What restrictions apply to sending MultiTools to various countries ?

[gregozedobe]

I'm looking at selling pretty well all of my extensive MT collection (over time, I expect it will take a long time to find the right buyers), but I want to avoid attempting to sell to buyers in countries that have restrictions on importing/postage MTs with knife blades. 
I can imagine delays, returns or even (worst case) confiscations if a country has particular rules/restrictions on importing tools that contain knives (all my MTs have at least one blade, some have two).

I figured we have lots of members from many different countries here, so please tell me: 
Which countries do I need to avoid selling to, and which ones are reasonably safe to send MTs to ?

[Farmer X]

Shipping costs possibly excepted, multis can be sent to the States with no issues whatsoever. I've never heard of them being confiscated by our customs folks, let alone had that happen to me. On the other hand, the recent rash of problems with sending sharps to the UK have been well-documented hereabouts.

[gregozedobe]

Shipping costs possibly excepted, multis can be sent to the States with no issues whatsoever. I've never heard of them being confiscated by our customs folks, let alone had that happen to me. On the other hand, the recent rash of problems with sending sharps to the UK have been well-documented hereabouts.

Thanks for that info.
Unfortunately shipping costs for international postage going out of Australia are just crazy high, so much so that it no longer makes economic sense for me to post "less expensive" MTs overseas.
I've been able to have MTs delivered to Italy and the Netherlands recently, but it seems UK postage might be a problem.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Shipping to Canada shouldn't be a significant problem.  Multitools (most of the time) aren't seen as weapons like they can be in other places, so Canada Customs doesn't usually pay much attention to them.  The only real drawback is they seem to randomly select different packages and add import taxes to them, and there's no rhyme or reason to when (or if) they decide to do it.  I'd say it's not even 1 in 10, but still something you should be aware of.

Unless it comes by courier, in which case the courier company will charge a brokerage fee, just in case there are taxes.  This is usually about $40 CAD, but will apply on all FedEx, DHL or UPS packages, so my suggestion is to use the postal service and take the chance there.

Also, the tax is based on the declared amount of the package, so don't over inflate the prices- devalue them instead.  If it's an expensive tool, spend the extra dollar and get insurance on the full value, but declare it as being worth $25.  If it goes missing, you are eligible for what it's insured for, not what it's declared for, but that goes for shipping pretty well anywhere.

I hope this helps!

Def

[Farmer X]

Def brought up another good point: I have never had to pay any sort of import tax. I'm not sure if everything I've had mailed from overseas was under the limit or the U.S. government just doesn't care.

As for shipping the lower value stuff, would you be open to selling your stuff in lots/bundles/what-have-you? That may well help offset the shipping costs. For example, I believe USPS charges the same to ship a package weighing two pounds as they do a package weighing eight ounces. (The cost increases pretty significantly if the package is over two pounds.)

Regardless, I may be interested in a purchase when you decide it's time to let go.

[gregozedobe]

Shipping to Canada shouldn't be a significant problem.  Multitools (most of the time) aren't seen as weapons like they can be in other places, so Canada Customs doesn't usually pay much attention to them.  The only real drawback is they seem to randomly select different packages and add import taxes to them, and there's no rhyme or reason to when (or if) they decide to do it.  I'd say it's not even 1 in 10, but still something you should be aware of.

Unless it comes by courier, in which case the courier company will charge a brokerage fee, just in case there are taxes.  This is usually about $40 CAD, but will apply on all FedEx, DHL or UPS packages, so my suggestion is to use the postal service and take the chance there.

Also, the tax is based on the declared amount of the package, so don't over inflate the prices- devalue them instead.  If it's an expensive tool, spend the extra dollar and get insurance on the full value, but declare it as being worth $25.  If it goes missing, you are eligible for what it's insured for, not what it's declared for, but that goes for shipping pretty well anywhere.

I hope this helps!

Def

Thanks Def,

So it seems US and Canada are both relatively safe countries to send MTs to, good to know.

Unfortunately I see a serious problem in declaring a lower value than I am insuring the package for, as both Au$ amounts go on the same CN22 customs form that I have to fill in before sending a package overseas, so it would be blatantly obvious that I am lying about the declared value and that is almost certainly going to attract unwanted attention from customs in the receiving country.  The only way I would be comfortable doing that (understating value) is if the buyer is prepared to accept all the risk of losing money if the package goes missing while in transit (but this seems much less likely to happen for insured packages in my experience).

Insurance is a significant part of the postage cost for packages going overseas from Australia,

Take care,
Greg C

[SurgeUk]

Shipping costs possibly excepted, multis can be sent to the States with no issues whatsoever. I've never heard of them being confiscated by our customs folks, let alone had that happen to me. On the other hand, the recent rash of problems with sending sharps to the UK have been well-documented hereabouts.

  The Royal Mail (RM) has introduced a policy of not delivering pointy stuff. It's not a legal issue, just policy. There are a few exceptions but the interpretation of the new rules is, at best, inconsistent 

To that end, rather than risk confiscation/destruction etc, I got Mrs Surge to send a package to the US from Italy when visiting family (it got there) 

Retail/commercial is not an issue as you can still buy from UK based suppliers but they seem to be using UPS/DHL etc and not RM (I've not needed to test International yet) Likewise, domestic UK private sales "should" be ok but again, I've not tested that yet as a sender.

My next GAW will be non-pointy stuff or a gift voucher type thing