|
Post by turningpoint on Sept 28, 2020 19:36:53 GMT
Hello Sword-Fiends,
Long time lurker here, thank you all for such a great resource for those just starting out.
I've got a sword coming in from the USA to the UK and need to fill in a product description for the customs declaration.
I thought I saw somewhere that many of you who do post swords internationally use terms such as 'renactment equipemt' or 'martial arts equipment' to make the process smoother. Is that correct or am I over thinking it and should just say 'it's a sword!'.
Obviously UK can be slightly more officious than other places. Anyone had experience and can advise? Anyone had problems of late?
FYI, it's a straight edged jian made in a traditional fashion so won't fall foul of existing UK laws.
Sword review coming once it arrives.
thanks for your help.
|
|
|
Post by RickDastardly on Sept 28, 2020 20:26:15 GMT
Border force takes a dim view (dimmer recently from what I've read) of items not exactly described and that is likely to cause more problems than just being clear. Your sword is completely legal to import so don't try to obfuscate things. Describe it as it is; something like "straight blade hand made sword". From Border Force's point of view, there are many different categories in the import duty (different to VAT) section (which might or might not become appropriate, depending on the value of your sword). The categories are very specific; that's why Border Force tends to get upset about things not described properly.
If the sword is for martial arts use, there might be a "sports equipment" category, which might have a different rate of duty to "swords" for instance. I would make sure to say it's a sword in any case.
|
|
|
Post by turningpoint on Sept 28, 2020 21:08:59 GMT
Thanks Rick. Sound advice, and now I think about it the posts I read from others may have been about smoothing the processes for shipping services rather than customs.
Thanks for for your help.
|
|
|
Post by Siward on Sept 30, 2020 15:46:11 GMT
I’ve imported lots and the description needs to be carefully done.
I’ve always used the following wording :-
“Replica sword for display purposes”
If you just say sword I can tell you from experience that if you’re unlucky you end up fighting a real ding dong, is it an antique, are you importing a weapon, what do you need it for, what are you going to do with it etc......
|
|
pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
|
Post by pgandy on Sept 30, 2020 17:05:54 GMT
Not familiar with UK regs but I can say do not lie. You might get by declaring it under some category, but you are walking on egg shells, be very careful. I imported a tomahawk once by declaring it as a garden maintenance tool and that is what I use it for. I buy repro swords and declare the order “an unsharpened copy of...”. But that doesn’t get me off the hook entirely, sometimes I receive forms to fill out for the government and other times it comes through without a hitch. If I just declare it a “sword” it might be viewed as a weapon and that falls in another category that I have no desire to get into.
|
|
|
Post by RufusScorpius on Sept 30, 2020 17:48:36 GMT
Customs is a funny thing. I had a machine part held up for 10 days while they deliberated over whether or not it was an agricultural product (as in something you can eat- and I promise you that you most definitively cannot eat a 1 meter long hollow tube made from case hardened steel), whereas I had a firearm delivered direct from Ukraine during an embargo in 48 hours with only a 3 minute stop at the customs office.
So yes, always describe the item correctly, but remember the agent reading the label doesn't know complex things like what a jian or messer is. "Replica sword for display purposes" should be more than adequate for 99.999% of customs agents to understand what is in the box. If they check, they will find a sword in the box, just as the paperwork stated. Nothing to see here...move along....
|
|