Sending Nihonto to Japan

[Bushido01]

Hi all,

I need to send a sword back to Japan from USA. What is the best express service to use? The USPS international Express maxium insurance coverage is $5,000, I need more than that. The Fedex online does not accept the sword going to Japan. All recommendations are highly appreciated.

Best,

Rod F.

[ironchef.]

To insure up to $25,000 US, you would need to send it Registered Mail. The draw back is that it is painfully slow. The positive is that each stop it makes, it has to be signed for. So the carrier who has it signs for it, brings it to a depot and places it under lock and key at the depot. The next carrier to take it has to sign for it and anywhere it goes. Less of a chance for it to get lost and I guess to some degree, they can verify the info should any problems arise.

 

Keep in mind the customs issues as well.

[Grey Doffin]

Sorry, the limit for insurance to Japan, for any mail service with the USPS, is $5,000. If more than that is required you might be able to purchase it with a private insurance company. Collectibles Insurance Agency in Westminster, MD, 888-837-9537, was recommended in an earlier posting on this board. I've had no experience with them.

Grey

[Ed]

Hey Rod,

You are correct, USPS only insures up to $5000 USD for international shipments.

Also, they do not offer registered mail service internationally.

 

Fed-ex will not insure international shipments for over $500 USD.

 

UPS is your only option.

They will insure your sword for up to $50,000 USD.

See Link below, click on "calculate time and cost".

 

However, please note if you tell them it is a sword or weapon, they will not accept it.

 

I always use the terms "Antique Japanese Art", "Antique Japanese artifact" or "Antique Nihonto". When the counter attendant asks, "what is that" or "can you be more specific", my answer is "It is a style of Japanese Art Work".

 

PS: How did the demo go ?

 

http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/index.jsx

[Grey Doffin]

If you had to make a claim for loss or damage with UPS, could they not say, "You didn't tell us this was a sword. We don't insure swords so we don't owe you a cent."?

I'd rather not find out the hard way that I'm not covered. If you want to be insured, rather than shucking and jiving with the people at UPS, I think you should purchase insurance that you know will cover you.

Grey

[Brian]

I am not sure how much insurance you can purchase with it..but Global Priority Express mail (known as EMS) is very fast and efficient. Takes about 5 days to get there, can be tracked, and is insured.

I get my items from Japan and the USA via EMS. Have had items arrive in 4 days which is fast for USPS!

As I said..just not sure about the insurance limit, but as Grey suggested..a private insurance policy covering it would be best. I am also hesitant to go around the "weapons" description as I am pretty sure they will ask for a valuation if it is lost, and will see that it was a sword.

 

Brian

[Ed]

I resent the "shuck and Jive" slur, as it is indicative of something dishonest.

 

Using the terms "Antique Japanese Art", "Antique Japanese artifact" or "Antique Nihonto" is not dishonest. These terms are commonly accepted within the world of Art and Nihonto.

 

It is comments such as these which have led so many to no longer participate here.

 

Brian,

EMS is USPS Global Priority.

 

Rod,

 

I agree that your best bet for insurance is a private source. I have had no dealings with the company mentioned in the other post. Your homeowners insurance company may offer a "rider" for specialty items.

 

If your item is lost in transit with any of the major shippers, you bear the burden of proof in regards to collecting any insurance claim. I'm betting they will "shuck and Jive" when it comes to paying you.

 

I feel that the problem is related to UPS store employees who are not knowledgable in regards to the policies.

 

Here is the policy taken from the UPS web site, perhaps you can use it for your benefit.

 

The following articles are not accepted for transportation by UPS to countries outside the United States:

 

* Animal products, nondomesticated

* Cash

* Corpses

* Firearms

* Furs

* Human Remains

* Industrial Diamonds

* Ivory

* Letters of Credit Shipments

* Live Animals

* Pornographic Materials

* Precious Stones

* Postage Stamps

 

It is the shipper’s responsibility to comply with current government regulations or laws applicable in each country.

 

You don't see swords or antiques included. Antique Nihonto or swords should be covered as well as accepted for shipment, according to this policy.

 

If you tell them it is a sword or weapon, they won't accept it. At least not in every instance I am aware of or have been involved in.

 

UPS ships edged weapons all of the time. I sell a few of the Paul Chen training swords, which are nothing more than weapons as they hold no artistic value. CAS Iberia ships them all (thousands) through UPS. After trying the honest "antique sword" approach and being denied, I took an unopened UPS box of PC swords to the local UPS store and had the owner open it. He was lost for words.

 

Bottom Line: Make your own decisions. Good luck.

[Bungo]

why not label them........... " Nihonto "

and if pressed for further info, tell them Nihonto is a Japanese art object and leave it at that .

 

Milt O

[Grey Doffin]

What I meant by 'shucking and jiving' was trying to get around a UPS policy by telling them less that the whole truth about what is being shipped. I was not implying that to do so would be dishonest; I was implying that to do so would be foolhardy. If someone wants his sword insured, no questions asked in case of a claim, he needs to tell the insurer exactly what is being insured.

Sorry if someone took offence; no offence was intended.

Grey

[Brian]

I understand what Grey is saying, and I don't see any slur in it.

We could say sword..and they would deny it. So we label it Nihonto or Japanese Art object or something else. Not dishonest or anything to feel bad about..but it is dancing around the simple description? Shuck and Jive - "Not the whole truth; or manipulating something to get it your way" We all do it, no?

But what he was saying is that if it goes missing, then you are going to have to put in a claim...and you are going to have to say it is a sword.

And if you look at the USA to Japan restrictions on the UPS website..it says clearly: (UPS Country Restrictions)

In addition to the commodities which UPS prohibits to all countries served (listed here), it is prohibited to ship the following commodities to Japan...

Antiques

Antiques are prohibited.

Knives

Only kitchen knives (no length limit) are acceptable. Flick knives, blades, and swords over 15 cm (6 in.) are prohibited

 

So you are going to have a real problem with your claim if someone feels like getting clever.

 

They might ship these items often, but when someone has a claim for a significant amount of money, you can bet these fine print restrictions are going to suddenly appear.

 

Ed..I don't think anyone was trying to criticise you. Just trying to make life easier and warn about things that can make these situations a hassle. We all use UPS and USPS..and hopefully none of us will have any problems ever, but it is good to be forewarned just in case.

 

Regards,

Brian

 

PS - EMS is not the normal Global Priority mail is it? It is an added and extra service that falls under GP, but is an extra service?

[Bushido01]

Thank you all for your recommendations. I called my insurance agent and she said under my fine arts coverage that I have in my hoemowners policy my swords are covered worldwide up to $50,000. So, I sent it today by USPS (EMS) and insured it for their maximum coverage of $5,000 as well. Total cost including insurance $101.

Best,

[Ed]

Rod, I suspected your homeowners would cover it. Glad it worked out.

 

Brian, I was told when inquiring about EMS at the USPS that once GP left the US, it was EMS. But, I have been given incorrect info there, so I wouldn't swear to it. Also, I had not seen the other restrictions you listed, good to know.

 

Grey, No offense taken. I do understand your point.

[Guido]

Using a private carrier to send swords to Japan is definately *not* a good idea; see article # 4 at Bob Benson's website http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/articles.htm which I wrote some time ago.