Can anyone assist with Shipping swords Internationally

[VANDOO]

I HAVE ONLY VISITED TAIWAN ONCE AND THE CUSTOMS PEOPLE DO GET UPSET EASILY. I CAME IN FROM THE PHILIPPINES WITH A LARGE SUITCASE FULL OF SWORDS AND KNIVES. THEY SWARMED ALL OVER MY STUFF , FINALLY AN ENGLISH SPEAKER SHOWED UP AND EXPLAINED I COULD NOT BRING THEM INTO THE COUNTRY. THEY ALLOWED ME TO LEAVE THE ITEMS AT THE AIRPORT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CUSTOMS WHERE I COULD PICK THEM UP WHEN I LEFT.
ALL WAS WELL AND I HAD A GOOD VISIT BUT DID NOT PICK UP ANY KNIVES THERE. WHEN I LEFT I WANTED MY SWORDS TO PUT IN MY LUGGAGE TO CHECK. NOT ALLOWED SO I ENDED UP STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF CUSTOMS BUT BEFORE THE SECURITY CHECK WITH A PACKAGE FULL OF EDGED WEAPONS. I SAW SOME PILOTS AND CREW AND FOUND THEY WERE FLYING MY FLIGHT AND THEY VOLENTERED TO TAKE MY STUFF ON WITH THEM AND THEN GIVE IT BACK TO ME WHEN I DEBARKED. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL BUT ONE HAS TO THINK FAST BECAUSE OFTEN LOGIC AND REGULATIONS HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON. PERHAPS IF YOU ASK THE AIRLINE IF YOU CAN CARRY A SOUVINEER OF ETHINOGRAPHIC TRIBAL ART IN YOUR CHECKED LUGGAGE EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SWORD PERHAPS THEY WOULD BE REASONABLE. GOOD LUCK

[christek]

Hello all,

I feel this may be the suitable forum to place the subject of my concern. On a similar topic regarding international post; I have recently purchased a sword from Peru - using economy shipping to Australia. It has been over 5 weeks now and I still have not received my item Should I now be concerned? Is it normal for items such as swords to take this long to ship? Thank you.

Kind regards,
Chris

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by christek

Hello all,

I feel this may be the suitable forum to place the subject of my concern. On a similar topic regarding international post; I have recently purchased a sword from Peru - using economy shipping to Australia. It has been over 5 weeks now and I still have not received my item Should I now be concerned? Is it normal for items such as swords to take this long to ship? Thank you.

Kind regards,
Chris

Hullo Chris,
Economy from Peru to Australia can take over a month before you receive it (usually longer than regular). Even a Registered article from there can take months (defies logic). The delay could be anywhere. (If the item was bought on THAT site, then I'd lodge an unfavourable feedback after four weeks, no buts.)The 'best' way (though still quite unsatisfactory), is to have the article sent by a service that uses tracking. This way, at least you can check whether the item has been posted, left country of origin, in transit, arrived at country of destination, cleared customs etc. Don't be surprised if 'transparency' of the tracking becomes an 'issue' when using a service with 'Track & Trace'.
Best,

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Hullo Chris,
Economy from Peru to Australia can take over a month before you receive it (usually longer than regular). Even a Registered article from there can take months (defies logic). The delay could be anywhere. (If the item was bought on THAT site, then I'd lodge an unfavourable feedback after four weeks, no buts.)The 'best' way (though still quite unsatisfactory), is to have the article sent by a service that uses tracking. This way, at least you can check whether the item has been posted, left country of origin, in transit, arrived at country of destination, cleared customs etc. Don't be surprised if 'transparency' of the tracking becomes an 'issue' when using a service with 'Track & Trace'.
Best,

I post items daily and tracking is definately the best option and experience will eventually lead one to a better understanding of how long things take point to point and what services are best bang for buck....interestingly though a good friend here sent me a parcel from Germany with tracking and 20 days later it arrives in Australia, then 2 days later goes to Peru to be signed for by some chap called Jesus....panic set in and needless to say we both thought WTF....well another 3 days later the parcel arrives with me and now the tracking shows Jesus and I have signed for and received the same parcel....moral of the story always be prepared for the worse, things can happen.
With regards to your current situation, I would pack it up very well, label it clearly to the address to be sent to, ensure a clear contact phone number is under the address. Delcare it as decorative metalware and send through the post with express mail and tracking.
All the best!

Gav

[christek]

Originally Posted by freebooter

I would back it up very well, label it clearly to the address to be sent to, ensure a clear contact phone number is under the address. Delcare it as decorative metalware and send through the post with express mail and tracking.

I hope the seller is as competent as you Gav, but I am having my doubts.

Thanks for the help gentlemen,

The item was purchased from 'that site' and I do not consider leaving unfavourable feedback lightly (especially considering the seller has 100% positive feedback). In saying this, the seller is increasingly frustrating me as contacts regarding my concerns are not at all being answered to date I also payed quite a sum for postage and have my doubts whether the sum was the correct amount for economy shipping. But I know little regarding this and will do some more research. In any case, I appreciate the comments as I now understand it can take much longer than I anticipated.

Kind regards,
Chris

[apolaki]

What do you mean by Declaring it decorative metal ware? is there a form you have to fill out to Declare the contents prior to shipping a sword internationally, and if so where do you obtain the form?

Originally Posted by freebooter

I post items daily and tracking is definately the best option and experience will eventually lead one to a better understanding of how long things take point to point and what services are best bang for buck....interestingly though a good friend here sent me a parcel from Germany with tracking and 20 days later it arrives in Australia, then 2 days later goes to Peru to be signed for by some chap called Jesus....panic set in and needless to say we both thought WTF....well another 3 days later the parcel arrives with me and now the tracking shows Jesus and I have signed for and received the same parcel....moral of the story always be prepared for the worse, things can happen.
With regards to your current situation, I would pack it up very well, label it clearly to the address to be sent to, ensure a clear contact phone number is under the address. Delcare it as decorative metalware and send through the post with express mail and tracking.
All the best!

Gav

[apolaki]

Has anyone ever imported a sword into the Philippines?

I know there is a seller on ebay who sells muslim swords from the Philippines to the US.

So I was thinking I can probably do the same.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by apolaki

Has anyone ever imported a sword into the Philippines?

I know there is a seller on ebay who sells muslim swords from the Philippines to the US.

So I was thinking I can probably do the same.

You'll be fine, I have sent a lot in to the Philippines and others out, just us EMS trackable or similar postal service, no need for Fedex etc.

Where it says description of the article within, label it decorative metalware.

Gav

[thinreadline]

Originally Posted by Amuk Murugul

Hullo Chris,
Economy from Peru to Australia can take over a month before you receive it (usually longer than regular). Even a Registered article from there can take months (defies logic). The delay could be anywhere. (If the item was bought on THAT site, then I'd lodge an unfavourable feedback after four weeks, no buts.)The 'best' way (though still quite unsatisfactory), is to have the article sent by a service that uses tracking. This way, at least you can check whether the item has been posted, left country of origin, in transit, arrived at country of destination, cleared customs etc. Don't be surprised if 'transparency' of the tracking becomes an 'issue' when using a service with 'Track & Trace'.
Best,

Suggesting leaving unfavourable feedback is quite unfair .. if the postal service of Peru is slow, that has nothing to do with the seller ! 'Economy' post normally means surface ie by ship ... that works by filling shipping containers with post from Peru to the country of destination. The container only leaves when full and that can be an awful long time if you are waiting for items from Peru to Australia to accumulate ! Even the UK with its more effective postal service will take 10 - 12 weeks economy to Australia . However surface mail is usually around half the price of normal airmail.

[Amuk Murugul]

Originally Posted by thinreadline

Suggesting leaving unfavourable feedback is quite unfair .. i....

Agreed, but, I have reached my limit of tolerance with non-productive, attempted 'dialogue' with postal agencies, sellers and THAT-site team, on occasions when I have had just grievances over transactions which leave me out-of-pocket with nothing to show for them but philosophical shrugs.
At least with a negative feedback, I get to register my dissatisfaction before the item disappears from the listing. Then in ensuing feedback replies (which is accessible even after the item has disappeared from the listing) I get to point the finger at the appropriate quarter (and apologize to the innocent). This helps people who read feedback scores.
Best,

[DaveA]

I once brought a very nice Austrian saber back from Germany. I had been carrying it around in a "travel" golf club bag during my tour of Europe. The Lufthansa agent at first was adamant that I could not check the bag with the sword, that I would not be admitted into the US. I asked her if it was a Lufthansa rule, or a rule of US Customs. She waffled and said US Customs. So after I told her it was my responsibility and I would handle any issues with US Customs she finally allowed me to check the bag with the sword . (Note: People are waiting in line behind me, and this was taking time.) On arriving at the US, they just waived me on through Customs with only a few questions, none about my golf club bag. I got lucky that time!