Knife Ban - Switzerland???

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Dave Martell

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Hi folks,
I've got a situation come up that I hope someone here can help with.

As many of you know I'm working with Stefan Keller's estate executor Diane. She just contacted me to tell me that a knife she shipped over to Switzerland had been returned to her labeled as "Rejected by Airlines, Return to Sender, Knife".

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Strangely the online tracking shows that the box sat in Zurich for 6 days before being returned yet there's no markings (on the box) to state that it's been outside the US.

Diane plans to take this to the post office on Friday to try to figure this out but in the meantime I'm wondering about another (knife) package that I sent to the same individual (just a couple of days ago) and how it's going to fair. My tracking shows that it's left NYC and is en route.

PS - I did a quick internet search for Switzerland knife import bans and can't find anything other than the standard stuff. See Weapons
 
Isn’t @RockyBasel located there?

yes, I am indeed in Basel, Switzerland and am happily receiving knives from all over the world - too many infact - to my wife’s horror

I can confirm that there are no restrictions in receiving knives in Switzerland - I am getting them from Japan, Denmark, Sweden, US, Australia, and France
 
The contents were labeled as "kitchen utensil" and it hasn't been opened so we're guessing that maybe an x-ray machine was used?

Thanks for the input guys!
 
So a 2nd package to the same person in Switzerland was turned away for the same reasons as above. Someone in Jamaica NY doesn't approve of shipping kitchen knives to Switzerland. 😟
 
did you check with USPS? To me it seems they messed up checking on behalf of 'the airline' and someone in a cubicle needs to get some additional 'on the job training' Probably requires someone other than a desk clerk to find out, do you have a business account with them (that should get you access to someone one level up).
 
An exact description of goods, uses and materials such as wood, horn or even steel is certainly helpful! Also a correct customs tariff number and a precise indication of value make the import into Switzerland much easier! There must be an official invoice and the address of the sender and recipient!
 
yes, I am indeed in Basel, Switzerland and am happily receiving knives from all over the world - too many infact - to my wife’s horror

I can confirm that there are no restrictions in receiving knives in Switzerland - I am getting them from Japan, Denmark, Sweden, US, Australia, and France

I can confirm what Rocky confirms ... to the horror of innocent people passing us at the Basel Zoo Parking lot.

#swisskkfminigathering
 
An exact description of goods, uses and materials such as wood, horn or even steel is certainly helpful! Also a correct customs tariff number and a precise indication of value make the import into Switzerland much easier! There must be an official invoice and the address of the sender and recipient!

yep! If customs form is not filled out correctly, that could cause trouble.

Often it’s also necessary to have them attached to the outside of the box in a see through envelope.
 
So a 2nd package to the same person in Switzerland was turned away for the same reasons as above. Someone in Jamaica NY doesn't approve of shipping kitchen knives to Switzerland. 😟
Well, there you go. NYC is a “feelings over facts” hub. Probably some schmuck bitched to a supervisor about mailing ‘weapons’ and rather than start a union issue they just acquiesced.
 
Well, there you go. NYC is a “feelings over facts” hub. Probably some schmuck bitched to a supervisor about mailing ‘weapons’ and rather than start a union issue they just acquiesced.
I just got my MTC kitchen knife and also stuff from CKC - so I don’t think it’s a US issue

You do have to include the invoice, description of the item “kitchen knife” as gift, etc

I get knives from the US and all over the world in Switzerland without problems

At most I pay some minimal duties
 
Yes there are some loopholes...or tired customs officers...wait what!?
 
Yesterday I drove 40 mins (one way) to the nearest DHL shipping location to see what it costs to ship this package to Switzerland. I was quoted $206! o_O
 
You could not just look it up online? I ship via UPS 2 day delivery to west coast and east coast from Switzerland and to the US it’s typically 95-110 for 1 knife - and UpS picks from home and all duties and things are handled online
 
You could not just look it up online? I ship via UPS 2 day delivery to west coast and east coast from Switzerland and to the US it’s typically 95-110 for 1 knife - and UpS picks from home and all duties and things are handled online


DHL has an online thing but the store I had to go to doesn't have a way to look up pricing. I'm very back woods here. UPS won't pick up here unless I pay $15 for the pleasure.
 
DHL has an online thing but the store I had to go to doesn't have a way to look up pricing. I'm very back woods here. UPS won't pick up here unless I pay $15 for the pleasure.

Yup - I kinda figured that would be likely. 200 is highway robbery
 
Yesterday I drove 40 mins (one way) to the nearest DHL shipping location to see what it costs to ship this package to Switzerland. I was quoted $206! o_O

Sadly no surprise here. To get to normal prices you need a business account of some sort with them. I once payed 180€ to FedEx a knife to Australia. These companies basically don’t want to deal with private customers, it does not fit their business model
 
Sadly no surprise here. To get to normal prices you need a business account of some sort with them. I once payed 180€ to FedEx a knife to Australia. These companies basically don’t want to deal with private customers, it does not fit their business model


Ahhh, that explains it.
 
Here's the workaround... Send the knife to someone on the West Coast. Have them send it to Switzerland. It'll be sent through a different airport than the one that keeps kicking back your packages (JFK?).
I'm actually partly serious...
 
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