Why do so many of the US Guys don't sell to Europe?

M

MOAB

Feedback: +1 / =0 / -0
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
16
Hi Guys, just got a question.

Why do so many of the Guys in the US don't sell to Europe?

I have read so many times CONUS only, US only, no shipping to outside US etc.

I also got replies when asking if shipping to Austria is possible:
Sorry, Martin--not shipping to Austria at this time. Thank you for your interest.
Click to expand...

Why? Hey there is someone who wants to have it, and is willing to pay for all the extra Fees etc. You get your Money Weeks before the Knive is at the Buyer. The seller gets the thing he wants "Money" - the Buyer gets the goods.

I personally don't understand that. Can somebody tell me, why?

best wishes from the GLOCK Country, Austria
-martin
 
Have the same problem. Also when it comes to deflate price ( tax issues:barf:). It's only my problem if the knife is lost and the insurance is low. There should be no problem for seller either way, when the item is paid up front with Paypal.
 
The fact that stuff tends to get lost on its trip over to Europe, and once it has arrived there, might have something to do with it....
 
One knife I tried to ship to the UK got snagged by Customs. Some folks just don't want to bother. Unfortunately, its just easier to deal with the US postal system or ups/fedex and not cross country borders.
 
I am pretty sure its because US sellers have no control over the package when it leaves the country and if something goes wrong with it, they can't take any responsibility, or do much about it. It might be an issue to do with customs as well, but I'm not sure on the US's export policy.
Whereas if it is within the US, if there's an issue with their package, they can ring the postal company and sort things out. I'm only guessing, but from a few sellers I've talked to about this issue, this is along the lines of what they said, and they dont want to get a bad reputation for selling packages the never deliver, as customs in Europe or Australia have seized and destroyed your $150 knife.

I do agree however about if the buyer is willing to pay extra fees, postage etc, then why not sell to them.
 
Aside from the knife having a greater chance of being lost.

Near my post office, there is an automated postal center that I can mail things 24 hours a day.

If it is international, I've got to fill out the customs form, stand in line for nearly an hour every time.

The post office is only open when I am at work, so I need to be able to use the 24 hour automated system.
 
At the end of the day the seller can sell to who ever they want, or don't want. I think most people just can't be bothered to deal with any extra problems (weather they be real or perceived problems) and that is totally fair play.
I find a lot of people in the US also don't know what is legal to send or not, so would rather just not get involved with it. I have come across people who think all fixed blades are illegal or any locking knife is illegal to import to the UK. Short of automatics and balisongs there is actually nothing that customs can legaly snatch when it comes to knives. I have been buying knives from outside the UK for many years and have never had any problems with customs, other than import tax of course. :rolleyes:

As someone who has money to spend and a hankering for a particular knife I can see why it's anoying, but there are very few people here who have something you will not be able to get from someone else. If one person refuses you a sale just wait it out and find some one who will deal with you. :):thumbup:
 
I don't ship outside of the US because:

  1. I can print a US label online and drop it in a box at the post office at my convenience. With international, I have to fill out a customs form, got to the post office and wait 30 minutes to see a clerk in person.
  2. Shipping internationally is much more expensive.
  3. Shipping internationally doesn't provide any tracking, proof of delivery, or insurance through the post office. UPS does, but is extremely expensive.
  4. I've tried shipping internationally maybe a half-dozen times. One package never arrived, one arrived broken and the two took a long time with lots of emails from the buyer accusing me of not sending it in the first place.
  5. Buyers don't want to pay extra for the extra postage.
 
I sold few knives outside US, but like the most I strongly prefer to sell within US.
Ship is easier, delivery faster and fewer things can go wrong. Still I sold without any problems to South Africa, Philippines, and Russia. My sale to England turned into big head ache. Go figure.
 
lava_lamp said:
I don't ship outside of the US because:

  1. I can print a US label online and drop it in a box at the post office at my convenience. With international, I have to fill out a customs form, got to the post office and wait 30 minutes to see a clerk in person.
  2. Shipping internationally is much more expensive.
  3. Shipping internationally doesn't provide any tracking, proof of delivery, or insurance through the post office. UPS does, but is extremely expensive.
  4. I've tried shipping internationally maybe a half-dozen times. One package never arrived, one arrived broken and the two took a long time with lots of emails from the buyer accusing me of not sending it in the first place.
  5. Buyers don't want to pay extra for the extra postage.
Click to expand...

Wow....you've had extremely bad luck. Both in the buyer departement and in the shipping departement. Sorry to hear. Understandable that you don't want to do it anymore.
 
lava_lamp said:
I don't ship outside of the US because:

  1. I can print a US label online and drop it in a box at the post office at my convenience. With international, I have to fill out a customs form, got to the post office and wait 30 minutes to see a clerk in person.
  2. Shipping internationally is much more expensive.
  3. Shipping internationally doesn't provide any tracking, proof of delivery, or insurance through the post office. UPS does, but is extremely expensive.
  4. I've tried shipping internationally maybe a half-dozen times. One package never arrived, one arrived broken and the two took a long time with lots of emails from the buyer accusing me of not sending it in the first place.
  5. Buyers don't want to pay extra for the extra postage.
Click to expand...
1 - Makes sense to me.
2 - Irrelevant, as buyers pays for it.
3 - Not true. USPS provides to-my-door tracking, have received many this way.
4 - YMMV. I've never ever had anything gone missing yet.
5 - If they don't, that's their problem. I - and many like me - are more than willing to spend it, as it is STILL always cheaper than buying here in Holland.

In the end, the seller decides, and he's under no obligation to explain anything.
The convenience to me is a valid reason, and about the only one. It's a hard thing for us Europeans to accept because we miss out on SO many good deals. Just today I got refused an offer on a Manix that I really want. Seller just won't ship to me, and that is his prerogative.
 
bh49 said:
I sold few knives outside US, but like the most I strongly prefer to sell within US.
Ship is easier, delivery faster and fewer things can go wrong. Still I sold without any problems to South Africa, Philippines, and Russia. My sale to England turned into big head ache. Go figure.
Click to expand...
Yep. They have STUPID laws, and it's the buyer's responsibility. Still, I understand the seller is not looking for the headache.
Many Ebay sellers also refuse to ship to the UK, for this very reason.
 
philwar said:
Yep. They have STUPID laws, and it's the buyer's responsibility. Still, I understand the seller is not looking for the headache.
Many Ebay sellers also refuse to ship to the UK, for this very reason.
Click to expand...

E-bay sellers don't ship to the UK because knife sales were banned by the gubment. Most if not all will still ship if you contact them privately. Also the stupid laws are for inside the UK, I can import anything that is not an automatic or balisong. In the last 18 months I have had knives ranging from a Busse AK to custom damascus neck knives and many folders sent to my UK address with zero problems.
 
lava_lamp said:
I don't ship outside of the US because:

  1. I can print a US label online and drop it in a box at the post office at my convenience. With international, I have to fill out a customs form, got to the post office and wait 30 minutes to see a clerk in person.
  2. Shipping internationally is much more expensive.
  3. Shipping internationally doesn't provide any tracking, proof of delivery, or insurance through the post office. UPS does, but is extremely expensive.
  4. I've tried shipping internationally maybe a half-dozen times. One package never arrived, one arrived broken and the two took a long time with lots of emails from the buyer accusing me of not sending it in the first place.
  5. Buyers don't want to pay extra for the extra postage.
Click to expand...

1. I totaly understand, but you get your goods gone, do you?
2. Irrelevant, in my case I always pay the whole shipping amount
3. USPS does, is (when shipped via plane) also very fast, and works very fine. UPS is expensive, but also works without problems.
4. Sorry to hear that. I personally NEVER had Problems with Mail Services in the US.
5. Sorry that is simply not true. Somebody who wants to buy something in the US / Canada, knows that Shipping to the EU is simply more expensive than CONUS.

btw. the LAWS

We here in Austria can do nearly anything. My EDC is approx. a BUSSE SAR4 with 4,8inch Blade. I could take a Sword with 20 Inch, and no one here could say anything against it. Only Knuckles and sword cane and things like that are prohibited. But basicly, no blade length restrictions, all folding knives with any lock (lol at germany :D)
 
Haze said:
E-bay sellers don't ship to the UK because knife sales were banned by the gubment. Most if not all will still ship if you contact them privately. Also the stupid laws are for inside the UK, I can import anything that is not an automatic or balisong. In the last 18 months I have had knives ranging from a Busse AK to custom damascus neck knives and many folders sent to my UK address with zero problems.
Click to expand...
You seem to contradict yourself here.
As for reaching private arrangements with sellers, that's a risk you and they wish to take. Fact is, there are rigid knife laws in effect in the UK, and they cause Ebay sellers to elect not to sell to UK buyers.

Don't worry though, the Dutch government is working hard to surpass the British one in this respect. :barf: :mad:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top