USA. Luckily I am typically able to find plenty of sellers who did. In a few rare cases I emailed the seller if he could make an exception, and in 2/3 of the cases they did. I never quite understood why some sellers wouldn't ship abroad, since I am paying the extra postage and I take the customs risk.
 
Rich357 said:
I think this sounds like just a bit of SPAM. A way to get us to hear about his ad and France is an excuse.

.
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Put some money where your presumptuous mouth is and I'll be MORE than glad to provide all the data.

ANY amount.

Don't judge others by your ethics.

:jerkit:
 
Dagon said:
As a European, I am sometimes frustrated when sellers don't want to ship outside the USA. Luckily I am typically able to find plenty of sellers who did. In a few rare cases I emailed the seller if he could make an exception, and in 2/3 of the cases they did. I never quite understood why some sellers wouldn't ship abroad, since I am paying the extra postage and I take the customs risk.
Click to expand...

Because I can't get a tracking# or signature confirmation when I ship something to Europe. So the buyer can just claim that they never received it and paypal will take the money back and I can't do anything about it. This happened to me 3 years ago and I swore off ebay and paypal for a long time.
 
If there is a lot of demand for your item from France why not just ship there. I'm sure the cheese eating surrender monkeys can handle a bolo without hurting themselves.
 
Esav, if you wanna scrap this thread, feel free. I thought I would simply ask if anyone knew WHY bidders in France (and France ONLY) would be so eager for a bolo.

It's bringing on a lot of stuff that BF doesn't need.

Jeez.

:(
 
I think Swedes might wonder the same thing about American knife obsession with their equivalent of boxcutters, the Mora knife.
 
> Because I can't get a tracking# or signature confirmation when I ship something to Europe.

I think you are mistaken.
You can use a registered letter, the shipping cost is higher but it is available (yes, and we have electricity too over here ;) ).
Tracking numbers (and signatures) are offered by services like UPS.
You could insist on using one of these methods for European buyers, it's up to them if they want to pay the associated shipping fee or not bid at all.
I used such features only for a few relatively expensive items I bought (not knives). Typically a very good way to ship a knife from the USA to Europe is a "USPS Global Priority Envelope" which is large and sturdy enough to fit any knife and bubble wrap. These envelopes cost $12 if I remember well, and I have perfect and very quick service experience with them. I usually ask the seller if they can ship using such an envelope.

cheers.
 
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