Shipping policy

Processing Times

• Orders placed on business days before 2:00 PM PST begin processing that same day (excluding holidays and store closures).
• Orders placed after 2:00 PM PST begin processing the next business day (excluding holidays and store closures).
• Orders placed after 2:00 PM PST on Friday begin processing the following Monday (excluding holidays and store closures).

Orders are shipped on business days only, excluding national holidays and other circumstances that cause store closures. Shipping most often occurs on the same day the order is placed; processing may take up to 48 hours depending on when the order was placed. Please note that services are not eligible for free shipping.

Domestic Shipping

All domestic orders are shipped using USPS Priority mail or UPS Ground (though we reserve the right to use other methods with tracking for our free shipping, as may be necessary for heavier items) or whatever shipping method you chose during checkout, unless otherwise noted. If you would prefer to use a different shipping method, please contact us by e-mail at the time of your order. Once the item is in the hands of the carrier, we can not be responsible for any delays in delivery, as the item is no longer in our control. If ordering to a hotel or any temporary address, please confirm with us before placing the order. We may request that you use a shipping service like FedEx to ensure date-specific delivery. We will not accept orders to temporary addresses without prior approval from us. If shipping to a PO Box, please check with us before placing your order. Not all shipping methods allow for shipping to PO Boxes. For orders placed to PO Boxes without prior approval, the order may be canceled or an alternative shipping method may be picked at our discretion.

In the case of shipping delays or issues, we ask that you contact us as soon as possible so that we can begin our investigation process.  For shipping delays or seeminly misplaced or lost packages, our investigation process may take up to 4 weeks to complete, though it is often faster.  We will not process refunds or replacements until the investigation process is completed.  Most investigations take no more than one week, though some may take longer.

International Shipping & Customs

International customers may order online using our online system. International shipping charges will apply. Feel free to contact us for an International Shipping Estimate prior to placing an order with us.

By placing an order for items to be shipped internationally, you are accepting our International Shipping Estimate as the official shipping cost. All shipping fees must be collected prior to the item(s) shipping. Customers placing orders to be shipped internationally take all responsibility for any customs and/or duties associated with their shipment.

Due to differences in shipping regulations, methods, and other factors, we cannot be held responsible for the safety of international packages. By placing an order to be shipped internationally, you, the customer, take full responsibility for your shipment and its contents (loss, damage, theft, etc.). We ship most international orders via DHL.

In some cases, there may be delays with international shipments due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.  In these cases, we ask that you give us 30 days to work with the various involved postal companies.  We have a great success rate for retrieving packages.

In the case of international returns, due to the significantly higher cost of shipping, the customer will be responsible for the cost of return shipping, as well as the initial cost of shipping to the customer.  We may, at our discretion, make exceptions for this in the case of manufacture defects. 

For customers using forwarding services, we can not accept liability beyond confirming (using tracking with the carrier) delivery to the forwarding service.

If you wish a product to be shipped to an address outside the United States, you are responsible for all customs fees and taxes.

Damaged Shipments & Delivery Issues

If your order arrives and you are unhappy or there is a problem, please notify us within 48 hours of receipt of shipment.  You can contact us via e-mail at Hello@JapaneseKnifeImports.com or by phone at 310-399-0300.  Please make sure to include your name, phone number, e-mail address, order number, and any other pertinent information when you contact us. Japanese Knife Imports, Inc. cannot be responsible for claims made after 48 hours. For breakage resulting from carrier transit, please keep the entirety of original item(s) as well as all packaging and packing materials for inspection by the carrier.  We can not be responsible for damage due to misuse, improper care, poor technique, mistakes in use or sharpening, or any other type of damage resulting from user error.