Thread: US Customs vs Straight Razors

Hello, guys!

I've got a winning bid from USA on my Wade & Butcher last night. This morning I woke up, coffee+toiletry, then on my merry way to ship it. Had the razor thoroughly inspected by the customs guy, who advised me against sending it. He was trying to save me the money, because apparently US high level security alert will have that package bounced back. I was told that last week they returned to sender a drafting compass (sharp steel point)!
As an Ebay seller I cannot do that, although customs regulation from buyer's country are not my responsibility. My duty is to send it as advertised, which I did.

Now, has anyone tried that recently and failed? Has any US citizen bought a str8 from overseas without a problem? I'm asking just to know what to expect. My customs guy said I might get lucky, but that he doubted it. I said I had three razors shipped in from US and Canada in the past two weeks. He said they let almost anything out, but they don't leave anything IN.

If all goes south, I will issue a refund, but that means I'm stuck with the razor perhaps forever, this and any other I might have planned on selling via Ebay to the US - which is the biggest market for this.

I don't know what country you are in but when it comes to Customs U.S Customs is one of the most mild mannered outfits out there as compared to places like Canada and the UK which scrutinize everything and use Customs Duties as a mainstay for their economies. You shouldn't be having any problems shipping a razor as long as the paper work is properly completed and there are no issues with exotic materials in the scales.. That guy gave you bum dope.

I shipped two razors from the USA to Germany via USPS priority mail and it took 42 days. These were high dollar customs and I was on pins and needles until I got the good news that they finally arrived. I don't know about stuff coming into the USA from across the pond though. I find it hard to believe that an old straight razor wouldn't get through with no problem. Just might take longer than in the past. BTW, I never list "razor" on the customs form. Always "barber's tools" or shaving supplies.

This probably has to do with the heightened alert after Bin Laden getting hit.

Sure, some of those terrorists are threatening to shave!

I never had problems with razors coming from abroad, or knives or any other merchandise.

Originally Posted by jcsixx

This probably has to do with the heightened alert after Bin Laden getting hit.

Actually my package mentioned above was mailed shortly after the terrorist's attempt to bomb planes with toner cartridges packed with explosives. I heard a rumor that the postal service had started shipping stuff by sea but i don't know if there is anything to that. Certainly took long enough.

I just received a straight razor from Europe last Saturday; it was in transit for about a week

We ship quite a few razors to USA and Canada, never had a problem yet but we always list contents as 'shaving items' - stating 'cut throat razor' might just set the alarm bells ringing though why I don't know - they ship plenty of cook's knives and what do the slasher film baddies always use? Yep, the good old 14 inch Sabatier......

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Actually my package mentioned above was mailed shortly after the terrorist's attempt to bomb planes with toner cartridges packed with explosives. I heard a rumor that the postal service had started shipping stuff by sea but i don't know if there is anything to that. Certainly took long enough.

Actually I think you are partially right. IIRC, packages leaving the US over a certain amount of ounces is whipped via water versus air. I shipped a TOS stone to South Africa not too long ago and it took almost a month & I too was on pins & needles.