Frequently Asked Questions
We gathered most frequently asked questions from our customers about Japanese kitchen knives, their maintenance, as well as our shipping and refunds policy, etc.
Shipping & Delivery
Yes, we ship worldwide! We ship with DHL Express to deliver to more than 220 countries and territories around our beautiful world 🌎. When we dispatch your order, you receive an email with the tracking number.
We will ship your order within 1 business day (exceptions apply for customizations, eg. custom-built knives, engravings).
See our Shipping page for more details.
We charge a flat rate of €10 for express worldwide shipping with DHL Express. We offer FREE shipping on all orders over €300.
Exceptions:
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom - shipping to UK costs 15€. All orders are shipped with DHL Express (2-3 business days). Shipping to UK costs more in order to comply with the Offensive Weapons Act 2019 which states that any order containing a blade needs to be signed by an adult (over 18 years old) at delivery. Free shipping on orders over 300€.
- 🇷🇺 Russia - DHL can only deliver to business addresses (currently not available). We can ship to private, residential addresses via EMS postal service where the shipping cost is €40 (or more, depending on the weight). We do not offer free shipping to Russia.
- 🇮🇱 Israel - due to the current conflict with Palestine, DHL charges an additional fee for "risk territories", therefore we have to charge 40€ for all orders shipped to Israel. Free shipping does not apply, but we offer a reduced shipping rate of 20€ for all orders over 300€.
- 🇱🇧 Lebanon - DHL charges an additional fee for shipments to Lebanon, therefore we have to charge 40€ for shipping. Free shipping does not apply, but we offer a reduced shipping rate of 20€ for all orders over 300€.
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine - DHL charges an additional fee for shipments to Ukraine, therefore we have to charge 40€ for shipping. Free shipping does not apply, but we offer a reduced shipping rate of 20€ for all orders over 300€.
See our Shipping page for more details.
No! We want to make your shopping experience as smooth as possible, so we take care of any taxes and duties for you. All our prices are final. The price you see at checkout is the final price, no hidden costs.
We ship all orders DDP (duties & taxes paid). This means you will not be charged for any import fees and taxes (including VAT).
Due to local import legislations, exceptions apply for shipments to Turkey (for orders over 30€), Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. We will contact you once you place the order and offer an alternative solution
Our office and warehouse are based in Europe, so we ship all orders from Europe with DHL Express. We dispatch orders within 1 business day.
Delivery times:
- Europe: 1-2 business days
- US & Canada: 2-4 business days
- Rest of World: 3-5 business days
Most definitely. Once we dispatch your order, you will receive an email with the DHL Express tracking number.
Payments
We support:
- Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX)
- PayPal
- Apple/Google Pay
- Klarna (Pay later, Slice it)
- Bank transfer
- Local EU payment options (Sofort, Ideal, Giropay, Eps, Cartes bancaires, Bancontact)
You bet! It can be difficult to choose the right knife for your loved one. Get them a gift card so they can choose it themselves: Purchase Gift Card.
Occasionally we issue promo codes. If you happen to have one, you can enter it at checkout.
Mobile: In the checkout, tap on "Show order summary". A box appears where you can enter your promo code (or gift card).
Desktop: In the checkout, find the box on the right side, just below the product summary.
We display prices in many local currencies. But since we are based in Europe, your order will be charged in EUR.
Prices in other currencies are for your reference only. Small deviations of the exchange rate can occur (depending on the exchange rate of your bank).
Returns & cancellations
We know, it can be difficult buying stuff online, especially a kitchen knife. It's much nicer to have the knife in front of you, so you can experience it properly.
This is why you have 30 days from the day you have received your order to return it. To be eligible for a return, products must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
❗️ We will refund you the total amount minus the return shipping cost (€10 if you use our return service).
See our Returns policy for details, but please contact us before you would like to return your ordered items (support@sharpedgeshop.com).
In case of defective products, we will refund you the full amount, including shipping fees, and organize a return shipping back to us.
In case the knife (or any other product) doesn't fit well into your hands, you don't like the color, feel, the looks, you name it, you can replace it within 30 days after you received it.
To be eligible for a replacement, product must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
See next FAQ question for replacement procedure.👇
We are here to help you organize a return shipment so you have as little work as possible. We have negotiated rates with DHL Express, so it is probably also the cheapest option for you. Return shipping costs €10 (free if you received a damaged product or if we shipped the wrong item).
Returns/replacement procedure:
1. Email us at support@sharpedgeshop.com and let us know which items would you like to return/replace.
2. We will reply with return instructions and a prepaid return shipping label.
3. Print it out and select the date/time for DHL courier pickup (or select a drop-off point).
4. Once we receive your returned items (usually within 2-5 business days, depending on your location), we will inspect them. If everything looks good, we will issue a refund (minus the return shipping costs - €10) or send a replacement.
Yikes, we are so sorry! 😢
While we carefully inspect every product before shipping, we are only humans and we sometimes make mistakes. It can also happen the product got damaged during shipping, it's difficult to say.
But no worries, we have your back. We will organize a return/replacement free of charge.
What to do if you receive a damaged product?
1. Take a photo/video and email it to support@sharpedgeshop.com.
2. We will reply with (a) an apology, (b) a prepaid shipping label and (c) return instructions.
3. Print out the return label and select the date/time for DHL courier pickup (or select a drop-off point).
4. When we receive the damaged item (usually within 2-5 business days, depending on your location), we will either issue a FULL refund (shipping costs too) or send you a replacement.
Stuff happens, and sometimes we change our minds. If you want to cancel your order, contact us immediately at fulfillment@sharpedgeshop.com!
If we haven't shipped your order yet (usually within 1 business day), we will cancel your order and issue a full refund.
If we already shipped your order, we will contact DHL to return the order back to us, but we will have to deduct €10 from your refund for the return shipping cost. For more details read our Returns policy.
Knife-related
Let us help you find the best knife for you! Take our short quiz to find the right knife according to your cooking preferences.
If you like to get an in-depth understanding of different types of kitchen knives, then dig into our guide on How to Choose a Kitchen Knife.
You can always contact us and we'll be happy to help you find the right knife for you!
Short answer? It depends! We bet you didn't like this answer. 😅
But let us explain as it is not so straightforward. First of all, any knife will need to be sharpened at some point. If someone claims their knives don't need to be sharpened, they are charlatans and you need to run away.
There are so many variables that impact the sharpness of the knife, so it really depends. Japanese knives are known for their superior and long-lasting sharpness. This is due to the quality and hardness of the steel they use. You can expect sharpness to last 3-4x longer compared to lower quality knives from steels below 58 HRC. The higher the HRC number, the longer will the knife stay sharp.
So one is steel. The other important factor is you. How you take care of your knife, how good is your cutting technique, which ingredients you cut most often, what kind of cutting board you use (should be end-grain or plastic), where you store the knife - all these things matter. Proper knife maintenance is so important to keep the knife sharp as long as possible.
More readings:
- Why Do Knives Need Sharpening?
- Steel: The Heart of Japanese Knives
- Guide: Maintenance of Kitchen Knives
- HRC Hardness Scale
Japanese knives should be sharpened on sharpening stones (also called whetstones). Sharpening a blade on a stone is the most efficient way to get the best sharpness out of your knife. Read more about sharpening stones to find the right one for your knife. Any knife, Japanese or not, can be sharpened on sharpening stones.
If you would like to learn to sharpen a knife, watch our step-by-step Knife Sharpening Video Guide.
We can sharpen any knife for you, Japanese or not. Shipping knives for sharpening is easy, we arrange everything for you. It takes 4-6 business days to get the knives back with a fresh edge.
*Europe-only service.
Since we are based in Europe, we offer knife sharpening service only within the EU. Shipping knives back and forth from outside the EU is too costly and complicated due to customs procedures. If you are not based in the EU, search for a local sharpening service, they are usually in every larger town.
Knife engraving is a good way to personalize your new knife. Great for gifts, anniversaries, marking your knives if you are working in a big kitchen, or simply to make your knife one-of-a-kind.
We offer laser engraving for any knife purchased from us.
Find out how to engrave your knife here.
Next to every knife, you will find "HRC number" in the specifications. So what does HRC mean?
HRC or Rockwell C scale provides a convenient way to compare the hardness of two materials, such as types of steel. It measures hardness based on the depth of penetration of a diamond cone pressed into the material at a constant pressure.
The higher the number, the harder the material. Higher HRC = longer sharpness & more brittleness. German knives usually have a range of hardness from 54-58 HRC, while Japanese knives range from 59-68 HRC.
Dive deep into the HRC scale in our blog post on HRC hardness.
Please, don't. Why? Knives tend to get knocked around during the washing cycle, meaning the blade can chip or get damaged. Also, when you wash different types of metal together, knives with better steel might get brown spots on the blade, which are very difficult to remove.
Many dishwashing detergents contain corrosive agents which can cause pitting or corrosion on your Japanese knives. To clean your knives, simply wash them in warm water and wipe them dry.
For more maintenance tips head over to Maintenance of Kitchen Knives.
YES! A quality kitchen knife makes a great gift. It's both a very practical and stylish gift. Your loved one will use it daily, it will substantially ease their kitchen tasks and ensure better taste of food they prepare. Japanese kitchen knife is a gift that will last a lifetime. Read more in our article: Why is knife a great gift?
According to superstition, knives presented as gifts sever the friendship between the presenter and recipient. Yikes, that can't be good!
Unless you do as follows! To break the spell, all you need to do is to attach a coin 🪙 to the gift (a quarter/euro coin will do just fine), so the recipient can immediately "pay you back" for the knife. This means you didn't give away the knife as a gift, bad juju spell is broken and everyone is happy - especially your loved one who will now chop and slice as a pro chef. 🎊 🎎
Head over to our Learning Corner! You will find a great deal of information on Japanese knives. Blade types, steel types, sharpening tips, meet the blacksmiths and more.
If you have questions, contact us. We are here to help!
Customer First
Express Worldwide shipping
10€ flat rate with DHL Express.
Free on orders over 300€.
Some exceptions apply.
No Duties & Fees
We cover any import fees, worldwide.
All prices are final, tax included.
Easy Returns
Something not OK?
You have 30 days to return it, no questions asked.
Attentive Support
Get in touch, we usually respond within a few hours.
More questions? Get in touch.