International Shipping Woes Doubling Down...

Does the air carrier get any problems if a shipped sword stucks in customs after shipping?

Because i work for one of the biggest carrier companies and also have to deal with/reject prohibited goods,
i can only guess - every carrier/airline has its own rules/restrictions
and im not sure if people really read the restrictions completely.

For example DHL, weapons - swords are clearly prohibited worldwide and will not be transported.
Will swords be rejected because of that ? - No, never noticed that.
It also depends on the people, some persons are very strict and will reject almost everything.
So dont be surprised if bs like that happens.

Rules for prohibited can also change more than once in a year
and the customer needs to check everytime if something has changed.

But eventually every shipment that is transported means money,
so its more likely to get a "ok"

The situation I've found here in Australia recently, is that every courier I've contacted now claims that Swords are not able to be handled (DHL using that term 'prohibited' - prohibited by them that is.
Some staff (Toll) even checked it out before kneejerking NO, but to the same ends.
This includes FedEx, TNT, DHL, TOLL, and whoever else I could find.

I phoned UPS who's call centre is in the US (There is a UPS depot in my state), as you say they will handle them - from the US only. They will not however accept swords to ship from Australia.

However Australia Post in all their documentation offers only guidelines for packaging sharp items.  They can even move firearms. And states that you need to make sure your shipment be legal at your destination - they have a tool where you can search your destination country. Packaging and length requirements are the main considerations - they state length maximum at 105cm but I've often sent up to 115cm with no issue.
Also they have an an upper limit of $5000 AUD extra cover (insurance). Also you need an Export Declaration clearance number from customs if it's worth more than $2000 AUD. 

So my option is only really Australia Post, not that I mind. I like to support the local family that runs the post office. and I've never had any issues shipping with them. 
I've found a logistics company that can offer insurance on shipments of any value. And they can get the Export Declaration Number when needed; which the Australian Border Force has made impossible for lay folk to acquire via their malfunctioning website.  

On the situation of shipping into Europe. I've lately shipped two swords to Switzerland (separately) via Australia Post, with no issue at EU customs. They simply need an invoice so they can charge their levies and they're cool.  The issues are clearly further up the line with the carriers. 

Thanks Paul (admin), lets hope you can find some reason in this - though we all know how these big companies have no accountability.
I like your recent post about "Are Swords Weapons?"!

Little updates/info: sword ordered before our cats misery arrived in Frankfurt today coming from the USA via USPS. Started last saturday. The usual transfer time, labeled as a "replica sword" or so. Sold VA Bristol to USA went smooth but slow (usual thing with DHL) and arrived at december 11th (labeled as "replica sword" as well).

Just for common interest; this is from a email conversation with Ryansword some two weeks ago:

"We can't ship swords to Germany now, shipping swords to most of European countries are frozen because Shanghai customs doesn't allow swords pass, maybe shipping can be resumed in February. We'll contact you when shipping is resumed."

"No FedEx, no UPS?"

"No FedEX, no UPS. Shanghai customs doesn't allow swords pass."

:-(

Some recent Chinese goods have gone to the USA through Seoul via Korean Air and as USPS parcels.

Thanks for letting me know it also affects EU. Kinda make me less lonely in such an ordeal, heh?

Lost 2 longship swords to USPS. :(

Oh, man.
That is horrible. Really really horrible.
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