Sword Shipping

celtan · 27th August 2009, 01:56 AM

Whenever I deal with the Commonwealth, I always send a letter to Customs stating the item is an antique, and the reasons supporting the claim. So far, no problems.

Has anyone sent anything to Israel or Poland? How are their mail systems? I have been told that Spain, Italy, Russia, Asia, Far and Near Orient, Africa, Central and South America, as well as Eastern Europe, including Greece and Turkey, are utterly irresponsible in they way they handle mail, and basically you can't trace anything.

How about Germany? I have also sent items to Spain sans problems. Have I been merely lucky?

Nando, what's your own take on Portugal?

Best

Manolo

BBJW · 15th September 2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celtan

Whenever I deal with the Commonwealth, I always send a letter to Customs stating the item is an antique, and the reasons supporting the claim. So far, no problems.

Has anyone sent anything to Israel or Poland? How are their mail systems? I have been told that Spain, Italy, Russia, Asia, Far and Near Orient, Africa, Central and South America, as well as Eastern Europe, including Greece and Turkey, are utterly irresponsible in they way they handle mail, and basically you can't trace anything.

How about Germany? I have also sent items to Spain sans problems. Have I been merely lucky?

Nando, what's your own take on Portugal?

Manolo

I have had no problems shipping to Poland or receiving from Israel.

bbjw

fernando · 15th September 2009, 06:24 PM

For European buyers,
Also important is to ascertain the place where the item is coming from.
It may happen that you are buying the piece from an European seller, setlle the respective payment with his European account, and then be told that the item is located outside Europe, whith its unexpected repercussion.
Instead of having your item coming through without any Customs harassment,
you end up having it inspected ... and seized; even though it may be an innocent harmless ethnographic piece ... which is something they expect you to prove ... with your sweat ... besides the heavy taxation.
I am narrating my experience.
Fernando

celtan · 12th October 2009, 08:01 PM

Guys,

Just found out that China and Russia have problems allowing sword imports.

Best

M

Quote:

Originally Posted by fernando

For European buyers,
Also important is to ascertain the place where the item is coming from.
It may happen that you are buying the piece from an European seller, setlle the respective payment with his European account, and then be told that the item is located outside Europe, whith its unexpected repercussion.
Instead of having your item coming through without any Customs harassment,
you end up having it inspected ... and seized; even though it may be an innocent harmless ethnographic piece ... which is something they expect you to prove ... with your sweat ... besides the heavy taxation.
I am narrating my experience.
Fernando

celtan · 1st November 2009, 01:23 AM

Just found this exclussion list on EBay. I wonder what's the problem with France, Gibraltar, Guernsey and Monaco?

Shipping to: Worldwide
Excludes: Africa, Central America and Caribbean, Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Russian Federation, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan Republic, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Korea, North, Korea, South, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Albania, Belarus, Cyprus, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guernsey, Italy, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Ukraine

Quote:

Originally Posted by celtan

Guys,

Just found out that China and Russia have problems allowing sword imports.

Best

M

Jens Nordlunde · 1st November 2009, 04:57 PM

Hi Celtan,

I have no doubt that your list is correct, but it surprises me, as in some of the mentioned countries modern weapons seems, almost to be floating around, so why forbid import of antic weapons?

Jens

kahnjar1 · 2nd November 2009, 03:20 AM

I can't help wondering who created this list. Seems to me most, though not all, of the countries mentioned perhaps are not "friends" of the US in the political sense??

Greybeard · 4th November 2009, 12:47 PM

Hello Celtan,

I never imported anything bigger than a large keris (blade length ca. 40 cm). Maybe some might consider this as a sword ... Anyway, it went through directly to my address without any difficulty. Maybe I`ve just been lucky so far.

I regret not to be able to give you a special advice. All I normally do is to order a piece, pay for it and then receive it ... Of course, there are the usual taxes and fees.

I`m awaiting a parcel, containing a nice antique keris from Singapore right now. Just hope it`ll work as well as it usually does ...

Best regards,

Heinz

27th August 2009, 01:56 AM	#1
celtan Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: PR, USA Posts: 679	Whenever I deal with the Commonwealth, I always send a letter to Customs stating the item is an antique, and the reasons supporting the claim. So far, no problems. Has anyone sent anything to Israel or Poland? How are their mail systems? I have been told that Spain, Italy, Russia, Asia, Far and Near Orient, Africa, Central and South America, as well as Eastern Europe, including Greece and Turkey, are utterly irresponsible in they way they handle mail, and basically you can't trace anything. How about Germany? I have also sent items to Spain sans problems. Have I been merely lucky? Nando, what's your own take on Portugal? Best Manolo

15th September 2009, 06:24 PM	#3
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	For European buyers, Also important is to ascertain the place where the item is coming from. It may happen that you are buying the piece from an European seller, setlle the respective payment with his European account, and then be told that the item is located outside Europe, whith its unexpected repercussion. Instead of having your item coming through without any Customs harassment, you end up having it inspected ... and seized; even though it may be an innocent harmless ethnographic piece ... which is something they expect you to prove ... with your sweat ... besides the heavy taxation. I am narrating my experience. Fernando

1st November 2009, 04:57 PM	#6
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Celtan, I have no doubt that your list is correct, but it surprises me, as in some of the mentioned countries modern weapons seems, almost to be floating around, so why forbid import of antic weapons? Jens

2nd November 2009, 03:20 AM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,810	I can't help wondering who created this list. Seems to me most, though not all, of the countries mentioned perhaps are not "friends" of the US in the political sense??

4th November 2009, 12:47 PM	#8
Greybeard Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Switzerland Posts: 124	Hello Celtan, I never imported anything bigger than a large keris (blade length ca. 40 cm). Maybe some might consider this as a sword ... Anyway, it went through directly to my address without any difficulty. Maybe I`ve just been lucky so far. I regret not to be able to give you a special advice. All I normally do is to order a piece, pay for it and then receive it ... Of course, there are the usual taxes and fees. I`m awaiting a parcel, containing a nice antique keris from Singapore right now. Just hope it`ll work as well as it usually does ... Best regards, Heinz