Advice from Irish Members?

[Myron]

Hey All,

I live in the US and my wife is in Ireland for the semester.   In anticipation of visiting her, I sent her a SAK a couple months before my visit.  I don't like checking a bag for that kind of travel, hence I thought I'd mail myself a SAK well in advance of my visit. 

Unfortunately, the package disappeared into no man's land.  When I checked the tracking/customs number, it seemed like it was stuck in Dublin awaiting payment of a customs duty.  That was fine, but my wife was never informed via post card or other notification that she needed to pay a duty.  The package was marked as a gift with a declared value of $20 USD (it was just a Pioneer).   

I eventually gave up and figured it was just lost.  But then today it showed back up on my front porch, returned to sender and marked "rejected/failed electronic customs clearance."

My customs declaration was perfectly honest: "Folding pocket knife, <3" and it was marked as a gift.   What did I do wrong?

[Don Pablo]

That is strange indeed.
Also, feckers 


An Post's sending guide recommends using USPS "Click 'n Ship" to generate your customs label. Did you use that last time? Maybe they just didn't like your label. 

Perhaps change the declaration from folding pocket knife to camping tool or similar, but I don't think that was the problem judging by the problem description. Still good to eliminate all potential variables though.
If it was done correctly it ought to breeze right through, gift limit is $40 and under. (shipping is included in that figure!)

[Myron]

Thanks Don Pablo.  I had it marked as a gift worth $20 and used Click-n-ship labeling.  Postage was $31, so maybe the total value tripped it up.  I'm just happy to have gotten it back after having written it off as lost forever.   

[Don Pablo]

Yikes, a total of $51? That would have gotten it caught, yes. 
Glad you got it back.

[Farmer X]

That's odd. I know the word "knife" will cause a ton of headaches when sending to the UK, but I don't know about the part of Ireland that follows EU protocol.

For whatever it's worth, I recently sent a package to Ireland containing a Leatherman ST300 and a Case Sod Buster Jr. They were marked "pliers" and "hand tool," respectively, on the customs form. I used the carbon paper form provided at a USPS retail location. The form was not marked as a gift. It was looking like they'd be returned to me, but the recipient got ahold of An Post, and he has reported that it was delivered after all.

[LeDe]

Hello,

I have to ask. Have you considered buying a new one there?
Surely $51 would get you a nice model (maybe not Alox though).

Best,

[Myron]

Of course, and this is exactly what I ended up doing.  My plan was to leave the SAK with my wife for the duration of her stay there, which would be useful for her and add to the story of the particular knife I had in mind.  What can I say -- a bit eccentric for sure and it was just kind of a fun project that didn't turn out as planned. 

[LeDe]

I understand. I personally stay away as much as possible to sending stuffs abroad, even more since Brexit.
I like to use the cost of posting as an excuse to get something new, a new SAK by example.

Which model did you end up getting?

[dks]

Based on my EU experience, since the customs system has some standardisation, the rejection was probably because the customs fee was not paid. Usually you have to pay the import tax and a service fee, about 5 euro, online. The knife description does not matter, as I have on several occasions gotten knives from dealers in the US and the UK, and China with no issue.

Generally they contact you by email, if you already have an account with customs, or by text.

Still, for $51 total you might as well have bought a new knife in Ireland.

[pfrsantos]

Hello,

I have to ask. Have you considered buying a new one there?
Surely $51 would get you a nice model (maybe not Alox though).

Best,

+1

 

[Myron]

Yes, as I explained the first time this was pointed out:

Of course, and this is exactly what I ended up doing.  My plan was to leave the SAK with my wife for the duration of her stay there, which would be useful for her and add to the story of the particular knife I had in mind.  What can I say -- a bit eccentric for sure and it was just kind of a fun project that didn't turn out as planned. 

I ended up getting a new Pioneer.

[Rizio Il Ghiro]

Sorry to read about this, Myron - postal services can be weird at times, especially when it’s a knife, despite it being legal….. The one you sent me got opened and inspected - never had that happen before…..