Today, I went to the post office and asked if it's OK to send knives and jewelry to my country.
At one office, they told me that either are 不可以, but I could at least send jewelry if it was broken (yeah, what use does it have then?). At an another office, they told me that jewelry is OK (so...is it OK or not? I need to know for sure. Can't they provide the same info at any place, for god's sake?), but knives are still forbidden.
I have been thinking about buying a 300-kuai set of Chinese knives: you know, the kitchen ones, the giant ones etc. all packed together with the wooden "box" and send them back home, because you cannot buy such good knives in the Czech Republic. Preferably send them as a Christmas present.
This info kinda ruins my plans though...
Do you know if I can still get the knives (a set, new, packed in a box...or I can make it look used if necessary, I don't care) out of China and don't pay a million for the delivery?
Any help would help! :)
Thank you!
PS: Should I buy Supor or ASD? I need at least one axe-like knife, one heavy but normal-shape kitchen knife and pay 300 at the most. The other knives are not really very necessary, but wouldn't be left unused.
You can buy these things on Amazon UK and get them shipped.
I am sure you can get them on other Amazon sites in Europe.
Not sure what to do about the postage, but you'd be better off buying only the knives you need; for 300kuai you can get 2 or 3 half decent knives, or a box full of crap ones.
Well, yeah, I even thought about buying single knives, but I don't know how to send them anyway...
Does anyone have any experience with the DHL in China?
tigertiger: It's actually even more pain in the ass to import them from the Amazon - not that the Amazon is bad (I really like it) but the Czech customs office is bad: Full of total assholes and plain greedy thieves. It sounds harsh but I guess every single person in my country hates those bastards. But if I sent the knives myself as a "used" gift with a lot lowered price, it should be OK.
Actually, the quality Chinese knives are cheaper on Amazon than they are here. Once you mover away from the basic mild steel with wood handle, the prices get silly in China. The same with saucepans, most of which are made in China.
Regards thieves at customs, would you not have the same problem even importing your 'gift' from China?
How do I actually know which knives are good? I haven't used these good knives, since we don't really have them in my country (they are there, but prices are ridiculous).
It should be OK if I just send it as a used unpacked item and write "moving" or something. They have no proof whatsoever that it really isn't used personal item which is usually not taxed. But, if Amazon sends it as a new item with a receipt, I'm sure to pay +20% VAT including postage cost + perhaps handling charges etc.
