Shipping Swords From The U.k To The U.s. - Success !

[paul griff]

Hello,

This may be of use to anyone in the U.K thinking of posting a sword to the U.S. Recently posted a shingunto with a traditionally made blade dated 1943. Used Parcel Force Global priority 3 day delivery.Parcel weighed 2.25kg in a secure box with a letter attached to the outside with buyers name and address including telephone number,sellers name,address and telephone number,description of sword as collectible and of historical interest ,made before 1954 using traditional methods. Also price paid by buyer and the correct customs tariff number,in this case - 9307.00.00.00 Did not use the word antique ,if you use this word you have limited insurance cover and the conditions of carriage are vague and ambiguous.Insurance for sword of £850 cost an extra £33.30 . Total cost of shipping £91.55 and the sword arrived in 3 days.

Regards,

Paul.

[Kai-Gunto]

Great. But what a price for shipping.

[Adam M]

Great news Paul, thanks for the report.

 

Great. But what a price for shipping.

Total cost of shipping £91.55

[paulb]

Paul.

Delighted that your shipping went well. As I have had no alternative (FeDex still refusing to listen or respond) I have also used Parcelforce to good effect.

one point however not using the term "Antique" can have one of two effects

1. As a non Antique the parcel will attract higher duty charges in most countries (Coming in to the UK antiques are charged at 5%VAT and 0 import duty as opposed to 20% and 12.5% for non antiques)

2. If you insure something and later it is found to have been an antique the insurance is invalidated anyway so you you are just throwning money away.

 

As your sword fell out of the 100 year old definition of antique the argument is not relevent but for anyone trying to ship blades over `100 years old there is an important difference.

[paul griff]

Hello,

Thanks to everyone who replied.Although the mailing system is not straight forward I feel one hurdle has been overcome. The next one will be to work on sending older blades and still being able to insure them for the correct value.

Regards,

Paul.