Question About Shipping To Germany From The Us

[Jiro49]

Does anyone have a recommendation for shipping companies to use? Ups was only global express and was 300usd, waiting for my DHL quote, does anyone use usps?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Matt

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Matt,

USPS has no problem shipping swords to anywhere they ship anything else.  There are 2 possible snags, however.  Germany may object to swords being imported (don't know if this is the case or not but I mention it) and US Customs may object to the export of animal products that may have originated with endangered species (ivory if present for sure and same' on the tsuka if your inspector wants to raise a fuss).  Otherwise USPS is fine: they will insure swords up to the country of destination limit (I don't think US or Fedex will) and they are less expensive than the alternatives.

Grey

[Teimei]

Hi Matt,

 

USPS is fine. DHL will handle the parcel after it arrives in Germany. Only problem could be double-edged weapons like daggers.

 

 

regards,

[uwe]

Echo that! USPS/DHL works.

But beware of the import sales tax 19%, plus charge...

[Andi B.]

...and it's 19% of the total amount incl. shipping!

(If you can proof, your item is a treasure (papers) you can try to ask for 7%...)

 

But 300 USD is too much for shipping to Germany!

[Surfson]

I have sent a few there, and most recently used UPS.  It was more expensive than the USPS, but they gave frequent tracking updates and it all went very smoothly.  The buyer asked that I declare it as "sword for sport - iaido" with a declared value of $500 and we had no trouble.  

[Darcy]

UPS is great if you want a box of two Tokuju and two Juyo swords stolen because you told the driver it was heavy and valuable so you'd help to carry it down to the van and he decided if it was valuable he might as well drive it to his house and play with the contents until you raise holy hell with UPS and make it clear you're sending the cops and then the box automatically shows up with no waybill, the packing removed, one of the swords damaged at your billing address and not the origin or destination because that was the only thing on the computer associated with your complaint so when the driver got tipped off internally that was the only place they knew to send it since he never scanned it and threw away the waybill.

 

No I'm not still freaking out about it 10 years later.

 

Use USPS.

 

Fedex going internationally now is hit and miss about whether they will take a sword. Because TERRORISM.

[Surfson]

Sounds like you are still traumatized Darcy!   I have two or three USPS traumas, and it seems to be quite a poorly and haphazardly run organization.  I guess no matter who you use, the fingernails will get shorter and shorter until the delivery notification comes.